One of the fundamentals of tufting is keeping your tufting cloth pulled tight and firm. Loose or slack backing cloth causes a variety of issues, including rips and holes. Not only that, but if the backing cloth is not stretched taut on the tufting frame, you will be unable to perform complex manoeuvres and movements with the tufting gun, such as curves.
Furthermore, the yarn will not adhere firmly to the primary tufting cloth and may begin to unravel by the time you're finished tufting. All of this necessitates attaching and stretching the tufting cloth to the frame in such a way that it does not fall off accidentally or become slack over time. Continue reading to learn how to attach the cloth to the frame.
How to secure the Backing Cloth to the Frame
There are three methods for attaching the tufting cloth to the frame that will keep the canvas taught and able to withstand the pressure applied by the tufting gun. Here are the three methods and how to use them.
Carpet grippers
This is usually the most convenient and effective method of keeping the cloth firmly attached to the tufting frame. Begin by spreading the backing cloth over the frame, ensuring that the cloth's edges extend beyond all four sides of the frame. Place the first carpet gripper strip along the top edge of the frame, ensuring that the nails are angled upward.
With your thumb, firmly press the carpet grippers. If that's too difficult because the top edge of the frame is too high for you, you can drive them in with a hammer. Check that the head of each tack is securely attached to the strip. Repeat with the other sides of the frame, pulling the cloth tightly before tacking it in place.
Glue
Carpet grippers work well for attaching the backing cloth to the frame, but they require physical strength to insert. You can use glue to attach the cloth to the frame if you want a less complicated method. The disadvantage is that the glue takes time to dry and may come off while tufting. As a result, I would not recommend this method.
Staple Gun
Nail the cloth into the frame with a staple gun. The advantage of this method over tack strips is that it requires no physical strength and is less likely to go wrong. If the cloth is still slack after you've finished attaching it, simply pull it tight at one end and nail the canvas to the frame.
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