Rug Tufting in Taipei, Taiwan—Does Art: Pattern Picking
Before visiting Does Art Taipei, you need to make a reservation through LINE in advance and provide the design pattern/picture that you plan on using. Some DIY handmade rug shops allow customers to draw lines on their own through tracing a projection, but this takes more time. Plus, if the lines are not drawn well, the final artwork would not look good. Therefore, Does Art helps everyone draw the outlines on the fabric in advance.
When selecting a pattern/picture, it's best to choose pictures with simple lines because tufting yarn cannot show intricate details. Based on my experience this time, I suggest that if you have less patience or feel that your hand is not steady enough, it is better to choose a pattern with fewer curves and does not require an outline.
I chose an adorable picture of Chip with his cheek-puffed up, but because it had a lot of curved lines and required an outline, it was initially more challenging. However, filling in the patches was quite relaxing! Even if choose to do a round characters, as long as you don't draw an outline, you can fill the colors at ease without worrying about the direction of your tufting gun.
In fact, the tufting process is simple and therapeutic, you don't have to worry even if you're not skilled at handcrafts. During the DIY rug tufting experience, if you make a mistake, you can simply remove the incorrectly placed yarns, so there's no need to be nervous. If you encounter difficulties, the teachers at Does Art can also help. For example, I stared with the outlines, which were the most challenging parts but was still unfamiliar with tufting. I messed up the tip of one of the ears so many times that I almost tore the fabric, so I asked the teacher to help me with that part.
Rug Tufting in Taipei, Taiwan—Does Art: Price & Items
Does Art's tufting DIY not only includes rugs of various sizes but also includes hanging mirrors and linen bags, with a range of quite practical choices.
This time, I made a rug that was extra-large because it could show more details and is just cuter overall. It's also quite a suitable size for my home.
Item | Original Price | 4 ppl (weekday) | 4 ppl (weekend) | Group of 2 |
Rug | NTD$2,400 | NTD$1,200/per | NTD$1,440/per | NTD$1,680/per |
Rug (XL) | NTD$2,900 | NTD$1,700/per | NTD$1,940/per | NTD$2,180/per |
Mirror (XL) | NTD$3,200 | NTD$2,000/per | NTD$2,240/per | NTD$2,480/per |
Linen Bag (XL) | NTD$3,200 | NTD$2,000/per | NTD$2,240/per | NTD$2,480/per |
Typically, making a regular-sized rug takes about 3-4 hours, while n extra-large one takes 4-5 hours. Other people who started making their's at the same time as me also made extra-large rugs and extra-large tufted mirrors, and they were completed in about 4 hours. However, since I chose a design with more difficulty, it took me 5 hours. I made a reservation for 16:00 and left after 21:00.
If you have trouble selecting a pattern/picture or want to make a cute rug of your pet, you can also ask the designers at Does Art to turn a photo into a tuft-able drawing for an additional NTD$500.
Rug Tufting in Taipei, Taiwan—Does Art: Environment
Does Art, whether in Taipei or Taoyuan stores, is pet-friendly, so you can bring your furry friends! Pets are allowed to walk around freely and can be carried on your lap as you tuft, but I recommend bringing a pet stroller for convenience. The tufting gun can be quite heavy, and you need to handle the yarn while tufting, so it can be a bit challenging to balance your dog on your lap at the same time.
Additionally, there will be many cut yarn strands on the floor during the crafting process, and you don't want your pet accidentally ingesting them. For instance, my dog would eat my fallen hair at home sometimes and then cough up hairballs like a cat. However, please note that the Does Art store in Zhongshan, Taipei does not have an elevator, so you will need to carry the pet stroller upstairs. The staff is friendly and willing to help with carrying, but I personally don't have a problem with carrying 8 kilos up 5 flights and managed to do so in one go.
Each floor of the Does Art store in Zhongshan, Taipei has large floor-to-ceiling windows, and some floors even have balconies. The lighting during the day is excellent, making it a great spot for taking Instagram-worthy photos. If you want to take some beautiful photos with your finished piece on the balcony, I recommend booking the morning session at 10:00, otherwise, it would be dark outside by the time you finish like it was for me. Additionally, there are many phone holders available on the shelves, allowing you to record the process of creating your artwork. I saw many people filming videos to capture fun memories.
Rug Tufting in Taipei, Taiwan—Does Art: Process
The teacher at Does Art will first guide everyone on how to use the tufting gun. The edges of the fabric will be marked with a circle, square, and triangle, so that you can practice tufting and confirm that you are satisfied with the colors of the yarn.
I highly recommend coming with friends, it is particularly fun when familiarizing with the process of tufting. There may be some mistakes which makes it fun to engage in some friendly competition with each other. I came with my mom because I brought my dog. At the beginning, we kept comparing who was doing better, and we had a good laugh, relieving the tension in our relationship. Once I got into the flow, I became very focused, and forgot about all other things. It brings a sense of calmness and DIY tufting can be a very therapeutic activity. Additionally, the sense of accomplishment from creating the finished product is amazing.
After finishing tufting the rug, the teacher at Does Art will help apply school glue (white PVA glue) on the back to secure it. Because school glue is used, remember to keep it away from water ! It can only be dry cleaned. After applying the glue, they will cut out the entire pattern and stick it to a base layer, then trim the edges. During the tufting process, the opposite side is actually going to be the front of your final product. You may find that the lengths of the tufted yarn are uneven in some places, but there's no need to worry. After securing the base layer, the teacher will help trim the areas that are not neat with a shaving knife and scissors. Then, tada!
Isn't my Chip super cute? After taking it home, remember to place it face down for two days to let the glue dry. After completion, the teacher will give you a postcard with instructions for how to take care of the rug. Just follow the instructions provided.
Rug Tufting in Taipei, Taiwan—Store Info
Store name: Does Art Taipei, Zhongshan
Item: DIY Rug
Price: NTD$2,900
Address: 5F, No.22-2, Zhongshan North Road Section 2, Zhongshan District, Taipei City (3-minute walk from MRT Zhongshan Station)
Phone: 0960-723-728
Official LINE@ for Taipei reservations: https://lin.ee/RMOQfcn
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