Tufting Cloths
Primary tufting cloth is the woven fabric you stretch over your frame and tuft through; every stitch anchors into it as you work. Anti-slip backing is the secondary cloth glued to the finished rug to stop it sliding on the floor. Cloth comes in several sizes to suit the scale of rug you’re making.
Primary cloth and anti-slip backing
These are two different cloths that do opposite jobs. Primary tufting cloth is the woven fabric you stretch over your frame and tuft through; every stitch anchors into it as you work. Anti-slip backing is glued to the finished rug at the end to stop it sliding on the floor. Most projects use both: one to make the rug, one to finish it.
What size cloth do I need
Your cloth needs to be larger than the rug itself, because you lose an edge to the frame and need room to stretch it tight. As a rule, allow a generous margin on every side of your planned design. Cloth comes in several sizes to suit anything from a small sample to a large floor piece.
Getting a clean finish
A well-stretched primary cloth is the foundation of an even rug. If the cloth sags, your stitches pull unevenly and the pile looks patchy. Stretch it drum-tight before you start, and back the finished rug so it sits flat and stays put.