The Resurgence of Punch Needle Embroidery
16 March 2009
You might remember doing punch needle embroidery as a child, but many people, particularly young crafters, are learning about the resurgence of this fun form of needle art for the first time. Punch needle is an old craft that is sometimes known as Russian Embroidery or Bunka. Today’s punch needle designs are available in many styles, including subdued folk art designs and bright, bold contemporary pieces.
Designs are stitched by first placing the fabric in a plastic hoop to keep the fabric taut. The printed side of the fabric is the BACK. Punch needle is stitched from the BACK to create the loops on the FRONT, similar to the appearance of carpet pile. Each loop is created with a simple push/pull motion. Simply repeat to fill in areas of color.
Designs can also be finished in a variety of ways—they can be framed, finished as pillows, made into ornaments or pins, or attached to garments or totes. Finished designs are surprisingly durable since the loops are closely spaced.
There are many reasons for the resurgence of this craft. It is a simple and relaxing pastime. Once you learn the basic technique for punch needle embroidery, you’ll be amazed at how quickly projects can be completed. This makes punch needle ideal for people who love to craft, but have limited time to devote to it.