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A tufting and textile glossary styled like a dictionary, with pronunciations and brief, clear definitions.
a
Acrylic (uh-KRIL-ik)
noun
A synthetic fiber favored in tufting for its vibrant colors, low cost, and ease of use—though not as soft or durable as wool.
Adhesive (ad-HEE-siv)
noun
Glue (typically latex or PVA) applied to the back of tufted work to lock yarn in place before finishing.
Aran (AIR-un)
noun
A #4 Medium-Heavy yarn weight (also called Heavy Worsted). Slightly thicker than worsted; ideal for raised tufted lines or bold forms.
b
Backing, Primary (PRY-mare-ee BACK-ing)
noun
The main fabric base—usually monk’s cloth, burlap, or polyester grid—into which yarn is tufted.
Backing, Secondary (SEK-un-dare-ee BACK-ing)
noun
A felt, canvas, or rubber-like layer glued to the back of a rug to reinforce structure, prevent slipping, and add a polished finish.
Binding (BYE-ning)
noun
A method of securing and finishing rug edges with fabric tape, stitched yarn, or serged thread to prevent fraying.
Bulky (BULL-kee)
noun
A #5 Bulky yarn weight. Thick and cozy with prominent texture. Excellent coverage for tufting and rug work.
c
Cake (Yarn) (kayk)
noun
Flat, cylindrical ball of yarn often wound with a winder and center-pull accessible.
📦 Visual: Low drum or mini layer cake.
Carpet Seam Roller (KAR-pet seem ROH-ler)
noun
A rolling tool used to flatten or embed glued seams and backing, especially useful during rug finishing.
Carving (CAR-ving)
noun
The act of shaping a tufted rug using scissors or clippers to create relief, definition, or visual interest.
Clippers (KLIP-erz)
noun
Electric trimmers used to level or sculpt the surface of a tufted rug with precision and control.
Crochet (kroh-SHAY)
noun
A single-hook yarn technique to form fabric through interlocked loops—widely practiced in textile and fiber arts.
Cut Pile (kut pyle)
noun
Tufted yarn loops that are sliced, resulting in a soft, plush surface common in decorative and plush rugs.
d
DK (Double Knit) (dee-kay / DUH-bul nit)
noun
A #3 Light yarn weight. Balanced for flexibility in projects; good for mid-weight tufted details or layering over bulky foundations.
Double Weave (DUB-ul weev)
noun
An intricate weaving method involving two layers of cloth interlaced to form reversible or multi-textured textiles.
Duckbill Scissors (DUK-bill SIZ-erz)
noun
Special scissors with one wide, flat blade designed to trim yarn close to the surface without accidental snips.
Durability (dur-uh-BIL-uh-tee)
noun
The toughness of a textile or rug—how well it resists wear, compression, and unraveling over time.
e
E is for Excessive Shedding.
Not you—your rug. Hopefully.
f
Fingering (FIN-gur-ing)
noun
A #1 Super Fine yarn weight. Slightly thicker than lace, often used for socks and detailed work. May require multiple strands for effective tufting.
Finishing (FIN-ish-ing)
noun
The final steps of rugmaking: adhesive application, shearing, carving, backing, and edge binding.
Frame (Tufting Frame) (fraym)
noun
A sturdy wooden or metal structure used to stretch and hold backing cloth taut during tufting.
g
Gun (Tufting Gun) (guhn)
noun
An electric hand tool that pushes yarn through backing fabric, creating either cut or loop pile, and speeding up the tufting process.
h
Hank (hank)
noun
A long loop of yarn twisted into a bundle—often used for dyeing or sold as artisan skeins.
📦 Visual: A figure-eight coil.
i
I is for “I-cord.”
Just kidding, we’re not that kind of fiber nerds. (Yet.)
j
J is for Join Us.
Because nothing says community like one person rage-tufting alone in their garage at 3AM.
Jumbo (JUM-boh)
noun
A #7 Jumbo yarn weight. Extremely thick; ideal for oversized designs, statement textures, or fast-coverage tufting.
k
Knit (nit)
verb/noun
A method of creating fabric using two needles to interloop yarn—distinct from crochet and weaving.
l
Lace (layss)
noun
A #0 Very Fine yarn weight. Extremely thin and delicate; used for intricate, lightweight projects. Not recommended for tufting unless doubled or layered.
Latex Glue (LAY-teks gloo)
noun
A flexible adhesive commonly used to secure yarn on the back of tufted pieces prior to applying secondary backing.
Loop Pile (loop pyle)
noun
A tufted surface where yarn remains uncut, forming a textured and often more durable rug.
