Punch needle – how to create original raised embroidery designs

Punch needle is the latest fashionable technique for embroidering very original and fun designs. It is a way of weaving on fabric beautiful raised designs with applications as varied as you can imagine.

It is very easy and suitable for every level—even if you know absolutely nothing about embroidery, you can start punch needle and weaving designs onto fabric in no time, creating motifs as beautiful and eye-catching as this one:

With the punch needle technique, you can create beautiful projects in very little time to design cushions, bags, wall hangings... and countless other creations.

How is punch needle embroidery done?

The punch needle technique is very simple: it involves piercing the embroidery fabric with a punch needle as if it were an awl. It’s as easy as that! And you can’t imagine the striking results achieved with this simple, quick, and entertaining technique.

On the back of the fabric, the raised loops of yarn gradually form, creating a 3D, fluffy effect in the project.

You can also create beautiful images by combining the front and back sides—that is, smooth areas of the design with 3D areas. Play with these combinations to create spectacular images. For example, a landscape in which the clouds are 3D against a flat sky.

The size of the raised loops depends on the length of the needle, so you can also experiment with different loop sizes.

What is punch needle used for?

The most striking thing about the punch needle technique is that you can create designs with plenty of texture and a fluffy feel. The effect is incredibly eye-catching, colorful, and original. You can create modern or abstract designs—or anything else—and come up with countless ideas.

The result can be incorporated into any kind of project, from decorative objects to fashion accessories such as a bag or a coat.

What threads can be used for punch needle embroidery?

We can create our punch needle projects with any type of yarn, from our Mouliné Thread to a ball of wool. The difference lies in the thickness of the yarn and the resulting design. Depending on what we want to embroider, one type of thread may work better than another. Fluffy effects with more texture are achieved with thick yarn, suitable for knitting needles approximately sizes 4 to 6.

What can you draw with punch needle?

With punch needle, you can create images of many different kinds. You can combine abstract shapes and colors or draw motifs and images, create landscapes, geometric shapes, figures, animals, flowers, words... anything you can think of.

What do I need to embroider using the punch needle technique?

To weave with punch needle, you will need:

1. Punch needle 

Punch needles are hollow needles with a pointed tip, used to pierce the fabric for embroidery. The thread we use passes through the inside of the needle.

2. Embroidery fabric and hoop

The punch needle technique is used on embroidery or cross-stitch fabrics with holes, allowing the punch needle to pass easily through the fabric. Since the fabric must be kept taut for proper work, you will need a hoop to hold and secure it.

3. Embroidery thread

Depending on the project you are going to make, choose the appropriate thread or yarn for your work. It can be embroidery thread or yarn for knitting.

Punch needle embroidery video tutorial

Below, we’ve included a tutorial where you can see in detail how to make a punch needle project. You’ll be surprised by how easy it is and how quickly you can achieve results as cool as the photos we’ve shown you.