Punch Needle Embroidery

Any time is the right time to learn a new needlework technique. One of the hottest stitching techniques right now is punch needle embroidery, so if you’re curious to learn or even if you’re already an expert, we have a new range of products to get you going with this fabulously easy technique.

Punch needle embroidery is closely related to rug hooking and has a long and mysterious history.

Although its origins aren’t fully known, there is evidence of punch needle techniques going back as far as the 15th Century.

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Usually worked in yarn, today you can do punch needle embroidery with embroidery floss, perlé cotton or any other non-slippery fibre you can imagine. All you need is a punch needle, some fabric, a pattern, a hoop and a little bit of time.

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The technique is worked by punching the specialised needle through the fabric, which results in a little loop on the ‘back’ and a stitch on the ‘front’. We use the terms ‘front’ and ‘back’ loosely here as you can decide which side of the embroidery is going to be the one you display.

It is an incredibly quick technique, especially when you use yarn, which certainly makes it appealing if you need to work up a project in a short space of time.

If you have never done punch needle before, Lucy Davidson’s book, Punch Needle Embroidery for Beginners, is the perfect place to start.

Inside you will find step-by-step instructions for the technique, plenty of troubleshooting advice and 12 fabulous, simple projects for you to get started. Once you’ve worked through the book, you’ll be eager for more.

When you’re ready to take punch needle embroidery to the next level, the book, The Art of Punch Needle Embroidery by Marie Suarez, is ideal. With detailed information about fabrics and threads, different textural possibilities and a series of projects ranging from very easy through to intermediate, this book will take you into expert territory.

Now, you can’t do punch needle embroidery without a punch needle, so to help you on your way we also have in stock fine 1cm punch tools. These are just what you need to create punch needle projects using your existing embroidery threads.

The punch needle comes complete with two threaders and features a comfortable grip and a transparent body.

And just like that we now have another fantastic new technique to add to our repertoire! We can’t wait to see what everyone creates.