We are huge fans of tufting (of course!). It’s fun, can also be therapeutic, and satisfying, especially when we finally watch our design come to life. But behind all that, there’s one hidden issue that our tufties often ask about: “What happens with all the yarn waste? Do they get thrown away?” It’s a valid concern as tufting procedures do leave a lot of leftover yarn; from the tufting itself down to the shaving process.
As a tufting studio, we take this concern seriously. We believe that crafting and sustainability should go hand in hand. It took us some time to research, experiment, and figure out what we could do with these leftovers. At one point, we even had 200 kg of leftover yarn sitting in bags because we hadn’t found the right solution just yet!
Eventually, we came up with a simple solution to give a second life to these leftover yarns. All yarn scraps from tufting classes are collected, cleaned, and reused as filling materials for our cushion-making class. This practice not only minimizes waste but also adds a layer of intention to the crafting experience, both to you and to you tufties that choose the cushion class. We also use them for the filling of our bean bags at the studio.
One simple habit that supports this sustainability effort is by switching your shoes into our indoor sandals at the studio (our nemo sandals are definitely kids' favorite!). It may seem like a small effort, but it helps us keep our studio free from outside dirt and dust so that the yarn can be reused and ready for its next purpose. And that is why we also believe that sustainability is a practice that needs everyone’s contribution. We’re very grateful for everyone's support.
At the end of the day, crafting shouldn’t only be about creating something beautiful, it should also be about being mindful and responsible of the materials we use. And turns out, those responsible choices can also be turned into something beautiful and in our case.. comfy. We’re continuously exploring what other steps we can take to turn all your creativity into something that looks good, feels good, and does good. Hopefully we’ll come up with many more ideas that let your creativity live on in new, thoughtful ways. Or if you have any idea and would love to collaborate with us regarding this matter, our door is open!