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Picture it, you just opened up your punch needle kit, you’re psyched to start this fun new hobby, you look at the needle, and you’re left wondering how to thread a punch needle because, let’s be honest, this thing looks a little alien.
Well, you are in good crafting hands because we’re going to teach you in an easy-peasy way! With pictures and video, we’ll walk you through how to thread a punch needle and answer other beginner punch needle questions you may have.
By the end of this article, you’ll know how to thread a punch needle with your eyes closed (though, maybe don’t do that, they’re pointy!), and you’ll be picking out punch needle patterns in no time!
How to Thread a Punch Needle
Time to get down to punching business, punch needle, that is! Learning how to thread a punch needle looks a little more complicated than it actually is, but once you get the hang of it, knowing how to thread a punch needle will come naturally and easily.
Let’s cover the supplies you’ll need for threading a punch needle, and then break down how to thread a punch needle in simple steps.
Supplies Needed for Threading a Punch Needle
Gather up the supplies! Here are the few things you’ll need when learning how to thread your punch needle. You’ll need a few more items when you’re doing a punch needle project, but let’s start with these basics.
- Punch Needle
- Yarn (or Embroidery floss depending on the size/project)
- Wire threader
How to Thread a Punch Needle Step One
The first step in learning how to thread a punch needle is to take the wire threader and feed it down the opening of the needle. You’ll see the end of the wire threader peek out at the bottom of the needle, and that’s exactly what we want!
How to Thread a Punch Needle Step Two
The next step is to unspool a bit of your yarn; you’ll want slack for your punch needle project. Take the end of your yarn and feed a bit of it through the opening end of the wire threader, like in the picture below.
How to Thread a Punch Needle Step Three
Next, pull your wire threader up so that the yarn is pulled up through the needle. Take the yarn out from the wire threader. Now, take your wire threader and feed it through the eye of the punch needle.
How to Thread a Punch Needle Step Four
For your last step, take your piece of yarn and place it in the opening of the wire threader once again. After you’ve done this, pull the wire threader, and the yarn, through the eye so that the thread is now pulled through it.
Huzzah! You’ve just learned how to thread a punch needle in four easy steps!
Watch our easy-to-follow video on how to thread a punch needle; no intros, no dragging on, just straight to the point! We know you have lots of projects you want to do, and we want to help you get started!
What Tools Do I Need for Punch Needle?
Knowing what tools you need for your punch needle project depends on what kind of project you want to do and what size. But, for the sake of beginning your punch needle journey, let’s assume you want to start with a simple punch needle project on a normal-sized hoop.
The basic supplies you’ll need for any punch needle project are these crafting items:
Punch Needle
(Typically comes with wire threader)
For your first project, you may want to start off with a simple Punch Needle pattern and use the ‘Regular’ Punch Needle, which is a bit larger. This is nice to use for beginning Punch Needle because it allows you to get used to the way you’re supposed to move with the needle as you work, and it’s rewarding to begin with because using a larger Punch Needle takes less time (usually) to finish a project since the needle is bigger.
- Materials: This Sewing Embroidery Punch Needle is made of beech wood + copper, very smooth
- Comfortable Handle: The ergonomically designed wooden handle is easy to grasp and labor-saving
- Easy to Use: Pierce the yarn from the punching needle to the top of the pen, and then pass the yarn through the needle hole, even beginners can quickly get started
- Widely Used: The embroidery pen has a large diameter, which is a good tool for sewing, handicrafts and embroidery works, and it can also embroider ribbons
- Package Includes: You will get 2 Pack Sewing Embroidery Punch Needle Set, 3mm thread can be used
Small Punch Needle
(Typically comes with wire threader)
If you’re looking to do more intricate Punch Needle designs with details and you’d like to use Embroidery Floss for your particular design, a small Punch Needle would be up your alley.
- This package includes a three needle set with plastic handle for punch embroidery
- It is a very simple design easy to use for any person with beginner experience in needle punch
- Country of Origin : Mexico
- Product Height: 4.52″
- Included needle diameters are: .078 Inch .098 Inch and .118 Inch
Yarn
You’ll want to stick with acrylic and wool-based yarns; in our personal experience, the wool yarn has been the best to work with and is compatible with large Punch Needles and slightly smaller ones.
Embroidery Floss
(If working with a small Punch Needle)
If you’re working with a smaller Punch Needle, you’ll want to work with some Embroidery Floss. Using this type of string is also nice for those Punch Needle Projects that require more detail.
- 50 Vivid Colors embroidery floss , included 50 Vibrant and engaging rainbow colors-enough for any project
- 100% High quality Mercerized Cotton embroidery floss,Each Floss is 8.75 yard long and this is a 6 string embroidery thread
- Popular Gift: this embroidery kit set is a ideal gift for your family or friends
- Rainbow color embroidery strings are perfect for friendship bracelets,Arts and crafts, cross stitch, string art, tassels, diy projects for kids, childrens crafts and it is just the right embroidery kit for beginners
- 24/7 CUSTOMER SUPPORT
Embroidery Hoop
This handy-dandy tool will be your main working surface while you’re getting your punch on!
