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What is Punch Needle?
A
member
of
the
embroidery
family,
punch
needling
is a
fun,
tactile
craft
that
offers
a
cool,
textured
finish.
Punch
needling
is
considered
faster
than
traditional
embroidery
as
it
doesn’t
involve
small
needles
or
complex
stitches.
Rather,
punch
needling
is
done
using
a
special
punch
needle
tool
and
a
series
of
single
loops,
one
after
another,
until
you
have
created
a
sweeping,
cohesive
image
or
pattern.
You
can
use
punch
needling
to
create
trendy
wall
hangings,
one-of-a-kind
cushions
covers,
beautiful
bags,
plush
toys,
and
you
can
even
experiment
with
rug
creating.
The
best
part?
The
learning
curve
for
punch
needling
is
minimal,
so
you
can
create
plenty
of
pretty
pieces
in
no
time
at
all.
The History of Punch Needle
The
exact
history
of
punch
needling
is a
contentious
one,
but
it
is
agreed
that
it’s
been
around
for
hundreds
of
years.
There
are
records
of
its
use
in
medieval
times
and
by
the
Ancient
Egyptians,
who
would
have
used
punch
needling
to
decorate
their
religious
robes.
The
first
proper
punch
needling
tool
is
accredited
to
Ebenezer
Ross,
an
Ohioan
man
who
named
the
tool
“the
Griffin.”
This
tool
quickly
surpassed
early
rug
hooking
tools
for
its
agility.
The
Griffin
became
available
widely,
offering
folks
the
chance
to
create
items
at
home,
such
as
rugs
to
sell
for
a
profit.
With
inventions
like
the
tufting
gun,
punch
needling
fell
off
the
radar
for
a
while.
However,
there
has
been
a
resurgence
in
its
use
in
the
last
decade,
thanks
to
social
media
and
blogs.
People
have
been
using
punch
needle
to
express
themselves
as a
hobby
or
even
as
fine
art.
What is the Difference between Embroidery and Punch Needling?
Punch
needling
is
considered
a
form
of
embroidery,
but
they
are
rather
different.
Embroidery
is
used
to
embellish
fabrics
with
colors
or
by
adding
materials
such
as
gems,
pearls,
beads,
and
more. Embroidery
is
usually
done
on
clothing
or
accessories
and
blankets
or
bags.
Embroidery
requires
you
to
use
a
small
needle
to
apply
thread
or
yarn,
with
hand
stitches
ranging
from
basic
to
intricate.
Punch
needling
does
not
require
needles
nor
stitches.
Instead,
you
simply
loop
your
yarn
or
wool
into
the
canvas!
Punch
needling
requires
specific
tools
that
help
pull
the
canvas
very
tight
to
avoid
and
runs
or
pulls.
Once
you
are
in a
rhythm
of
punching,
it
is a
speedy
process.
This
is
unlike
embroidery,
which
requires
attention
to
detail
and
therefore
takes
more
time.
What is the Difference between Rug Hooking and Punch Needling?
While
one
could
make
a
rug
using
a
punch
needle
tool,
they
are
different
crafts.
The
techniques
are
similar,
but
the
main
difference
is
that
rug
hooking
uses
a
rug
hooker
pull,
which
pulls
the
materials
loop
up
with
its
hook.
Alternatively,
the
punch
needle
punches
the
loop
down
when
pushed
down.
Essentially,
they
do
the
opposite!
What Supplies Do I Need for Punch Needle?
Let’s
get
started
with
punch
needling!
To
begin,
you
will
need
to
acquire
the
following
items:
- Punch Needle
- Wire Threading Tool
- Foundation Fabric
- Yarn
- Frame or Hoop
- Patterns
- Scissors
- Pattern (optional)
Punch
Needle
Punch needle tools can vary in length and width to accommodate different materials thickness, but they will always have a long, hollow, long metal tube with a small hole on the end, which the thread or yarn will run through. Punch needles have handles, typically wooden, to allow you to grip easily. An Oxford Punch Needle Tool is a great starting option.
Wire
Threading
Tool
A
small
wire
threading
tool
will
help
thread
your
yarn
into
your
punch
needle!
They’re
very
small
and
can
be
reused
again
and
again.
Foundation
Fabric
When punch needling, the fabric is your canvas! The most common fabric to use is monk’s cloth, a rough fabric made out of cotton or linen, with detailed 4×4 weaves making it easy to follow along. Linen and burlap are also suitable for punch needling but be mindful of the thickness of the fabric and the size of your punch needle.
Yarn
Yarn is a fun part of punch needling, as you can play around with the types and colors! It is best to start with 100% wool or wool/acrylic blends, as they are easiest to punch and offer a full, yet cozy feel. If you are super unfamiliar with yarn, note that size 1 means the yarn is super fine, and size 6 means it is very bulky. What you pick will depend on your punch needle, but size 4 is usually standard.
Frame or
Hoop
A frame is important as it holds the foundation fabric snug while you punch. You can opt for circular hoops such as the no-slip embroidery hoop or the q-snap PVC frames or the rectangular frames, such as gripper strip frames. You can also DIY with an old paint canvas by removing the canvas and using staplers or grips. Whatever you choose, be mindful there is enough tension as it needs to be tight to keep your work in place.
Pattern
If
you
feel
confident,
you
can
freehand
your
design
on
your
canvas!
Otherwise,
you
can
sketch
your
rough
idea
to
follow
along,
maybe
putting
“b”
for
blue
or
“p”
for
pink
to
remind
yourself
what
colors
to
use
in
what
areas.
Alternatively,
you
can
print
a
free
pattern
online
to
trace
onto
the
foundation
fabric
to
follow
along
for
more
precision.
Scissors
You
will
want
scissors
for
cutting
your
foundation
cloth
to
size
and
the
yarn
as
you
go
along!
Punch
Needle
Kits
For
beginners,
it’s
always
nice
to
start
with
kits
that
come
with
all
the
tools
and
supplies
that
you
need
with
a
pattern
that
you
already
like!
At
times,
it
will
also
come
with
helpful
instructions.
Here
are
some
cute
kits
you
can
get
started
with
on
your
punch
needling
journey.
