Punch needle embroidery is a simple and therapeutic craft that involves nothing more than a punch needle, some yarn and some cloth. It’s easy to learn, and its repetitive action makes this the perfect, mindful pursuit. The punch needle, which is used for the technique itself, is a little like a normal sewing needle, but with a handle. The eye of the needle is the stabbing end, which you punch through the fabric. It can be used on any loose-weave fabric using either yarn, fabric strips or embroidery thread, and it creates a beautiful texture of loops and stitches.
This punch needle embroidery tutorial is designed by Lucy Davidson and was originally published in Love Embroidery magazine issue 5.
What is punch needle embroidery?
Punch needle embroidery is a popular craft for beginners, and the possibilities of projects are endless. As opposed to usual embroidery techniques where the needle goes through the fabric, with punch needle embroidery the needle stays on the surface. When the needle is punched through the fabric it leaves a lovely textured design, you'll see the similarities between it and rug making.
If you want to get up to speed on the basics of embroidery, check out our embroidery for beginners which features all the basics of embroidery. Plus if you want to learn new stitches or brush up on your knowledge, head over to our embroidery stitches library.
If you're new to this craft, take a look at our punch needle embroidery kits, you'll find a round up our favourite kits which contain everything you need to create your first punch needle embroidery designs.
Materials you'll need for punch needle embroidery:
- Monks cloth or high quality hessian fabric: 60x50cm
- Wooden frame or embroidery hoop
- Chunky wool: beige, light blue, medium blue, brown, cream, pink, teal, yellow
- Punch needle
- Wool needle
- Wooden dowel: 60cm
- Marker pen
- Basic embroidery kit
- Flower pot punch needle embroidery template
How to needle punch
First things first, you'll need to know the basics on needle punching. Follow this easy 4-step guide to master your new craft.
Step 1
To start off, it’s best to secure your fabric to a wooden frame using drawing pins or a staple gun. If you don’t have a wooden frame you can use a large embroidery hoop, but make sure your fabric is nice and taught as you need a good tension for needle punching. Make sure you keep the grain lines of the fabric straight too for a neater and more even finish.
Step 2
Thread one end of the yarn through the hole at the end of the punch needle from the open shaft side and out through the flat side, pulling about 30cm through it. Take the other end of the yarn which is attached to the skein or ball and pull it down into the slot in the handle. Keep pulling it until the yarn lies inside the slot and you have about 3cm of yarn coming out of the eye.
Step 3
Hold the punch needle like a pencil and punch it straight down into the fabric so that the shaft of the needle has gone all the way down and the handle meets the fabric. This forms the start of the first stitch as the punch needle makes a loop of yarn on the reverse side of the fabric. The loops are held in place by the tension of the fabric, so make sure you keep this taut.
Step 4
Bring the needle back out and move along roughly 5mm. Take care not to bring the needle out too far as you will pull the loop out. Move the needle along the design line or area you want to fill, making small running stitches as you go. Needle punching can be worked from the reverse of the fabric so loops are created on the front, or from the front to create small stitches.
Punch needle embroidery flower pot
Now you've mastered the technique it's time to try your hand at this flower pot punch needle embroidery design designed by Lucy Davidson.
