Twin sisters Claire (left) and Kimberly Tiong gave up their careers to pursue something new — tufting — the latest trendy hobby that has finally made it to Kuching, with Tutufun Studio being the first to provide workshops in the state. By using a tufting gun, the time and effort put into making a fluffy picture can be turned into a great gift or a decorative item.
The tufting craze is in town
Tufting has recently emerged as Malaysia’s trendiest, most popular hobby, with many choosing it as an alternative to handmade gifts.
A heartfelt gift, the hobby — tufting — takes time and effort to complete. Even though tufting may not necessarily be done with the intention of gifting, some people like the simple act of tufting decorative items or sentimental mementos.
In May, Tutufun Studio opened in Kuching, Sarawak, bringing the popular trend which is often seen on social media to the city.
Tutufun, Sarawak’s first tufting workshop, was founded by twin sisters who had a passion for tufting when they first set eyes on it.
Kimberly Tiong and Claire Tiong initially learned about the work while scrolling through a social media platform ‘Douyin’.
Tufting is the art of weaving that uses a tufting gun to shoot yarns against the main fabric to create a fluffy photo.
Their workshop at Jalan Tabuan, which was filled with both their own and other people’s artwork, was a sight to behold.
Not to mention the rolls of yarn in various colours that are lined up in rows on Tutufun’s shelves, creating a colourful kaleidoscopic world for its visitors.
Speaking to Kimberly about their endeavour in the midst of the colours, she revealed that they became interested with tufting after learning about it.
“Then we discovered that there are various tufting workshops in Kuala Lumpur. We decided to have some firsthand experience to see what it was like.”
The twins interest in art
Kimberly and Claire were always drawn to art as children because it was an interest they shared.
“We have always been interested in art since we were young. We used to draw cartoons when we were kids,” said Kimberly, the oldest twin.
They both continued their education in the field of art after finishing secondary school. While Kimberly studied architecture, Claire pursued an interest in interior design.
After graduating, Kimberly worked at an architecture firm while Claire was unable to pursue a career due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, the latter had gone to work at their father’s company.
And when they learned about tufting, Kimberly had the inspiration to “create something new, something different.” This is how Tutufun Studio came to be.
The process of tufting
After learning to tuft within a few months, Claire’s most intricate work was a seven-hour-long black-and-white tiger.
The intricacy of the tiger’s characteristics created a challenge for her. She was nonetheless pleased with the artwork because it turned out to be a success.
The twins recommend beginners to start with smaller patterns to hone their skills before moving on to a harder design.
Though the tufting process is simple, getting used to the technique might be challenging for some, according to Kimberly.
Kimberly began her demonstration by placing a thread of yarn into the tufting gun.
“After that, simply tuft the main fabric.” She suggests running a couple straight test lines. This allows you to determine the right technique, pressure, and speed.
“After you’ve mastered straight lines, try your hand at curves. You can only tuft in the direction of the foot. When tufting, the foot of the gun must remain in contact with the fabric. Make sure to apply enough pressure to hold it in place,” added Kimberly.
A projector will be used prior to tufting to reflect the image on the fabric for the tufter to trace. Tutufun can also assist participants with tracing before tufting.
Kimberly added that if a mistake is made, it may be fixed. “Simply pull the yarn out. But be careful not to do this too often or you risk tearing your fabric. If your lines appear messy at first, don’t worry. They can be easily fixed later.”
“After you’ve finished your artwork, shave off any excess yarn. Before you glue everything down, make sure that everything is smooth.” The final step, she continued, is to attach a backing felt on the back of the artwork.
Ensure that the yarn is completely covered. Give the glue around 24 hours to dry. “We provide two different kinds of backing felt. One will function as a carpet rug. Another serves as the back of the decorative artwork. There are three different sizes available for tufting — 30cm, 60cm and 90cm, added Kimberly.
She also revealed that working with the largest frame can take up to six hours to complete.
“Meanwhile, tufting the smallest frame (30cm) can take up to two hours.”
Although tufting is a simple art, Kimberly said that it has some challenges too.
One of them is to spend several hours carrying a 1.4 kg tufting gun to finish an artwork.
“Our arm will eventually ache just from carrying it over time. We can take a break, then proceed once more,” she said.
A good hobby to inculcate
When questioned about how the locals felt about tufting, Kimberly responded that most of them liked the idea of it in Kuching.
“They appear to like tufting. On weekends, our workshops are often fully booked. We also have mothers that would bring their kids over to tuft because they believe it is a better activity than spending it in front of gadgets.”
In addition to tufting, Tutufun regularly organises a variety of art workshops. Visit Tutufun Studio’s social media pages on Facebook and Instagram to see more of their activities.
