Wool or acrylic yarn for tufting — which should you choose? Explore
the key differences in feel, durability, cost, and colour, and discover why Tufting London,
the UK’s first professional tufting studio with 1,400+ five-star reviews, uses only the
best yarn for your handmade rug.

The Yarn Question Every Tufter Asks
The moment you start exploring tufting — whether you’re preparing for your first
workshop or thinking about setting up at home — one question comes up almost
immediately: should I use wool or acrylic yarn?
It sounds like a simple choice, but the answer has a real impact on how your rug looks,
feels, wears over time, and how enjoyable the tufting process itself is. The right yarn can
elevate a good rug into a great one. The wrong yarn choice can leave you disappointed
with the result.
As the UK’s first ever professional tufting studio, Tufting London has guided
thousands of makers through this exact question. We’ve worked with every yarn type
imaginable, across every style of rug, and we know exactly what works — and why.
Here is everything you need to know about wool vs acrylic yarn for tufting.

What Is Wool Yarn?

Wool is a natural fibre sheared from sheep and other animals including alpaca, merino,
and Shetland breeds. It has been used in textile making for thousands of years and
remains one of the most respected and sought-after fibres in the craft world.
In rug making and tufting, wool is often considered the gold standard. Its natural crimp
and elasticity give tufted rugs a beautifully lush, springy pile that bounces back
underfoot and holds its shape over time.
Key qualities of wool yarn for tufting:

Naturally soft, warm, and luxurious to the touch
Excellent durability — wool fibres resist crushing and wear
Natural flame resistance — an important safety quality for floor rugs
Absorbs dye beautifully, producing rich, deep, nuanced colours
Biodegradable and sustainably sourced when responsibly produced
Natural moisture-wicking properties — resists dirt and staining to a degree
Heavier weight — gives rugs a substantial, premium feel
Wool yarn is the material of choice for high-end, heirloom-quality rugs. When you run
your hand across a well-tufted wool rug, there is an unmistakable richness and depth to
the texture that is very hard to replicate with synthetic fibres.

What Is Acrylic Yarn?

Acrylic is a synthetic fibre made from petroleum-based polymers, developed in the mid-
20th century as a more affordable, easily produced alternative to natural fibres. Today,

acrylic yarn is one of the most widely used craft yarns in the world.
In the tufting community, acrylic yarn has a huge and dedicated following — and for
good reason. Modern acrylic yarns have come a long way from their scratchy, plasticky
predecessors. High-quality acrylic is soft, consistent, and available in an almost
limitless range of colours and weights.
Key qualities of acrylic yarn for tufting:
Very affordable — significantly cheaper than wool, making it ideal for large projects
Huge colour range — vivid, bright, and consistent shades that wool sometimes can’t
match
Lightweight and easy to work with
Resistant to moths and many common allergens
Machine washable in many cases — practical for everyday rugs
Consistent thickness — great for beginners learning tension control
Wide availability — easy to source in bulk
For tufters who love bold, graphic designs with striking colour contrasts, acrylic yarn is

often the go-to choice. Its colour consistency means the bright red you start with on day
one is the exact same bright red when you pick up more from the shop — something that
natural dye processes in wool can’t always guarantee.

The Key Differences Explained

1.Feel and Texture Underfoot

This is where wool wins decisively for most people. Wool has a natural crimp — a slight
waviness in each individual fibre — that gives it a springy, cushioned feel underfoot that

acrylic simply cannot fully replicate. High-quality wool rugs have a depth and richness
of texture that feels genuinely luxurious.
That said, premium acrylic yarns — especially chunky, high-twist varieties — can
produce a surprisingly plush and satisfying pile. For wall art and decorative pieces
(rather than floor rugs), the textural difference between wool and acrylic matters
considerably less.

2. Colour and Design

Acrylic is unbeatable for colour range and consistency. If you are planning a rug with
vivid neons, ultra-bright primaries, or very precise colour matching, acrylic gives you
the most control. The synthetic dyeing process produces colours that are bold, uniform,
and reliably consistent across different batches.
Wool offers something different — a beautiful, slightly variegated depth of colour that
looks more organic and painterly. Wool tones tend to be richer and more complex, but
the palette is somewhat narrower, particularly at the brighter end of the spectrum.
For designs inspired by nature, traditional patterns, or muted, sophisticated palettes —
wool is hard to beat. For bold graphic art, pop designs, and maximalist colour plays —
acrylic shines.

3. Durability and Longevity

For floor rugs that will experience daily foot traffic, wool is the more durable long-term
choice. Wool fibres have a natural elasticity that allows them to spring back after
compression, resisting the flattening that can affect heavily used rugs over time.
Acrylic can pill — where small fibre balls form on the surface — under repeated friction,
particularly with lower-quality yarns. For wall-hung textile art or occasional-use rugs,
this is rarely an issue. For a kitchen rug or hallway runner that sees heavy daily use, wool
will outlast acrylic comfortably.

4. Cost and Accessibility

Acrylic is significantly cheaper than wool, often by a factor of two to three times. For a
large rug requiring several hundred grams of yarn, this price difference adds up quickly.
This makes acrylic the natural choice for beginners experimenting with tufting for the
first time, or for makers who want to create large-scale pieces without a significant
materials budget.
Wool is an investment — but one that pays off in the finished quality of the piece. A
tufted wool rug is not just a craft project; it is a genuine home furnishing that can last decades with proper care.

5. Sustainability
For environmentally conscious makers, this is an increasingly important factor. Wool is a
natural, renewable, and biodegradable fibre — when responsibly and ethically sourced,
it is one of the more sustainable choices in the textile world.
Acrylic is a synthetic plastic fibre. It is not biodegradable, and like all synthetic textiles,
it can shed microplastics when washed. For makers who prioritise environmental impact
in their craft practice, wool is the more aligned choice — though the picture is nuanced,
as wool production does carry its own environmental footprint.

Which Yarn Is Best for Tufting Beginners?
If you are attending a tufting workshop for the first time, the most important thing is not
which fibre you choose — it’s that you enjoy the process and leave with a piece you’re
proud of. Both wool and acrylic work beautifully through a tufting gun, and expert
instructors can guide you in making the right choice for your specific design.
For beginners, acrylic’s consistency and affordability make it a forgiving, practical
starting point. As your confidence and skill grows, exploring premium wool yarns opens
up a new level of quality and craftsmanship in your finished rugs.

With over 1,400 five-star Google reviews and a reputation as London’s most loved
tufting studio, we have built our name on delivering not just a fun experience — but a
genuinely high-quality finished rug that our makers are proud to take home and display.
We were the first studio in the UK to run professional tufting workshops — and we
remain the gold standard for quality, expertise, and experience.

Book Your Tufting Workshop in London

Come and make your first rug — or your fifteenth — in London’s original, professional
tufting studio. Daily workshops available for individuals, couples, friends, families, and
groups of up to 20.

Tufting London — London’s Original Tufting Studio (Nine Elms Station, Northern
Line, Zone 1)
Book your tufting workshop at tuftinglondon.com

Tufting London — The UK’s First Professional Tufting Studio, Founded 2022. Over 1,400
Five-Star Reviews.