Ever heard of punch needle? In the past year or so, I started seeing lots of videos on social media of “magic embroidery pens” & beautiful photos of cushion covers made with all-over yarn stitches and loops. I kept seeing them over and over, until finally my curiosity got the better of me and I just had to try punch needle. Just like tackling any new technique, step 1 is research! In broad strokes, punch needle is a technique that works for both embroidery and rug making. To punch needle you use a pen-like tool to, well, punch loops of yarn or thread through a stretched piece of material, loop after loop after loop, with no knots involved. Since I know you’re all wondering how those strings stay in place without any kind of knot: The surface tension of the fabric you’re working with holds the loops in place. (Mind blown, right?)
This post is intended to be a batch of fuzzy inspiration about a new technique, so for now, I’ll save you all a more in-depth explanation than that. Much like last summer’s latch hook series for beginners, I want to use this inspiration post to get you all excited for a punch needle tutorial series I have planned for the spring here on the blog! Podcast listeners will know that I’ve been low key obsessed with punch needle for the past several months, so it’s finally time, friends! Punch needle content is officially coming to Hands Occupied. 😉
P.S. Please note that many of these artists have items for sale and their work is being shared here as a point of inspiration for what one might create with the punch needle technique.
P.P.S. Special shout out to the Punch Needle Gang Instagram account (and here’s their website) for consistently featuring amazing new punch needle artists that would never have come across my radar! If you’re as obsessed with finding punch needle inspiration as I am, they’re definitely worth the follow!
