How To Punch Needle For Beginners
Punch needle and rug hooking are making a comeback, and it’s not surprising because this craft is so fun and relatively easy to learn! I learned how to punch needle a couple of years ago, and I wanted to share some tips for learning this fun craft quickly and easily.
When I first started, I had a lot of questions about what materials I needed, how it actually works, and how the thread stays in place. We’ll review everything you need to know so you can get started confidently.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. I receive a small commission from purchases at no additional cost to the buyer. I only recommend products I use and trust.
How To Punch Needle
How Punch Needle Works
A punch needle tool pushes the yarn through the fabric, creating loops. The loops of yarn become densely packed into the fabric, making the fibers secure and preventing unraveling.
Your work has a front and back. While you are punching, you are working on the backside. The working/back side forms smaller, flatter stitches.
The loops are formed on the front side of the work, and the fiber pile is taller.
While there is such a thing as the front and back of the work, there is no right and wrong side; you can alternate which side of the fabric you punch on to create variation and different textures!
Punch Needle Favorites
Punch Needle Tools
There are a few different types and sizes of punch needle tools.
You can purchase punch needle tools at most craft stores. They are usually plastic and come with a variety of needle sizes. Different sizes are nice if you’re working with various weights of yarn.
Then there is the Oxford Punch Needle, which I use. This tool is a little pricier, but it’s worth it because the wood and metal are high quality and the handle is ergonomic, making it easy to hold and use. The tools come in different sizes, but the needles are not interchangeable, so you’ll have to buy each size you want to use. The needle doesn’t require a threading wire like some of the plastic tools sometimes need, so it is a bit simpler to thread.
Buy the Oxford Punch on Etsy.
Needle Sizes
Sizing can vary across products, but here are some general rules.
The needle length and the needle width determine the needle size.
Needle Width
The wider the needle is, the heavier the yarn you can use. Heavier yarn will give you a “chunkier” look to your work. Finer needles use more delicate yarn or embroidery floss. (Oxford punch needles come in “fine” and “regular” needle widths.)
Needle Length
The needle length determines how high the loops or piles will be. Oxford punch needles come in sizes 8-14. The smaller the number, the longer the needle length/pile will be. The larger the number, the shorter the needle length/pile.
For the tutorials below, I’m using a #9 regular needle.
Yarns and Threads to Use
You can use a wide variety of different fibers for punch needle.
- Use thinner yarns and embroidery floss with finer needles.
- For thicker needles, use heavier/chunkier yarns.
Wool, acrylic, and cotton yarns are all fine to use. I like experimenting with different weights and types of yarn to get a feel for the best weight with whatever size needle I’d like to use. To learn more, check out this post about yarn lingo and sizing.
Fabric
There are a couple of different fabrics that work well. Linen, monk’s cloth, and burlap are all fabrics you can use. You may have to test out a fabric with whatever punch needle and fibers you use to ensure it works okay. This process was a bit of trial and error for me.
I have only used monk’s cloth, and I had a hard time finding the right kind when I first started learning. Initially, I bought some monk’s cloth from Amazon, but the holes/weave of the fabric were too loose. It’s hard to tell what you’ll get when you shop online. It would be the easiest to purchase at a rug hooking or needlecraft store if there is one nearby where you live!
If you don’t have a local store to purchase from, this monk’s cloth is a good one to use.
Use a fabric with a tight enough weave to hold the stitches in place but not too tight that you have to force the needle through and tear the fabric.
Frames
Punch needling requires tension on the fabric, so a hoop or frame is ideal. Whatever you use, it must evenly grip the fabric and not slip.
I personally use a Q-snap frame, but a plastic no-slip embroidery hoop works well, too. You can also make your punch needle frame.
How Does Punch Needle Stay?
I was slightly surprised to learn that punch needle doesn’t involve knots.
The stitches stay in place because of the tension of the fabric’s weave and the loops made when you punch. The loops get packed together enough that the punch needle stays securely in the fabric!
How To Thread a Punch Needle
Threading varies depending on the tool you are using. Both types of needles work the same way, but the process of threading them is a bit different.
Some require threaders to pull the yarn through, and others, such as the Oxford punch needle, have a slit in the handle, so you don’t need to use a threader.
Using a Threader Tool
This video shows you how to use a threader tool.
Threading the Oxford Punch Needle
Place the yarn through hollow opening of the needle and then through the round hole of the needle.
Leave a tail dangling out of the needle and hold it securely as you pull the rest of the thread through the slit in the wooden handle.
Leave about an inch of yarn hanging off at the tip of the needle.
How To Use a Punch Needle
Starting Stitches
- With your threaded punch needle, punch down through the fabric all the way to the base of the handle. It is important to punch all the way down to the base of the handle each time so that the loops on the back are even in height.
- Make sure the opening of the needle is facing toward the direction you want to go.
- Pull the tail of the thread so that it is hanging on the back of the fabric.
- Carefully lift the punch needle back up, keeping the needle tip touching the surface of the fabric. Lifting up too high will cause your stitches to be loose and uneven.
- Skip slightly ahead and then punch the needle back down through the fabric.
- When you want to change directions, keep the punch needle’s opening toward the direction you want to go.
Ending Stitches
- Flip the fabric over and trim the piece of thread coming out of the tip of the needle.
- Take your tool out of the fabric.
- You can then trim both tails to be the same length as the loops you’ve made so that they blend in.
Fixing Mistakes
If you make a mistake, it’s crucial to catch and fix it quickly! You’ll have to unravel the punch needle until you reach the mistake.
Remove your punch needle from the fabric, but keep the tool threaded. I normally place it on top of the fabric while undoing the stitches.
Carefully unravel the stitches until you are at a point where you’d like to start again.
Run your finger over the holes where the previous stitches were to fix the weave of the fabric.
Pull the thread from the back of your punch needle until it is tight and there is no slack between it and the fabric. Then, begin to stitch again.
How to Finish Punch Needle Projects
There are many ways to finish a punch needle project!
- You can keep the project in the hoop or frame you made it in.
- Make it into a rug
- Make a pillow out of it
Punch Needle Kits and Patterns
A great way to put your skills into practice is by using a kit or pattern! You can buy various kits, like this one, which includes everything you need to complete the project, including the punch needle. Also, check out this post about free punch needle patterns.
Amanda is a hand embroidery teacher and artist. With over 15 years of experience in the craft industry and embroidery, she owns and runs Crewel Ghoul, sharing accessible tutorials and patterns to help inspire fellow crafters to get creative. In addition to running this website, she teaches on Skillshare and Youtube.