Loopi (LOO-pee)
noun
A digital platform for tufters that transforms custom rug designs into detailed quotes, material lists, and optimized patterns. Loopi helps artists price their work accurately, reduce waste, and generate professional client proposals—streamlining the business side of tufting. (loopi.space)
m
Macramé (mack-ruh-MAY)
noun
The art of tying knots to create decorative textile structures—wall hangings, fringe, and plant holders.
Monk’s Cloth (munks klawth)
noun
A soft, evenly woven cotton cloth with a consistent grid ideal for primary backing in hand- and machine-tufted rugs.
n
N is for Needle in a Haystack.
Also known as trying to find your scissors when your workstation "organizes itself."
o
O is for Overthinking.
A critical step between threading your gun and actually using it.
p
Pile Height (pyle hite)
noun
The length of tufted yarn above the backing, determining the rug’s softness, volume, and aesthetic.
Punch Needle (punch NEE-dul)
noun
A manual tufting tool that punches yarn through fabric to create loops, commonly used for slower, detailed work.
q
Q is for Quilt.
Wrong craft. Wrong index. But sure, go off.
r
Rug Carver (rug KAR-ver)
noun
A handheld blade or rotary tool for defining shapes and edges in tufted surfaces for added detail and definition.
Rug Yarns (rug yahrnz)
noun
Thicker, durable yarns (wool, acrylic, or blends) designed to hold structure and withstand wear when tufted into rugs.
s
Sashiko (SAH-shee-koh)
noun
A Japanese hand-stitching technique originally used for mending and now popular for decorative, geometric embroidery.
Serging (SUR-jing)
noun
An edge-finishing technique where yarn or thread is overlocked around a rug’s perimeter using a serger or by hand.
Shearing (SHEER-ing)
noun
The act of trimming a tufted surface with clippers or shears to level pile height and clean up loose threads.
Skein (skayn)
noun
A twisted bundle of yarn shaped like an oblong coil. Must be unwound before use.
📦 Visual: A soft twisted pretzel.
Spool (spool)
noun
Yarn wound around a narrow cylindrical core, typically used for machines or precise feed.
📦 Visual: Thread bobbin.
Sport (sport)
noun
A #2 Fine yarn weight. Lightweight and soft, commonly used in garments. Thin for single-strand tufting, but blends well with other fine yarns.
Super Bulky (SOO-per BULL-kee)
noun
A #6 Super Bulky yarn weight. High-impact and plush; produces bold texture quickly in tufted or woven pieces.
t
Tapestry (TAP-uh-stree)
noun
A decorative, often woven textile used for storytelling or ornamentation. Tapestry techniques inform many rug and wall hanging styles.
Textile (TEK-style)
noun
Any flexible material made from interlaced fibers—woven, tufted, felted, or stitched.
Thread (thred)
noun
A thin strand of fiber used for sewing or embroidery—not suitable for tufting but essential in finishing or framing.
Threading (a tufting gun) (THRED-ing)
noun/verb
The act of loading yarn into a tufting gun, ensuring correct tension and path through guides and needles.
Tufting (TUFF-ting)
noun
The craft of inserting yarn through backing fabric to form a pile surface, using a tufting gun or punch needle.
u
U is for Unraveling.
Both your rug and your mental state. Coincidence?
v
V is for Velcro.
Which has absolutely nothing to do with tufting but sounds oddly satisfying to say right now.
w
Weaving (WEE-ving)
noun
A textile technique involving interlacing warp and weft threads on a loom. Distinct from tufting, but equally foundational.
Weight (yarn) (wayt)
noun
A classification system for yarn thickness that influences gauge, drape, and suitable needle size. Common weights range from #0 Very Fine (Lace) to #7 Jumbo, with each weight impacting how a yarn behaves when tufted, knitted, or woven.
Wool (wool)
noun
A natural animal fiber (typically sheep) prized for its bounce, softness, and wear resistance in high-end rug work.
Workstation (WORK-stay-shun)
noun
Your setup: tufting frame, gun, yarn feed, backing cloth, lighting, safety gear, and workspace surface.
Worsted (WUR-sted)
noun
A #4 Medium yarn weight. A standard choice in both knitting and tufting; durable and versatile for varied textures.
x
X is for X-acto Knife.
Great for trimming details. Also great for threatening the last person who tangled your yarn stash.
y
Yarn Ball (yarn bawl)
noun
A round, hand-wound mass of yarn.
📦 Visual: Think fluffy baseball.
z
Z is for Zzzzz.
The sound of your tufting gun when you forget to turn it off. Again.
