A punch needle is a manual tool used for embroidery or

rug making A rug is a piece of cloth, similar to a carpet, but it does not span the width of a room and is not attached to the floor. It is generally used as a floor covering, or as a decorative feature. Rug making is the process of crafting a rug from var ...

that creates a field of tightly-packed loops of thread or yarn on a woven fabric substrate. The tool generally consists of a hollow

needle Needle may refer to: Crafting * Crochet needle, a tool for making loops in thread or yarn * Knitting needle, a tool for knitting, not as sharp as a sewing needle * Sewing needle, a long slender tool with a pointed tip * Trussing needle, a long sl ...

with an angled opening attached to a wooden or plastic handle. The needle's eye is drilled just above its tip, rather than at its base as with most sewing needles. Yarn is threaded through the hollow needle via an opening at the top of its handle, and out through the eye. A punch needle stitch is made by forcing the needle through the weave of the fabric, creating a loop that is kept in place by friction. The tool is held so that the eye of the needle stays on the opposite side of the direction of the stitch. Punch needle embroidery is typically worked from the front of the fabric. On the other hand, punch needle rug making is usually worked from the back. Examples of traditional crafting techniques that use punch needles include " New England Style" rug hooking, Russian punch needle embroidery, and Japanese

bunka shishu , in English often shortened to bunka, is a form of Japanese embroidery originating in the early 19th century that became more widespread around the turn of the 20th century, before then being introduced to the US after World War II. Bunka artist ...

. Mechanical rug tufting, often achieved with a tufting gun, also creates a similar effect to manual punch needling. In 2022, sportswear company Nike announced they would be using punch needle technology to create a more sustainable alternative to fleece.

References

{{Reflist Rugs and carpets Textile arts Embroidery equipment