- Natural material : Made of Bamboo, harmless to the body
- Multiple sizes(approx.): 4 inch (10cm), 5 inch (13cm), 7 inch (17cm), 8 inch (20cm), 9 inch (23cm) and 10 inch (26cm) with the six different sizes to suite your needs
- Detail processing: Stainless steel screws with fine anti-skid embossed texture will fixed your fabric well
- Artisan craftsmanship: Polished bamboo embroidered hoop which is light, beautiful and harmless to your hands; Cross stitch hoops is really a perfect gift for moms or embroidery lovers
- Warm Tip: If you have any quality problems with the products you received, please contact us, we will do our best to make things right for you within 24 hours
Monks Cloth
(If working with a large Punch Needle)
When working with a regular/large Punch Needle, this is the type of cloth you’ll want to use. To learn more about what type of fabric to use for Punch Needle, keep on reading!
- 100% cotton and made from 230g/m² high quality fabric, which can offer the best experience
- Suit for Punch Needle, Rug-Punch,Machine Embroidery and DIY Cloth For Needlework
- Package Includes: One 26.3”x19.6”( 67cm x 50cm) Monk’s Cloth
- Recommended fabric for punch needle designers
- Find more tools and kits of punch needle by visit Wool Queen’s Store
Weavers Cloth
(If working with a small Punch Needle)
When you’re using a smaller Punch Needle and Embroidery Floss, you’ll want to make sure you’re using Weavers Cloth. Otherwise, you’ll be tempted to punch something else other than the cloth (crafters’ frustration).
- Great for Punch Needle Embroidery
- For use with Ultra Punch Needle
- Recommended fabric of punch needle designers
- For use with Embroidery floss, fingering yarn or yarns resembling the same thickness as 6 strand threads, not for use with bulky yarns,
- Not for use with bulky yarn
Embroidery Scissors
When you need to make little snips here and snips there while you’re plugging away and cleaning up loose ends when your Punch Needle project is over, these scissors will come in handy! You can also use fabric scissors if you so choose.
- Scissors with cover：1pc small sewing scissors and leather scissors safe cover. suitable to be as a delicate gift for friends or families who love embroidery, DIY working, and keep children away from scissors.
- Comfortable,durable, sharp and lightweight: made of good quality stainless steel ensure the embroidery scissors sharp, durable, anti-rust, sturdy to not loosing, lightweight to easily carrying, it is 4.5” x 2.2”.
- Leather Scissors Cover:the scissors protective covers can well cover your scissors for safe storage, It is not only safe when using scissors, but also protects the cutting edge of the scissors.
- Multipurpose Scissors:small scissors sewing can be used as thin fabric scissors, thread scissors, snips trimming scissors,perfect for embroidery,needlework,crewel,sewing,crafting,cutting paper, thread and others.
- Crafting Scissors: scissors can be used in office, paper cutting, sewing, to cut paper,craft to use, to cut some small or thin project, it is better choice for gift. Keep it away from children in case of any sharpness hurt.
What Is The Best Punch Needle Size For Beginners?
Knowing what Punch Needle size is the best for beginners does vary on the person and their crafting experience, but we’ll say objectively, the best Punch Needle size for beginners is a large Punch Needle.
When you type ‘Punch Needle’ into Google or Amazon, the first Punch Needle you’ll most likely see is a large Punch Needle with a wooden handle. That’s your guy!
We’d recommend this one to start off with because it’s easy to learn with. Learning how to thread a Punch Needle with a large Punch Needle is a little easier than trying to thread a small Punch Needle. And, as we mentioned earlier when you’re working on your first Punch Needle project with a large Punch Needle, it may feel like it’s going by faster and easier because you’re working with a bigger tool.
We also think, from our personal experience, starting off with a large Punch Needle and working your way down to a smaller Punch Needle is a good transition to go through and will hopefully lead to less frustration as you start out.
What Kind of Fabric is Used for Punch Needle?
We covered what kind of fabric is used for Punch Needle above in the supplies needed for Punch Needle section, but let’s get into further detail to really answer this question.
If you’d like to use a large Punch Needle or make a Punch Needle rug, you’ll want to use Monks Cloth. This is because the cloth is easier for the large Punch Needle to push through, and the yarn stays in place.
Now, if you’re using a smaller Punch Needle for Embrodiery Punch Needling with Embrodiery Floss, you’ll want to switch over to Weavers Cloth. This is a finer cloth that works perfectly for the smaller Punch Needle to push through and the same for the Embroidery Floss. If you tried to use these items with Monks Cloth, the Embroidery Floss would slip right through, and using a large Punch Needle with Weavers Cloth would most likely rip the fabric and not end very well.
Large/Medium Punch Needle with Acrylic/Wool Yarn = Monks Cloth
Small Punch Needle with Embroidery Floss = Weavers Cloth
Why, look at you, punch needle extraordinaire; you learned how to thread a punch needle and so much more! You’re well on your way to exploring punch needle projects, learning punch needle tips and tricks, and even making punch needle gifts! Want to be a part of the Punch Needle community? Check out the Punch Needle scene on TikTok!
There’s a whole lot of punch needle fun awaiting you, and we’re pleased that you stopped on by on your crafting journey. We wish you the very best of luck on all your future projects, and congratulations on beginning this punch needle adventure and learning how to thread a punch needle!