:QUOTE [quotetype:personal] Punch needle is embroidery for people who want results you can see from across the room. :INFO How Punch Needle Works A punch needle is a hollow needle with an eye at the tip. You push it through stretched fabric from the back, forming a loop on the front surface. Each stab of the needle leaves one loop. Working row by row, adjacent loops pack together to form a dense, pile-like texture similar to a rug. The key distinction from embroidery: you work from the back of the fabric while the design builds on the front. :COUNTER.half 18 Mesh | :COUNTER.half 3 to 4mm :PATH Transfer Your Design and Stretch the Fabric Trace or draw your design on monk's cloth and stretch tightly in a frame. | :INFO Transfer Your Design and Stretch the Fabric Use monk's cloth (for yarn) or tightly woven linen or weaver's cloth (for floss) as your base. Trace your design onto the fabric with a permanent fabric marker — you work from the wrong side, so flip the design before tracing. Stretch the fabric tightly in a hoop or frame. The fabric must have zero give when punched — a loose surface causes loops to pull out as the needle advances. :PATH Thread the Needle and Begin Punching Thread from the tip backward through the hollow barrel and begin looping. | :INFO Thread the Needle and Begin Punching Thread yarn or floss through the eye at the tip of the punch needle, then through the hollow barrel from inside to out at the handle end. Hold the needle like a pencil, angled in the direction you are traveling. Push the needle all the way through the fabric until the handle stops. Drag slightly across the surface to the next punch point, then push in again. The loop forms on the front automatically. :PATH Work Row by Row Within Each Color Area Fill color areas completely before moving to adjacent colors. | :INFO Work Row by Row Within Each Color Area Work in rows following the lines of the design. Punch 2 to 3 fabric threads apart for a dense fill. Fill one color area completely before starting the adjacent one — this prevents pulled loops when you change colors. When changing colors or ending a thread, pull the tail through to the front and trim flush with the loop height. :CHECKLIST What You Need [ ] Punch needle — Oxford Punch or Lavor brand for beginners [ ] Monk's cloth (for yarn) or even-weave linen (for floss) [ ] Wooden or hoop frame — fabric must be extremely taut [ ] Worsted or bulky yarn for a wall hanging [ ] Transfer pencil or permanent fabric marker [ ] Rug backing or iron-on adhesive to finish the back :NOTE Taut Fabric Is the Only Rule That Matters Loops pull out when fabric is even slightly loose. Punch needle requires more tension than any other embroidery technique. If loops keep popping through to the back as you work, stop and re-stretch the fabric tighter. A frame with a lip that allows the fabric to be stapled or tacked is more reliable than a round hoop for large pieces. :QUOTE [quotetype:personal] The texture fills itself in. You just have to keep punching. :LINK https://www.sublimestitching.com/blogs/news/punch-needle-embroidery-101 Sublime Stitching — Punch Needle Embroidery Beginner Guide