Two people proudly holding their colourful custom rugs at Craft Studio London tufting workshop

Why Everyone in London is Obsessed with Rug Tufting (And How You Can Do It Too)

Mar 23, 2026Bijan Shrestha

Have you seen those fluffy, colourful rugs taking over Instagram and TikTok lately? That’s rug tufting and it’s satisfying, addictive, and easier than you think.

One of the best places to try it is at our tufting workshop in London — beginner-friendly, fully guided, and you take home your own handmade rug on the day.

If you’re a stressed professional looking for a creative escape, or just hunting for unique craft workshops in London, you’ve come to the right place. At Craft Studio London, we believe everyone has a creative side waiting to be unleashed (even if you haven't touched a paintbrush since primary school).

Thinking about booking your first rug making class but have a few questions? We’ve gathered the most common questions we get from beginners to help you feel ready for the gun.

1. Do I need artistic experience to join a tufting workshop?

Short answer: Absolutely not.

This is the number one fear we hear! You do not need to be an artist to make a stunning rug. In our tufting workshop, we use projectors to transfer your chosen image onto the canvas before you start.

Think of it like "colouring by numbers," but with yarn and a power tool. If you can trace a line, you can tuft. Our expert instructors are there to guide you step-by-step, ensuring you leave with a professional-looking piece.

Need proof? Just look at this incredible Dragon Ball Z rug below!

This was created by a student who had zero craft experience before walking through our doors, it was his first time ever touching a tufting gun! In fact, 99% of our students are complete beginners, and every single one of them goes home with a beautiful rug they are proud to display.

2. Can make my own designs?

Yes, absolutely!

One of the best parts of a rug making workshop is creating something totally unique to you. However, please send it to us at least 48 hours before the session, we’ll have it traced and ready for you when you arrive. Here are a few tips for success:

Keep it Simple: Tufting is like painting with thick markers. Tiny details, thin lines, and small text are very hard to execute.
Think "Blobby": Organic shapes, bold cartoons, and abstract patterns work best.
Preparation: We ask you to send your design in advance so our team can check it and help you simplify it if necessary.

3. How long does it take to make a rug?

Our signature sessions run for 3.5 hours.

This is the "Goldilocks" time long enough to get into a therapeutic "flow state" and finish a standard-sized rug (usually 40x40cm or similar), but not so long that you get exhausted. It’s the perfect half-day escape to our canal-side studio in Alperton.

4. Do I get to take my rug home the same day?

Yes! (And this is rare).

At many other studios, you have to leave your work behind for days and sometimes even weeks to let them finish it for you. At Craft Studio London, we have optimised our process. You will glue, back, and shave your rug during the workshop.

You walk in with an idea, and you walk out with a finished rug ready to display or gift. Instant gratification at its finest!

5. Is tufting physically demanding?

We won’t lie, it’s a little bit of an arm workout! The tufting gun weighs between 3–5 lbs.

Most people find the time flies because they are having so much fun, but we always encourage taking breaks. Put the gun down, stretch your arms, enjoy the canal views, and chat with us or your classmates. It’s a relaxed, non-competitive environment.

6. What is the minimum age requirement?

While we use professional tufting guns with moving parts, our instructors are experts at teaching safe techniques to younger makers. So we accept students as young as 10 years old. However for anyone under 16, we ask that a parent or guardian joins the session to supervise (and join in the fun!). It’s a fantastic way to bond and build confidence, though we do recommend adults help out if little arms get tired holding the gun!