How to use the Adjustable Punch Needle (regular) for aran and chunky yarn instructions

You may have read our punch needle tutorial for beginners and learned a lot about how to punch needle and how you can avoid the most common issues. In this blog we will share a few more tips specifically focussing on the  adjustable punch needle for chunky yarn we sell in our shop. You will learn how to thread this needle with wool. You can read our tips for foundation fabric that is a perfect match with this needle. And we also show step by step how to adjust the height of your loops.

how to use the adjustable punch needle chunky yarn

How to thread your adjustable punch needle?

To get your wool into your punch needle you will need a threading tool. For the adjustable punch needle you can use two options 1) a metallic wire threader or 2)  a long needle of at least 15 cm. Without these tools you will strugle to poke your yarn through the needle.

How to use the metallic wire threader

Below steps explain how to use the wire threading tool to get your yarn flowing smoothly through your punch needle.

Step 1

how to thread your wooden punch needle step by step

Put your needle threader in the long end of your needle. Enter your needle from the sharp end of your needle, the side that you will poke into your punch fabric.

Step 2

how to thread your wooden punch needle step by step

Pull your thread through the metalic threader that comes out at the backside of your punch needle. When using thick wool you can use a short tapestry needle if you find it difficult to go in between the metallic thread. Now pull the needle threader from the front side of the punch needle all the way through your needle.

Step 3

You will now need to poke your yarn through the eye of the needle (the needle hole).

Voila! This is how your threaded needle looks like.

How to use a long needle to thread your punch needle

Below steps explain how to use an extra long needle to get your yarn flowing smoothly through your punch needle. You will need a needle of at least 15 cm lenght.

Step 1

how to thread your wooden adjustable punch needle long needle punch needle threader

Thread your long needle with wool or thick yarn up to 3,8 mm thick

Step 2

how to thread your wooden adjustable punch needle

Insert the needle from the backside of your punch needle, until it pokes out at the front side.

Step 3

how to thread your wooden adjustable punch needle

Pull your long needle through the punch needle.

Step 4

how to thread your wooden adjustable punch needle

Now thread your long needle through the eye of your punch needle pulling the needle from the inside of your punch needle to the outside.

Step 5

how to thread your wooden adjustable punch needle step by step instructions

Voila! Your yarn is inside your punch needle.

Which foundation fabrics are suitable for the adjustable punch needle?

Each punch needle has a different thickness. To ensure that your loops stay nicely in your fabric, it is important to use the correct fabric for your project. We tested this punch needle with a large number of open weave fabrics to provide you the best combination.

Monks Cloth 7,5 Count. Great for sensitive skins and if you want to cherish your work for decades:

Our Premium Monks Cloth is especially developed for punching. It looks like Aida fabrics but is different. Where Aida is woven with 5 threads over 5 threads, Monks Cloth is made with 4 threads over 4 threads. Monks cloth is also not stiffened, enabling the threads to move and make place when you punch with your needle. Monks Cloth is not suitable for cross stitching. And Aida fabric is not suitable for punch needle embroidery.

Monks Cloth is not hairy and great for punching pieces that completly cover the fabric. Our Monks Cloth is woven in Germany. For the adjustable punch needle we recommend the 7,5 count Monks Cloth (approx 3 holes per cm).

adjustable punch needle on monks cloth

Our Ecological Jute Fabrics

A budget fabric for this punch needle is jute, burlap fabric. Jute is a very eco-friendly material and we found a Spanish producer that grows and dyes the jute in ecofriendly way. We tested different weights and learned that the budget Raw Jute works the best. Jute is biodegradable and during the growth it consumes about half of the water resources that would be needed for cotton. Combine it with ecological wool and your punch needle project will be a fully sustainable gift.

The raw jute is the ugliest fabric we tested and it does loose hair. But it just punches sooo easily. No pressure on your hands, it just goes in an out like a breeze. And the loops do stay put afterwards. So it’s just exactly the right match for our punch needle.

Raw Jute Punch Needle Embroidery fabric foundation cavas rug making

The 280 gr Jute is also a great foundation cloth for the adjustable punch needle. It is slightly tighter then the raw jute but it looks a lot prettier and looses less hair.  The jute is available in naturalblack and white. All colors are ecologically dyed, so the fabric is still biodegradable.

Fabrics that did not pass the test for the adjustable punch needle

We also tested the punch needle with different evenweave linen fabrics, but found that the tested qualities where not suitable for this punch needle. You have to poke a lot harder, and when a thread breaks it is more difficult to redo a section when you make a mistake.

Aida cloths, heavier or lighter, Jute clothes other than the ones we linked above are also not ideal foundation cloths for the punch needle.

And where our  canvas fabric is a fantastic foundation cloth for the clover punch needle, for this punch needle this fabric is too fine. You just have to poke so hard that you have to take frequent breaks to avoid hurting your hand.

We will continue testing fabrics and will share updates on our blog on test results. If you have questions about fabrics, please feel free to contact us!

How to adjust the height of your loops

Adjusting the punch needle for different loop lenghts is not difficult. At the long end of your punch needle there are 7 notches in the punch needle. The spring inside the needle can be secured at each notch. You can turn the needle and pull it to the desired notch then you turn it back until you hear a soft click.

how to use the adjustable punch needle

The notches at the backside of the punch needle

Turn the needle and pull the metal part further in or out until your needle  ‘clicks’ into the next notch.

adjustable punch needle instructions

You can make 7 different heights with the adjustable punch needle

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2022-03-25T11:14:46+01:00

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