Punch Needle

My fascination with punch needle began when I went to the Estes Park Wool Market last year. It seemed almost too good to be true. Since I’m still stuck at home, I decided to continue on the new-skill path and give it a try.

The basic technique of punch needle is using a large, threaded needle which you poke through monks cloth, leaving a loop on the other side of the fabric. That is the “loop” side, and the side you stitch on is the “flat” side. Either one can be the right side.

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I purchased a kit from Craft Boutique on Etsy, and I am really happy with it. It comes with everything you need, including a nice pair of snips. I will say the bamboo hoop was maybe too high of quality. It was so smooth, my monks cloth would pop out on occasion when my needle went through. To that end, I did use a plastic hoop I already had for the actual stitching.

Once I got the rhythm, I understood the obsession. Not to mention, it’s quick. I started this yesterday and finished it within three movies (including a lunch break). The loop texture has a wonderful hand.

The downsides, I would say, is nothing is locking the loops in. The monks cloth is doing that, technically, but pull one little stitch on the flat side and the whole yarn comes out. To that end, you can’t have any tension on the yarn at all when you stitch, which is the opposite of almost all other yarncrafts. That took some getting used to.

I also see how this craft is limited when it comes to finished objects. Since it’s a little fragile, in this form, I really only see it good for wall-hangings (and I guess rugs. That’s the original use of the craft, but you’d have to seal in the flat side). Overall though, it was an enjoyable experience, and I think it would be a fun way to use up scraps.

Who here has punch needled before? Let me know about your experience in the comments.