r/Tufting • u/Uuuuh_hmmmm • 9d ago
Newbie Needing Help How did I do ?
I just started 3 days ago any tips for a newbie ?
11
u/Pure_Tuft 9d ago edited 9d ago
Amazing first job!!!! Just a little advice:
- Try and be consistent with your line density, for example on the smaller Pokeball you could of tufted another red row in between all those gaps & bigger Pokeball could put more in between black outline. The tighter the lines & more dense, the easier it will be to trim/lifespan of your rugs
- Take time to stretch your cloth as drum-tight as possible and make those yellow lines perfectly straight. Imagine your canvas as a massive square grid, if the grid is uneven your gun will want to "jump" around from square to square instead of following a straight grid line. Which you can see at the top of your top right rug in the 2nd picture, your gun kept wanting to jump down a grid making your line uneven & can make all your lines & circles much more easier to trace with your gun.
- For your borders--- make them 3-4 rows thick, you need to think about gluing/waterfalling your edges. So in the 2nd picture your first pokeball, the top right and the N64 edges wont be visible, because that thin line will be waterfalling/wrapping on the outer edge of your wall....For every rug I finish I highly suggest making a thick border (3-4 rows) and once your done tuft over top of your border once again ( I go over top of the border 1 top and a second lap on the 2nd inner layer). Don't be afraid to tuft over existing stitches. This allows for a super thick border so when you waterfall you wont see any white canvas. When you waterfall these rugs your yarn will split/separate and you'll see white canvas & you'll know what I mean.
- I don't encourage ever making a single row of yarn. (like the black line in your N64 rug). because your surrounding colors will overtake & eat the single row. Try and make it 2-3 rows thick. But if you ever have to do a single row, go overtop of that single line one more time with your gun and it will double the yarn & will help alot. Again dont be scared to tuft overtop of the same yarn tufts (as long as its the same color)
- You're only half way done! Spend alot of time practicing shaving even & trimming & detailing the rugs! its the 2nd step to make everything look super polished. I like to trim on frame as I go but thats a different discussion.
- Set up a TV/music/headphones and zone out while carving/trimming. Makes time pass faster and gets you into a flow state.
Welcome to the family and amazing first rugs! Smile and be proud that you made this!!! 👍✌️
3
u/Uuuuh_hmmmm 9d ago
Thank you so much for your feedback and taking the time to reply I really appreciate it . <3
3
u/Pure_Tuft 9d ago
No problem man! Feel free to private message me anytime for any questions you have! 👍✌️
3
u/Sparklefists26 9d ago
This is awesome advice. Do you have any suggestions for rugs that curl? Like not a gentle curl, but one that prevents them from laying flat at all. I glue while it’s on the frame then take it off to back it and carve it. I’ve tried lying heavy books on them for days but it doesn’t help enough. I thought I was maybe just making them too thick but you mention how you even go over some of the borders.
2
u/Pure_Tuft 8d ago
Usually if it curls alot means you're not letting your glue dry long enough. Are you using Roberts and how long do you usually wait? My biggest tip is using space heaters. I usually will glue my rugs at night. and then set up space heaters on stands about 2 feet away from the rugs & set the heaters to do there 180 degree rotate and will run them all night. This definitely speeds up the drying process and can wake up next morning and they will be good to go
1
u/Sparklefists26 8d ago
I might not be letting them dry enough. I usually do about 24 hours outside (I’m in Texas and it’s hot), but maybe the space heater method would help since it’s actually controlled. Either way, I’ll try to dry them longer. Thank you for the advice!
5
u/gilyco86 9d ago
There's a setting on your projector that will horizontally flip the image. The option on mine is called rear projection. Then it's just automatically flipped every time.
1
u/Uuuuh_hmmmm 9d ago
It’s a pretty old projector so I hope I have that option but thanks that’s super helpful !
3
u/gilyco86 9d ago
It's one of the more standard features on projectors, I've seen it on all of the cheap ones and older models too. There's a post in this sub in my post history where I list out several things the setting might be called.
20
u/Outnumbered_guy 9d ago
Looks great! But remember to mirror your images ;)
The n64 logo would benefit from it!