Punch Needle Fail

Punch Needle Fail

I have been trying to learn a new craft for the last few days but I have ended in punch needle fail.  I carefully took pictures of my steps because I was sure I would be posting a zippy little story about my adorable punch needle creations.  This will not be the case as I can only show you my punch needle fail.

Supplies for Punch Needle Fail

These supplies were supposed to be for punch needle success but I think I need to watch a few more videos on how to do it.  Punch Needle is a form of embroidery that uses a special tool called a punch needle.  You punch through fabric with a sharp needle threaded with embroidery floss.  Here is a photo of a successful punch needle project that I found on the internet.

I went to Walmart and bought my supplies.  You need a set of punch needles ($6.00), embroidery floss ($.43 each), an embroidery hoop ($2.00) and some fabric.  This is where I think I went wrong.

In my research, one place said you need “weaver’s cloth” which no one has ever heard of while most others said any kind of fabric will do, preferably stiff.  So I bought embroidery cloth.  It is stiff and rather inexpensive ($2.75).

Ready to Go

I knew I couldn’t start as ambitiously as Michelle Palmer (see sunflower above) so I thought it might be fun to start with a little cardinal medallion to give to my friends as a Christmas ornament.  I made a circle in the fabric being carful not to be to kindergarten-like and trace in the middle of the fabric.  Kindergarteners always put some tiny little drawing in the middle of the paper or if they need to cut a piece of construction paper, they ALWAYS cut some tiny little piece from the middle.  Why? I don’t know.  After twenty-six years of teaching, I don’t know.

 

I needed a cardinal photo for inspiration for my medallion ornaments and my light box is put away, so I improvised by putting my fabric up to the computer screen and tracing it lightly with a pencil – I didn’t want to be one of those old secretary jokes who put whiteout on the computer screen if my pen bled through the fabric.  Remember that joke?  Do you remember whiteout?  Or what about typewriters?

Next, thread your needle with the enclosed threader. Getting closer to punch needle fail.

Every time I punched, I just made holes.  Then I realized that the fabric was pulling out of the frame so I made another drawing close to the kindergarten middle.  Same result.

I tried some plain fabric – punch needle fail.  Every fabric I tried ended in the same result.  I love this craft but it is back to research to perfect my punch.  Hopefully I will have better results to share soon.

Now, I’m just going to go have some happy thoughts and look at my countertop pumpkins.  Have you started any Fall decorating projects yet?

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4 Responses to Punch Needle Fail

  1. Gina October 4, 2017 at 9:17 pm #

    Sorry about the fail! Looks like a fun craft. You’ll get it! You always do!

  2. Wendy Gallant November 6, 2017 at 3:42 pm #

    Punch needle is usually done on Weaver’s Cloth. It is a much denser fabric and does not have any holes in it.
    Best of luck!

  3. Sandie April 23, 2019 at 8:00 pm #

    Wal mart sells a loose linen on the ginormous rolls. That works great.

  4. Ruth July 20, 2021 at 12:34 pm #

    Not only do you have the wrong cloth, but you have the wrong hoop. It MUST be a hoop that has a groove along the inside. One brand is a Morgan hoop this allows the hoop to grasp the fabric the you tighten and stretch and tighten some more until it is tight as a drum then the fabric won’t pull out of the hoop and the tighter weave fabric will hold your stitches in.

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