Textile crafters, enthusiasts converge in Philly first-ever tufting convention

TuftCon celebrates craft that grew popular during pandemic thanks to social media... and a West Philly business
One of the projects crafted at this weekend's TuftCon, at the Asian Arts Initiative.
One of the projects crafted at this weekend's TuftCon, at the Asian Arts Initiative. Photo credit John McDevitt/KYW Newsradio

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The first-ever tufting convention, or TuftCon, is happening this weekend in Philadelphia.

TuftCon is a celebration of the craft of making rugs and textile projects, which gained popularity during the pandemic, thanks to social media and a West Philly small business. It takes place all weekend at the Asian Arts Initiative, on Vine Street near 12th Street.

Using tufting guns threaded with yarn, crafters of all ages and skill levels have been creating textile projects at the convention. Among them was Philly resident Clee Ross.

“I am working off of imagination just trying to make something happen. This is my first time doing this, but I’m having a good time doing it,” he said of the emblem he crafted. “That came to me years ago and this is an opportunity to bring it to life.”

A crafter works on a project at TuftCon.
Photo credit John McDevitt/KYW Newsradio

West Philly-based business Tuft the World organized the convention. “This weekend we have demos, lectures. All weekend we are doing two workshops, advanced and beginners,” said fiber artist and Tuft the World CEO Tim Eads.

Sales went through the roof for the small company during the isolation of the pandemic, when people were looking for things to do by themselves. The group shipped tufting tools and materials all over the world.

Many of Eads’ customers demonstrated their skills and even sold their work by way of social media platforms. Some of those tufting influencers are in the spotlight at TuftCon.

“If you don’t know how to tuft, you can learn how to tuft,” said Eads.

Featured Image Photo Credit: John McDevitt/KYW Newsradio