Stitch Life Magazine Issue 1

Stitch library
GETTING STARTED WITH
PUNCH NEEDLE
1. Trace the design onto the centre of the fabric.
An easy way to do this is to tape your design onto
a window, hold the fabric over the top and trace it
on using a water-soluble marker pen or dark pencil.
2. Evenly stretch the fabric onto the frame so that
the square is central in the frame. If you are using a
gripper strip or carpet tack frame, secure your fabric
and cover any sharp points protruding through the
fabric. If you are using staples or drawing pins ensure
your fabric is as tight as possible and pin/staple at
multiple points.
How to Punch Needle
1. Hold the punch needle by the handle as you
would a pen or pencil and make sure the screw is
facing upwards. Ensure that the screw lines up with
the opening at the tip of the needle. Once threaded,
the end of the wool that extends from the needle
should be underneath the needle.
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2. With the needle at a slight angle to the fabric,
push the needle in, all the way down to the handle.
3. Always have your needle pointing in the direction
you are punching. Have lots of slack on the wool to
allow it to move smoothly through the needle.
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4. Pull the needle up so that the tip is just exposed
above the fabric. Keeping the needle close to the
fabric, move the needle forward the required
number of holes and push back down again. If you
pull your needle up too high, the stitches will not
stay in so keep the needle close to the fabric and
almost drag it across.
148 Stitch Life