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The following is a modified excerpt from my new eBook, The Punchneedle Handbook: Miniature Punchneedle Embroidery Basics & Beyond, now available for purchase from my online shop.
What is Punchneedle?
Punchneedle is a form of embroidery that uses a hollow needle to create loops of thread on fabric. Also known as thread painting for the complexity and texture of design that can be created with this technique, it creates a textured pile surface akin to a miniature version of a hooked rug.
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It is worked on the back of the fabric, which is why all punchneedle patterns are a mirror-image of the completed design. When you punch, you form lines of running stitches on the top of the fabric while forming the loops of the stitches on the front of the fabric (the underside as you are punching). The fabric has to be stretched as tight as a drum in an embroidery hoop. |
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The Basics
Punchneedles and weaver’s cloth fabric are available to buy from most craft stores (if you’re in the US, I know that JoAnn has a good selection of the fabric).
Hold the punchneedle in the same way you hold a pen, or however feels comfortable to you. The punchneedle should be held upright so it is almost perpendicular to the fabric, and with the bevelled (slanted) edge facing in the direction you are going to punch your stitches.
Note: I am left-handed, so, as you’ll see in these images, I punch from left to right. Right-handers, punch from right to left.
Begin at any point around the outline, or as instructed in your pattern.
- Push the punchneedle straight down into the fabric, until it stops:
- Bring the needle back up slowly, stopping as soon as the tip is clear of the surface of the fabric:
- Slide the needle tip across the fabric by approximately the width of the needle:
Now repeat – punch the needle into the fabric again, lift it to the surface, slide it across the surface. That’s all there is to the basic punch stitch!
As you punch on the back of the fabric, the stitches will appear as a line of running stitches:
If you turn over the work to look at the front, you’ll see the loops:
If you were to look at the underside of the work as you punch, you would see the needle forming the next loop:
When you reach a corner, stop with the needle in the down position, rotate the hoop, and then continue to punch along the new line. This means you’ll always be punching right to left (left-handers: left to right) and the bevelled edge of the needle will always stay facing forwards.
Once the outline is complete, fill in the area by working in a spiral fashion towards the middle of the area, following the contour of the previous row. Leave about half a needle width of space between each row.
Continue working in a spiral towards the middle until the entire area has been filled in:
In this way, you can complete the entire design by first outlining each area and then filling it in. Punchneedle works up very quickly and gives stunning results:
It’s a lot of fun and very simple to master. I hope this brief overview has tempted you to try punchneedle yourself!
This is a brief excerpt from my eBook The Punchneedle Handbook, which covers everything you need to know to get started in punchneedle, from equipment advice to detailed instructions on how to punch, with tips, techniques and troubleshooting solutions that will help you to create beautiful punchneedle embroideries in no time. For more details, or to buy the eBook, click through to the PlanetJune shop, where you can also find all of my punchneedle designs!
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Please also note that I only speak English and cannot respond to questions or comments written in other languages. - June
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Chelle said
That’s really cool! I saw a kit once, but I never bought it because I wasn’t sure what it was. I’m going to go buy one soon
peppernys said
Thanks for the sample tute, really interesting to see what the process is like. I sent the link to a few friends who i thought my be interested
love the completed picture of the pug!
jen said
…i recently bought a set of these needles to use in a bookmaking process i was working on. i had no idea what they were actually for – i just saw them in the knitting aisle and knew it was the piece of equipment i needed…now i know what they are for and it is totally something i want to try out! thanks!
Claudia said
Amazing! I think I understand the concept of that needle, but I wonder what keeps the loops in place? Like, doesn’t it unravel when you pull a loop (accidentally)?
June said
Claudia: you can easily pull the stitches out from the back, but the tension of the fabric holds the loops in place from the front – the embroidery hoop stretches the woven fibres of the fabric open while you’re punching, and when you remove the hoop the fibres lock back down around the loops. This is why you can only punch onto a woven fabric!
Mrs. Herbie said
I have a collection of sewing, embroidery ….. craft books from the 50′s 60′s and 70′s that show punch needle work. I have been interested in trying this but my books show projects and do not break it down as well as you did. Thanks, I will definitely be giving this a try.
