Tufting Workshop: Make Your Own Rug or Wall Hanging

Hotwalls Studios in Old Portsmouth is hosting a tufting workshop on Saturday 15 August, and if you've ever wanted to make your own rug, this is a good place to start. The whole point is to learn how to use a tufting gun—that handheld tool that shoots yarn through fabric—and use it to make a tufted mini rug or a wall hanging. You're not just watching someone else do it; you're the one holding the gun and working your way across the frame.

If you've never heard of tufting, it's essentially a way of creating a thick, plush pile of fabric. You work with yarn and a tufting gun to punch loops of thread through a stretched piece of backing cloth, and as you go, the pattern you've mapped out starts to build up in texture. By the end of the session, you'll have a small rug or a wall hanging that you've made yourself from scratch.

It's held at Hotwalls Studios, tucked away in Old Portsmouth, so it's a decent excuse to head down towards the water for the day. The workshop is aimed at beginners, so you don't need to have any experience with textiles or sewing to get stuck in—the session is designed to take you through the process from the first few stitches to the finished piece.

Places cost £95 per person. If you're keen, you can find more details and book your spot through the visitportsmouth.co.uk listing.