tuftade

Tuftade is a term used in textile arts to describe the technique of creating tufts on a fabric surface, yielding a raised, textured pattern. It is not a single fixed method but a broad category that can apply to a range of tufting practices, whether hand- or machine-made, and applicable to different substrates.

In tuftade, short lengths of fiber are inserted into a ground fabric using a needle, a tufting gun, or similar tools. Each tuft is secured by backing, stitching, or adhesive. Variants include loop tufting, which forms small loops, and cut tufting, in which tufts are trimmed to a defined height to produce a plush pile. The density and height of tufts affect texture and appearance.

Applications include carpets and rugs, upholstery fabrics, decorative textiles, and contemporary art pieces. Tuftade enables decorative motifs, color interplay, and three-dimensional textures, and is often used to add tactile interest to a surface.

Etymology and usage: the term tuftade appears in some textile glossaries and artist catalogs as a descriptor for tufted surfaces. It is not universally standardized and may be used variably by designers. The more general terms tufting or pile are more common in standard textile writing.

See also: tufting, pile (textile), rug, upholstery, punch needle.