Frequently Asked Punch Needle Questions

  • What needles do you use? I use the Oxford punch needles in various sizes, most often #10 regular, #10 fine, #13, #14 mini.

  • What fabric do you use? I like to use Monk’s cloth, rug warp and primitive linen. You can also experiment with wool fabric or floba 18ct.

  • What frame do you use? I use stretcher bar frames and repurposed canvas frames for my wall hangings. I like to use gripper strip frames for pillows and small objects. 

  • Where do I find tools/fabric/yarn? You can check out the punch needle resources post on my website.

  • How do you add the chunky yarn/roving? I weave them in. You can add warp threads to your fabric and weave like you normally do.

  • Why do my loops keep coming out? Check a few things: 

    Are you using the right type of fabric? Some fabrics have a loose weave that won’t hold your loops in place.

    Is there a knot in your yarn? It will get stuck in your needle and stop you from punching.

    Is your yarn too thick that it doesn’t glide inside your needle?

    Are your stitches too long? Normally you punch every 2 or 3 holes.

  • How do you finish the back of a rug? For hand punched rugs, I don’t add any backing. You can whip stitch the boarder or hem the edges. The whip stitched rugs are reversible. You can use glue to finish machine tufted rugs.

  • Do you put glue on the back of your piece? No, I try to avoid glue for punch needle pieces. If it’s correctly punched, the packed loops will stay together very well.  

  • Do you offer classes? Where can I learn punch needle? I don’t have any classes available but you can find many useful videos/tutorials online. I like the classes by artist Arounna Khounnoraj on creativebug.com.

  • Do you sell kits? No, I don’t have any kits for sale. Sorry~

  • I’m a beginner. Can I punch a rug? If you are a complete beginner, I recommend practicing on smaller projects first. The rugs are punched the same way as you would smaller pieces but it involves a LOT of punching. It would be less intimidating if you’ve already mastered the basic techniques.

  • Can I order a custom piece? Yes! Please reach out via the contact form on my website or “Request custom order” on Etsy.

    To be continued~

Adeline Wang