Tufting Troubleshooting Guide. Solving the most common technical issues

Tufting Troubleshooting Guide. Solving the most common technical issues

Tufting is incredibly rewarding when everything runs smoothly. But as every creative tufting soul quickly learns, things don’t always go as planned. Machines beep, cloth tears, yarn refuses to stay in place… and suddenly your fun DIY project feels more like mechanical engineering.

No stress. We’ve gathered the most common technical tufting issues and how to fix them.

Let’s dive in.

The scissors aren’t cutting properly

Your gun is punching away, but the yarn stays looped instead of being cut. Possible causes:

  • Dull scissors – Blades wear out over time. Sharpen or replace them.
  • Yarn too thick – Dense or fluffy yarn may exceed your current scissor setup.
  • Low tension – If the yarn isn’t tight, the blades can’t grip and cut effectively.
  • Technique – Keep the foot pressed firmly against the cloth and move at a steady pace.
  • Maintenance – Clean the gun regularly to prevent yarn buildup from blocking the scissors.

👉 Still no luck? Test your scissors manually by turning the gear by hand. If it doesn’t close cleanly, realignment or replacement may be needed. This video shows how to adjust the scissor opener and closer.

The machine is making holes in the cloth

This usually means one of two things:

  • Cloth isn’t stretched tight enough – It should be drum-tight; slack lets the needle punch too deep.
  • Foot out of position – When the needle is at its highest point, the foot should be just below the needle hole. Adjust the height if necessary.

The machine is beeping or won’t move

Annoying, but usually fixable:

  • Beeping noise – Often means the gun needs oil. Add 3–5 drops of machine oil into the four oil holes and rotate the gear by hand to spread it.
  • Still beeping and won’t move – Possible reasons:
    • Tufting over an already-tufted area
    • Using very thick yarn
    • Yarn jam in the wheel (unplug the machine and check)

If beeping continues, it could be a motor issue. Send us a video so we can hear it and help further.

The yarn won’t stay in the cloth

Often caused by yarn or needle issues:

  • Yarn too thin – Double up strands or use thicker yarn.
  • Foot positioning wrong – The foot should sit almost against the bottom of the needle hole when fully raised; too far and the yarn won’t embed properly.

The back stitch is uneven or inconsistent

If your tufted lines look messy from behind, check:

  • Yarn tension – Ensure smooth feeding without snags.
  • Pile height consistency – If adjusted mid-project, realign the scissor and opener.
  • Speed and pressure – Stay steady; too fast or too light disrupts loops.
  • Needle – Check for blockages or damage.
  • Backing cloth – Sagging or wrinkles affect stitch quality.
  • Pusher position – If loops appear on the back, move the pusher forward 1–2mm.

My machine won’t turn on

Check the basics:

  • Power adapter light is on
  • Cables are connected securely
  • Switch works (toggle a few times to confirm)

Still nothing? Contact us and we’ll guide you step-by-step.

Bonus: The yarn keeps breaking

Classic problem—likely causes:

  • Low-quality or weak yarn
  • Feed path too tight
  • Inconsistent tension

Ensure the yarn glides freely from cone to gun for smoother tufting.

Still stuck?

We’ve got your back. Whether it’s scissors, settings, or a strange noise, we’ve probably seen it before. Email us at info@tuftingshop.com with a clear description and a video if possible. And yes—if you need fresh yarn, you know where to find it 😉

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Guides

What is Tufting

Tufting is the craft of making rugs by hand using a tufting gun to push yarn through a backing cloth. A loop holds the yarn in place; for cut pile rugs, blades trim the loops for a plush finish. The pile height can be adjusted by cutting the yarn sooner or later as it passes through the cloth.

Tufting is a zero-waste technique—rugs are created directly in their final shape. It’s perfect for designers, artists, and hobbyists looking to make unique wall hangings, rugs, or even fashion pieces.

Creative Possibilities

In your designs, you can experiment with shapes, colors, pile types (cut or loop), and pile heights. To get started, you’ll need at least:

Find inspiration and techniques from our guides or explore the many talented tufting artists online.

A Guide to a tufting setup

Tufting frame

A good and stable tufting frame is essential when starting a new tufting project.

Make sure your frame is stable enough because you will be adding quite some pressure to it when tufting. You can find a complete self assembly frame on our webshop.

Stretching the cloth

Your cloth needs to be well stretched on the frame, again to provide a stable tufting surface so you can tuft the rug yarn consistently.

 Carpet grippers on your frame are perfect when strechting your cloth. The nails on the grippers go through the cloth and keep it in place so you can stretch it very tightly. Other options are nailing or stapling the cloth to your frame.

The carpet grippers can be reused for every project and let you re-stretch the cloth during your project.

 Yarn feeding

 Make sure that you “feed” the yarn from above the tufting frame. This way you make sure that it is fed consistently and the yarn does not get in the way.

Consistent feeding is key to when you do not wish to rewire your gun all the time. Cones of yarn therefore often work better then balls because the yarn is more likely to give resistance.

A Guide to tufting guns

What’s the Difference Between Tufting Guns?

There are many tufting guns on the market, but the main differences come down to two key factors:

  • Pile height
  • Cut or loop pile

Other things to consider are tufting speed, weight, and overall build quality.

Pile Height

Electric tufting guns are perfect for standard rugs with pile heights up to around 21 mm. If you want extra-high piles, you’ll need an air-powered machine, which can produce much taller loops and cuts.

Cut or Loop

A cut pile machine has a small scissor built into the needle, which cuts each loop as it passes through the fabric. A loop pile machine leaves the yarn uncut, creating loops that you’d need to trim manually if you want a cut finish.

Some models, like the cut and loop machines, offer both options and allow you to switch modes by removing or deactivating the scissors.

cut or loop pile tufting cut vs loop tufting

A guide to Yarn

What yarn should I use for tufting?

This depends on what you are making. Although most yarns “work” they will definitely give different effects. In many cases you will find a mix of different materials. The following table describes the qualities of different materials.

 

Pros

Cons

Acrylic yarn

 

Cheap, synthetic and soft. Great for wall pieces.

Does not hold its structure and therefore not great for durable floor pieces.

Cotton yarn

Moderately soft, has a medium hold. Although more expensive then acrylic, is easy to find in many colors, at a good price

Not “indestructible”, fibers are soft and can collapse.

Wool yarn

Holds shape really well and has a natural dirt-resistance.

Most expensive option

 

In general go for a material that is not too soft because it will not hold shape.

How thick should my yarn be?

You can make the yarn as thick as you want as long as it fits through the needle of your tufting gun. A well-loaded gun (not to thin) will help you get more consistent results. Stuff the needle with as many strands as will fit.

You can find yarns here.

Tufting Academy

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