Tufting guide
How to choose yarn colors for a rug
A screen palette is a design plan, not an exact yarn match. Choose colors that remain distinct in real materials and under the lighting where you will work.
Quick workflow
- Choose the darkest outline and lightest field first.
- Add only colors that create a useful boundary.
- Compare colors under workshop lighting.
- Record substitutions in the project before tufting.
RugReady does these steps on your iPhone, with a free sample to try first.Get the app →
Build the light and dark structure first
Pick the darkest and lightest areas, then compare the middle colors against both. Two similar yarns may merge visually even if the screen swatches look different. Place physical yarn samples side by side before buying the full quantity.
Give every extra color a purpose
An additional color should explain a shape, separate overlapping objects, or preserve a defining feature. If it only creates a few scattered dots, consider merging those regions. Keep a simple written mapping between each stencil color and the yarn you plan to use.
Treat quantities as adjustable estimates
Yarn use varies with material, pile height, density, and technique. Make a small sample when possible, compare actual use with your estimate, and allow for waste. A color covering most of the design deserves more attention than a tiny accent when planning the purchase.
Before you start: Confirm physical color matches and yarn availability before tufting. On-screen colors and estimated weights are not guarantees of the finished result.
Planning quantities? Use the free tufting yarn calculator to estimate grams from rug size and pile height.
Do it in RugReady
RugReady combines palette controls with a yarn estimate by color. Adjust the estimate to reflect your own yarn usage as you gain experience.
Explore the app workflow →