I have always wanted to try tufting, I have seen videos online and knew I wanted to try the craft.
And seeing as I now had my weekends to myself I thought to treat myself to a class. I have heard good things about Banana Labs and seeing as I would be in Richmond, thought to stop there for my first experience.
I should of booked an appointment, but emotionally couldn’t commit to the date and a time in my head space. I ended up walking in and was lucky to be able to tuft on the spot. With two women working a full room, and a sold out booking in an hour the workshop was busy. The two employees were constantly on the go, starting something then being pulled away by a customer’s question.
The price is dependant on the size of canvas you choose, most of which are a square. The smallest being 30cmx30cm for $88, 50×50 for $139, 70×70 for $189, 100×100 is $229 and 100×150 $369. You are given more time per booking based on the dimension. I went with the beginner level, which would normally be 2 hours. The largest 6.5 hours.
As they stretched a canvas over a wooden frame with nails sticking out pointy side up, I was tasked to choosing my colours.
You are able to choose your image from any flat design. You upload or send them a photo and using a projector it gets traced on to the canvas for you to follow.
There is a quick tutorial that is easy to understand. You learn how to thread and load a tufting gun, followed by a quick demo and the best practices. You are then left to your own devices. If time, they will check-in and offer help.
There is a learning curve. I found myself not pushing in hard enough and thus puncturing larger holes in my canvas. The more I maneuvered the gun the better I got, but still had difficulty aiming. To be honest with my time crunch I dedicated myself to working fast to finish it all today. And the result is a very thick tuft.
In reality you want to work in small sections for accuracy and to ensure proper spacing in between of tufting for crisp lines, especially with border work. And if you don’t finish you can return via another booking at no extra charge, to finish.
I liked the activity, but with my ADHD was chasing the dopamine rush at its completion. The cost was unsteady lines and blurred colours, but a piece that is true to me. In truth, I don’t have the patience for this tedious work, and even groaned at learning I had to give my Cactus with needles a background to be able to capture each individual outward sticking needle line.
My time was up and my canvas was removed completed. They will complete the work by sealing and trimming the extra yarn. And when completed I will get a call that is ready for pick up. I might try also try the other crafts they offer, seeing as I have to return any how.
I walked away arms sore from holding the heavy gun continuously and despite my best efforts knicked my knuckles and the back of my hand on the nails we were warned to avoid.
I highly recommend doing this one alone to fully engage and enjoy the experience. There were a few groups and a couple of couples. The latter bickered over creative control, I wouldn’t want to share a canvas, to avoid this.
Banana Tufting & DIY Art Lab
3231 No 6 Rd #137, Richmond, BC V6V 0C2
(604) 785-0086
bananaartlab.square.site
