Jump Into Punch Needle
Punch-needle beginners delve into six versatile projects with step-by-step instructions
· Includes comprehensive information on tools needed plus endless tips and tricks
· Get hooked on a new, fun, and relaxing fiber art technique
From the Publisher
Learn the Punch Needle basics
Punch needle embroidery involves using a small hollow needle through which you run your embroidery floss. You punch the needle into fabric, creating loops on the underside of the fabric. In this book, each punch of the needle into the fabric that creates a loop is referred to as a stitch. The finished piece is referred to as a patch. You can use one to six strands of floss for punch needle. You can also use perle cotton. For the projects in this book, I used three strands of floss and a needle size appropriate for three strands of floss, but the technique is the same no matter how many strands of floss and what size needle you use. Once you learn the basic technique, you can experiment with larger needles and more strands of floss or perle cotton.
Getting started punching motifs
Generally, the motif is punched first and the background is punched last. Start with about 1 ? of floss coming out of the eye of the needle. There is no right or wrong direction to punch (although,
for a right-handed crafter, from top to bottom or from left to right is the most comfortable). The only rule about the direction of punching is that the front of your needle must be facing the direction you are traveling. Think of the back of the needle where the floss comes out of the eye as a car exhaust pipe. Your car (needle) is traveling along, and the exhaust (floss) is coming from the tail pipe (eye of the needle).
Tips & Tricks
As you punch, the needle must penetrate the cloth until the gauge or stopper meets the cloth. Pull the needle up and drag the tip of the needle over a few threads of the weaver’s cloth. Insert the needle again up to the stopper or gauge. Stitches you are not happy with can be pulled out
and re-punched. With your needle still threaded, pull the stitches out and drag your fingernail back and
forth across the fabric to close up the holes made by the needle. Place the tip of the needle on the fabric, and, with your nondominant hand, pull up any slack in the floss from the handle of the needle.
