A Look Inside Our Ambassador’s Van: How One Artist Proves You Don’t Need a Studio to Succeed.
Dreaming of starting your tufting journey but limited on space? You’re not alone. Many beginners wonder how to tuft when they don’t have a large room or studio. With a tufting frame, yarn, and various tools, it can feel overwhelming. But here’s the good news: you don’t need a full art studio to become a successful tufting artist. In fact, one of our ambassadors proves just that. She lives and works from her van, creating stunning tufted rugs while traveling. We spoke to Emmi from Studio Eisama about how she makes it work, the challenges of tufting in compact spaces, and her best advice for our tufting community!
Her Story: Tufting on the Road with Emmi
You wake up to the cool mountain air, coffee in hand, and watch the sun rise slowly over the peaks. It’s quiet, just the sound of wind through the trees. You step outside, take a deep breath, and set up your workspace for the day, right there in nature.
This isn’t a dream. It’s a regular day in the life of Emmi, one of our tufting ambassadors, who lives and creates from her van. For her, tufting doesn’t happen in a traditional studio but in forests, by cliffs, or overlooking mountain ranges. On the road she tufts in public which can lead to unexpected moments.
“People walk by and get curious when they see me working. A few times, they’ve even stopped to chat and ended up ordering a rug on the spot! I never expected that when I first started.”
The idea of making tufted rugs in a van might seem overwhelming to some: limited space, no fixed address. For Emmi, it’s just normal life. She began tufting while already living on the road and has never known it any other way. It’s exactly where her freedom lies. Her van is more than a vehicle; it’s her home, her mobile studio, and her creative sanctuary. The ability to park anywhere and turn it into a workspace means she gets to choose her studio view every single day.
Tufting in a small space definitely comes with its challenges, but over time, Emmi has figured out what works for her. Here’s what she’s picked up along the way.
Staying Organized is Key
“The hardest part about tufting in a small space is staying organized,” she says. “In a van, you can’t just leave things lying around. Everything needs a designated spot, and you have to put it back after use or it quickly becomes unworkable.” Under her seating area she's built in two large storage compartments: one dedicated to yarn, and the other used for general items. The rest of her tufting supplies is stored in small boxes, always in the same place, so she never loses time searching. This high level of organization doesn’t just help her stay sane, it helps her stay productive.
“When I know where everything is, I can jump into a project quickly”.
Fluff? Not a Problem
Tufting gets messy. Anyone who’s used a tufting gun knows how quickly yarn fluff and trimmings start to pile up. You might imagine a van getting overwhelmed, but not in her case.
“My secret weapon is a good household vacuum cleaner. It’s strong and does a great job cleaning up fluff and scraps. I always clean before and after working. In a van, regular cleaning is a must.”
Staying Charged: How Emmi Powers Her Mobile Studio
Living on the road means you have to think about power differently. Luckily, she’s got that covered. “My van is set up with a full off-grid system,” she tells us. That includes solar panels on the roof and a bank of batteries that store energy. This setup powers everything: her tufting gun, glue gun, lighting, laptop, and of course, her beloved vacuum cleaner.
“I’ve never had an issue running out of power,” she says. “Even on cloudy days, I have enough stored to finish my work.”
Extra Tips for Tufting in Small Spaces
The ambassadors story is proof that great work can come grom small spaces. If you're tufting from a compact apartment, a shared room, or a snug studio, here are a few extra tips to help you make the most of what you've got:
1. Go vertical: Use walls and pegboards to hang yarn cones, scissors, and tools. It saves precious floor space.
2. Use storage with wheels: Rolling carts or drawers make it easier to move materials around and keep your setup flexible.
3. Get smart with lighting: If natural light is limited, invest in a good daylight lamp to avoid eye strain while working.
4. Batch your tasks: Group similar tasks together like winding yarn or gluing the back of multiple rugs at once to reduce setup and cleanup time.
5. Use multi-purpose storage: Benches, or boxes that double as seating or tables can store yarn or supplies inside.
- Think modular: Choose tools and storage that can be easily rearranged or stacked, so you can adapt your space as your needs change.
You Don’t Need a Studio to Tuft
This story proves it: you don’t need a big, fancy studio to make something beautiful. Whether you’re working from a van, a student room, or a cozy corner of your home, tufting in small spaces is possible with a bit of creativity and good planning.
💬 Have a small tufting setup of your own? Tag us with #TuftingShopCommunity and inspire others with your space!