7 Best Embroidery Pen Kits  

Punch needle embroidery is an ancient form of craft that has remained popular after hundreds of years. It’s way easier than traditional embroidery, especially if you have the right punch needle pen (embroidery pen). 

When you use a punch needle pen, instead of sewing through your fabric to create an embroidery design, the punch needle creates a series of loops on the surface of the fabric, creating a super textured, rug-like embroidery design. That’s why it’s so easy! 

What are the best embroidery pen kits? Similar to traditional embroidery, you’ll also need a lot of tools and materials, like a punch needle pen, fabric, threads, and patterns for the design. Using a kit that includes all of these tools and materials is the best way for beginners to practice without having to mix and match all the elements together.  

In this article let’s take a look at what you’ll need to get started doing punch needle embroidery, and we’ll also point you to the best options on the market. 

What Is Punch Needle Embroidery?

Punch needle embroidery is a type of needlework that is closely related to rug hooking. It is commonly referred to as needle punching or even punch needle rug hooking.

Rather than using a traditional thread, you’ll need a special hollow needle called the punch needle, or embroidery pen, to create your design. 

The pen will carry your thread through a series of small holes that it creates as it ‘punches’ through the fabric, creating a series of loops on the surface of the fabric. The series of loops called the ‘pile’ will create the rug-like texture.  

How To Use A Punch Needle Embroidery Pen

A punch needle is a long needle with a large eye and a hollow stem. It usually has a long handle that resembles a pen, so that’s why many people also call it an embroidery pen. 

When needle’s point is punched through a fabric’s woven foundation it will carry the yarn through the other side of the fabric to create a series of loops. These loops then turn into a pile on the reverse side. 

Punch needle projects are usually worked from the back side of the fabric, or the “wrong” side. On the wrong side, the design will look like a traditional embroidered design with flat stitches, and on the right side, the design will have loops that look like a rug’s pile.

Punch Needle Embroidery Supplies 

Similar to traditional embroidery, punch needle embroidery also require a lot of supplies. Here are what you can expect in a basic punch needle embroidery kit.  

Punch Needle Tool/Embroidery Pen 

Like a regular needle, a punch needle tool has a metal tip that has a small hole to hold the yarn. However, a punch needle tool also has a channel that allows the yarn or thread to run through it so that it can carry the long, continuous thread across the entire project. 

Punch needles come in a wide variety of sizes and designs.

1. Size 

You can create punch needle embroideries using yarn, embroidery floss, or even traditional sewing threads. Since the size of the thread varies, you will need to get the right size punch needle to work well with the thread’s weight. 

In addition, the height of the needle will also correspond with the height of the pile. 

For example, if you want to create a fluffy rug using a chunky yarn, you will need to use a bigger punch needle tool. On the other hand, if you want to use embroidery floss to create a fine embroidery work, then you will need to choose a smaller needle. 

If you buy a kit, the needle size will automatically match with the type of yarn or thread included, so you don’t have to worry too much about the size of the needle. 

2. Type 

There are a few types of punch needles. 

Amy Oxford’s punch needles are made from maple wood, and they are incredibly comfortable to use. Unlike other punch needles, which require a wire to get the yarn through, this one has a slit on one side, which makes it incredibly easy to thread.

Oxford punch needles come in two needle widths: fine and regular. They usually work well with chunky yarn as well as needle point yarn, and they are great for making heavy rugs and big wall hangings. 

The next type of punch needle that you’ll likely find online is the traditional plastic punch needle that comes in various sizes, with adjustable height settings. These sizes work well with both embroidery floss and medium-weight yarn.

These punch needles usually have a steel needle and a plastic handle, so it’s lighter than wooden Oxford punch needles but may not be as durable or high-quality. 

Fabric

The most common type of fabric used for punch needle is monk’s cloth. Since this is an evenweave, it’s quite easy to see the weave and identify where to insert your needle to create new stitches. 

Other evenweave fabrics such as linen and burlap can also be used, but the size of the weave should coincide with the size of the needle and thread. For fine threads, use a finer weave, and for thicker ones, use a coarser one.

Thread

The size of the thread that you use will also determine how your final creation will look. Fine threads and embroidery floss can create small stitches and delicate embroidery designs, while rug yarn can create a lot of texture if you want to make a rug or tapestry hanging. 

Keep in mind that the size of the thread will also need to correspond with the size of the needle, so depending on the project that you have, you can choose the right size of thread and needle accordingly. 

Hoop

Similar to traditional embroidery, you will also need an embroidery hoop to stretch the base fabric to keep it taut for creating nice and even stitches. 

If you are making a big rug, it may be difficult to find a hoop that works. In that case, you can staple the edges of the fabric to a wooden frame to keep the fabric taut while creating the project, and remove the staples when you’re finished.  

Patterns

There are thousands of punch needle patterns available online, but not every pattern will work with the project you have in mind. 

For example, if you’re making a rug, super detailed, intricate patterns may not work, because you’ll be using chunky yarn to make big stitches. Similarly, abstract patterns may not look very eye-catching if you are making a small embroidery design. 

Again, if you are using a kit, then the pattern will be automatically sized to suit the included thread and embroidery pen, so there’s no need to worry about adjusting all of these factors. 

Fabric Marker

An erasable marker is highly recommended whether you’re using a pattern or not. It’s quite useful to trace your pattern on the fabric before creating your stitches, so that the embroidery process will be a breeze. 

You can experiment with the design first, and don’t have to worry about adjusting it as you go. 

As you punch along, the pen lines will usually be covered in punch needle stitches. However, this can be a bit challenging if you’ve marked the outer border of the pattern with your marker. 

This is why it’s important to use an erasable fabric marker, so that you can remove all traces of the lines after you have completed the project. 

Scissors

Similar to all types of textile art, it’s important to keep a pair of scissors handy so you can snip off the ends when you complete a section, or remove the stitches as you go. 

Best Punch Needle Embroidery Kits

If you are a beginner, the prospect of collecting all of these tools and materials can be quite daunting, especially if you don’t know how to match the size of the punch needle pen with the thread and the pattern. 

Let’s take a look at some great punch needle embroidery kits below. We have included both basic kits as well as kits that come with a specific pattern to spark your creativity. 

Rank	Product	Key Features
1.	Willbond Punch Needle Embroidery Kits	17-piece set (without pattern or yarn)
2.	EvinisEmbroidery Punch Needle Kit	140-piece set (without pattern)
3.	Chuangdi Punch Needle Embroidery Starter Kit	Set with 3 patterns & tools
4.	Longan Craft Punch Needle Kit	Set with embroidery pattern
5.	Pllieay Punch Needle Rug Kit	Set with rug pattern
6.	Wool Queen Punch Needle Kit	Set with rug pattern
7.	Wool Queen Punch Needle Beginner DIY Kit	Set with five patterns

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