Punch needle rugs: the hottest new TikTok trend and the SCAD student who makes them

Fourth-year graphic design student and freelance rugmaker Natalia Alas tells us all about her unique craft and business.

Hot on TikTok, Instagram and Youtube, punch needling has taken social media by storm, with crafters all over the world creating pillows, wall art and now the most popular of all, handcrafted rugs. #Rugmaking currently sits at 321.4 million views on TikTok, proving it to be one of the most popular activities that bloomed over the COVID-19 pandemic.

Natalia Alas, a fourth-year graphic design student, picked up the skill at the beginning of quarantine, feeling that she could utilize her years of art skills to make higher-quality pieces.  “I saw a lot of people doing it, and honestly, a lot of them weren’t that great,” said Alas. “I started looking up YouTube videos on how to do it, and I found it to be pretty easy. So I impulsively got all the supplies that day. The more I got into it, I realized I wanted to start a business with it. I was on unemployment at the time, and I put it all towards the rugs.” 

After doing a couple of rugs on her own, Alas started taking commissions through Instagram, taking requests for made-to-order rugs. “I get a lot of DMs asking me for customs, mostly characters from anime or their brand logo,” said Alas. “ I get about 1 or 2 commissions about every month. Not a lot, as it can get time-consuming.”

Although it’s an easy skill to pick up, Alas has her warnings. “Know what you’re getting into. It’s an investment.” Tufting guns, which is the main tool for rugmaking, can cost upwards of $150, with nicer models costing around $400. “Yarn isn’t cheap, and the cloth isn’t cheap either. Know how far you want to get into this hobby.”

Are you still inspired to make your own? 

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Embroidery Hoop

• Tufting gun

• Yarn

• Monks Cloth

• Fabric Glue

• Felt

• Spray Adhesive

Step One

To start off the process, take your monk’s cloth (a heavy fabric in a “basketweave” pattern, allowing for easy insertion of the punch needle) and stretch it across the frame/embroidery hoop. 

Tip: “The middle is supposed to feel like a drum,” said Alas. “Not too loose, and not too tight.”

Step Two

Take your intended design, and transfer it to the monk’s cloth. You can either freehand it, or use a projector to get exact dimensions of images like logos. 

Tip: “I use a projector (because) it’s easier,” said Alas. “I used to have to measure everything out, and it’s just really time-consuming and doesn’t always end up right.”

Step Three

Thread your punch needle, inserting the yarn through the flat end and pulling it through the pointy end. If you’ve invested into a tufting gun, prepare this tool. 

Step Four

Now it’s time to start punching your design. Insert your needle through the fabric, then pull the end of the yarn back through. The tail should now be at the front. (You’ll trim this yarn later.)

Step Five

Push the punch needle until the handle touches the monk’s cloth. Then, you’ll pull the tool back up. You now have your first stitch! 

Step Six

To continue on with your rug, move your tool over a few holes to make your next stitches, which will follow the same instructions of the first stitch. Continue until your design is finished! 

Tip: “You could start with the outline (of the piece), but I like to work in sections so it makes the process faster.” 

Step Seven

After all your hard work, you wouldn’t want it to unravel! “After I completed my design I glue down the back with a rug glue,” said Alas. “Then wait about 24 hours for it to dry down (until it’s) a little tacky.”

Step Eight

Take your cloth, and glue it on to a felt back that has been cut to the shape of your design. 

Step Nine

Let it dry, and then enjoy your final product!

If you follow our Connector tutorial to create your own rug, make sure to tag us on Instagram @ScadConnector. 

To purchase a commission from Alas, visit her Instagram @natalia_alas.