Jenn said
Thank you thank you!! I bought a really cute punchneedle kit with cupcakes and was super excited about it. But somehow I got messed up (I think maybe I made the distance between stitches too long, and my loops kept pulling out) and I kept getting frustrated in my attempts. I’m left handed as well, but I followed the instructions which said to work right to left. Would that have made a difference? I ended up pulling it all out and just embroidering the design with a regular needle and thread.
maybe I’ll get up the nerve to try again though! After seeing your pictures it looks much less intimidating.
June said
Jenn: YES! Working right to left is completely wrong for a left-hander. This is the reason why your loops were pulling out – no wonder you got frustrated and gave up! Left-handers should always punch from left to right. If the bevelled edge of the needle faces backwards (away from the direction of punching) all the loops WILL pull out. Please do try again – it’s very easy when you get the hang of it!
Shame about the bad instructions in your kit
It’s so frustrating when instructions (for anything, not just punchneedle) don’t even mention that many directions will need to be reversed for left-handers – that’s 10% of their market that they are ignoring!
Wendy said
Hi June
Thank you from a right-handed person!!!
Thank you for a very clear tutorial.
I have just ‘re-discovered’ some old punch-needles that my mother must have used in the 1950′s.
Having recently returned to spinning, my interest in the fibre arts has been re-kindled.
Yours is the only punch-needle tutorial that mentions RIGHT AND LEFT HANDEDNESS!!!
Yes, I was doing it ‘backwards’!
Kind Regards
Wendy
June said
You’re welcome Wendy! I’m glad I could help. Punchneedle is very simple when you get the hang of it, but it must be very frustrating if you were punching backwards and all the loops were pulling straight out of the fabric!
Ebook Review: The Punchneedle Handbook said
[...] is also offering up a great free tutorial to give you a little taste of this craft. And if you have questions about the punchneedle tool, [...]
Bri said
This looks so cool–I live in NS Canada, would you know of any places to buy punchneedles? I’d really appriciate it if you could give me some pointers where to find them!
June said
Bri, they used to be available in Michaels, but some time last year Michaels (or at least the branches in my area) decided to stop carrying punchneedle supplies
If you don’t mind online shopping, I know that Christine at Fairfield Road Designs sells the same Cameo punchneedle that I use (and recommend), and weaver’s cloth. (She’s based in Ontario, so you won’t have any import taxes!) You can buy the embroidery hoops and floss from Michaels or a local cross stitch/needlework store.
Otherwise, you can always buy punchneedles on eBay, although most of the sellers are US-based.
Christmas Gift Crafting: Ideas for Embroiderers « Corvus tristis: Art, Craft and an Odd Bird said
[...] bits and bobs by which they can try something new with their craft. What about putting together a punchneedle kit? Or the whole set-up required for electronic [...]
Natalie said
Thank you so much for this! I just bought a couple of punch needles from a street seller in Kathmandu – I didn’t know what they were, but he showed me how to use them. I haven’t got a hoop yet, so my practice stitches are all coming out, but now I understand what to do I think it’ll be okay when I get home and acquire a hoop. I can see this is going to be addictive!
Karole said
June – thank you so much for posting a great tutorial. I am traveling to JoAnns tomorrow to purchase a punchneedle and threader (thanks also for the recommendation on Cameo brand — I have been a bit overwhelmed with the number of needles I’ve seen on line). I haven’t tried this needle art yet and have been looking for something other than cross stitch, handquilting, or knitting to take along when waiting for appointments. This art looks like just what I need (yep another addiction) and won’t require so much carry-along baggage!!!! Also, I really enjoy your animal patterns.
Jane De Bie said
I am struggling with this craft. I had success with the standard embroidery thread that comes in the wound packets. . .but when I tried a different thread (like Madeira’s Burmilana) the thread would not cooperate.
Why don’t different threads work? What do I need to do differently to make them work?
June said
It depends on your punchneedle tool as well as the thickness and smoothness of the thread. If the thread is too thick for your needle or too textured/bumpy, it could catch in the needle eye and not flow smoothly; this would make your loops pull back out of the fabric. If a particular thread doesn’t work with your needle and your punching technique is correct, all I can suggest is that you try a different thread or a different needle…
Erin Raatjes said
GREAT tutorial! Nice clear pictures and so glad to see another fan of the Cameo needle.