You've got your tufting gun. You've got your yarn. You're ready to go.
Then you look at the needle and realise you have absolutely no idea how to get the yarn through it.
Don't worry — every single tufter has been here. Threading a tufting gun looks confusing the first time, but once you know the method it takes less than two minutes. This guide shows you exactly how to do it, step by step.
⚡ Quick Answer: How to Thread a Tufting Gun
- Cut the yarn end cleanly — at a sharp angle for easier feeding
- Insert the threader through the needle eye — from front to back
- Hook the yarn onto the threader loop
- Pull the threader back through the needle — bringing the yarn with it
- Feed the yarn through the yarn guide at the top or side of the gun body
- Pull through enough yarn — around 10–15cm of tail hanging free
- You're ready to tuft
What You'll Need
- Your tufting gun — this guide works for the AK-V 2-in-1 and most standard tufting gun models
- Your yarn — bulky weight, low-twist recommended
- A yarn threader — essential for getting yarn through the needle cleanly
- Sharp scissors — for cutting a clean yarn end before threading
Why a Threader Makes All the Difference
The eye of a tufting gun needle is small and the yarn is thick. Trying to push yarn through by hand — especially mid-session when you're changing colours — is genuinely frustrating.
A yarn threader is a thin, flexible tool with a small loop at the end. You feed it through the needle, hook your yarn onto the loop, and pull it back through. The whole thing takes seconds.
It sounds simple because it is. But without one, threading becomes the most annoying part of an otherwise enjoyable process.
Our Tufting Threaders (3-piece set) are included in the Starter Kit for exactly this reason — and we recommend keeping at least two or three on hand because they have a habit of disappearing mid-session.
Step-by-Step: How to Thread Your Tufting Gun
Step 1: Cut a Clean Yarn End
Start by cutting the end of your yarn at a sharp diagonal angle using a pair of scissors.
A clean, angled cut creates a pointed tip that feeds through the needle eye far more easily than a blunt or frayed end. If the yarn end is fluffy or unravelling, trim it back until it's neat and tight.
Step 2: Insert the Threader Through the Needle Eye
Hold your tufting gun with the needle facing you.
Take your yarn threader and insert the looped end through the needle eye — pushing it from the front of the needle through to the back. You should see the small loop of the threader poking out on the back side of the needle.
If the needle eye is hard to see clearly, tilt the gun toward a light source — the eye will catch the light and become much easier to locate.
Step 3: Hook the Yarn Onto the Threader
Take the cut end of your yarn and feed it through the loop of the threader.
Pull a few centimetres of yarn through the loop so it's securely hooked — not just resting in it. The yarn needs to be captured firmly enough that it doesn't slip out when you pull the threader back through.
Step 4: Pull the Threader Back Through the Needle
Holding the yarn steady with one hand, use your other hand to pull the threader back through the needle eye — back toward the front of the needle.
The yarn will follow the threader through the eye as you pull. Go slowly and steadily — pulling too fast can cause the yarn to slip off the threader loop before it's fully through.
Once the yarn end appears on the front side of the needle, pull through until you have around 10–15cm of yarn tail hanging free on the front side.
Step 5: Check the Feed and Tension
Before you start tufting, do a quick check:
- Pull the yarn gently from the cone end — it should feed smoothly through the guide and needle without catching
- The yarn tail at the needle end should be 10–15cm long — enough to anchor your first few stitches without pulling back through the needle when you start
- There should be no twists, knots, or tangles between the cone and the needle
If everything looks clear, you're ready to go.
How to Change Colours Mid-Project
Changing yarn colour mid-project is where threading speed really matters. Here's the quickest method:
1. Cut the current yarn close to the back of the gun — leave a short tail on the needle side.
2. Tie or simply butt the new colour against the old end on the cone side — you don't need to fully rethread if the old yarn is still in the guide.
3. If you do need to fully rethread — repeat the steps above with the new colour. With practice, this takes under 60 seconds.
4. Pull the join through a few stitches into the tufting cloth before you continue — this hides any inconsistency at the colour change point.
Common Threading Problems (And How to Fix Them)
| Problem | Likely Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Yarn keeps slipping off the threader | Yarn end not hooked firmly enough | Push more yarn through the threader loop before pulling back |
| Yarn won't feed smoothly | Twist or tangle between cone and needle | Check the yarn guide — make sure there are no knots or crossed threads |
| Yarn pulls back through the needle when you start | Tail too short | Leave a longer tail — at least 10–15cm before you begin |
| Needle eye hard to find | Poor lighting | Tilt gun toward a light source — the eye will catch the light |
| Yarn fraying and won't feed through | Blunt or ragged cut | Re-cut at a sharp diagonal angle and try again |
Threading Tips From Experience
- Always cut a fresh, clean end before threading — even if the yarn looks fine, a quick trim makes the whole process easier
- Keep multiple threaders within reach — colour changes are much faster when you're not hunting for your only threader across the studio
- Thread before you stretch your fabric — get the gun ready before you start the session so you can go straight into tufting once the frame is set up
- Practise on a scrap piece first — if you're new to a gun, do a few test stitches on spare fabric before starting your actual project
Everything You Need, All in One Place
If you're just getting started and still pulling together your kit, our All-in-One Tufting Starter Kit (£389.00) includes the AK-V tufting gun, aluminium frame, tufting cloth, backing fabric, scissors, and a 3-piece threader set — everything you need to go from unboxed to tufting in one session.
Already have a gun? Pick up a replacement threader set separately at UK Tufting — they're small, they get lost, and you'll definitely want spares.
Browse tufting guns, threaders, and everything else at UK Tufting.
Thread it. Tuft it. Make something great. 🧵
Ready to keep going? Learn how to set up your tufting frame, find out which yarn works best for tufting, or read our guide on how to finish your rug once the tufting is done.