You’ve made your own candle, pizza and painting — but have you ever made your own rug? Tufting House, located just outside Victoria Park, can help you do just that. It specializes in making rug-crafting less intimidating than it sounds.
In fact, co-founder Alex Antonio broke into the industry by coincidence — some might call it fate. “I became fascinated with it after watching some videos on TikTok but I didn’t want to invest in a tufting setup for myself, unsure if I would enjoy it,” Antonio says. “When I looked for a place to try it out, I had a hard time finding availability. Eventually, my friend Jorge found a class, and once we tried it, we were completely hooked. I realized soon after that others in our community might also enjoy learning something new.”
“Making a rug from scratch gives them something completely custom,” adds studio manager Patricia Tineo. “Even if it’s a design that has been done before, the colors and patterns are almost always different. You can come in and create almost anything you can think of and leave with something you’re truly proud of.”
Their goal is to “captivate art form, specifically the creation of loops using yarn on a canvas.” With their help, you can bring to life the perfect rug that symbolizes who you are and the home you’ve built. They offer a comprehensive tufting experience that will guide you through the entire process. “The most important thing for us, outside of our guest’s safety and comfort, is that they have a good time,” shares co-founder Amanda Antonio. “We’ve spent a little over a year now perfecting our process and building our team, and every choice we’ve made has been with the guest experience in mind. Our team is our greatest asset, because they will do everything they can to make sure you have fun and leave with a unique piece of art.”
They even provide all the materials and tools you need, so you won’t have to worry about sourcing your own supplies or whether your products are top-notch. In doing so, they remove the headaches that can come with the research and trial-and-error route.
The best part about the rug-making process is unlocking creativity through a new avenue of art. The steps include choosing your own yarn colors and textures, then crafting your own patterns and motifs on your work of art. The passionate instructors guide you through the whole process, from tracing your design to completing the finished product.
“Classes are the most fun when everyone is vibing, the music has everyone singing along, and there’s a sense of community whether people know each other or not,” says co-founder Jorge Parrado. “Guests will check out each other’s rugs and compliment complete strangers. I’ve even witnessed folks walking out of class having made new friends, which is not something I ever expected would happen. Those are the moments that make it feel like it’s not just work.”
