Punch needle embroidery takes some time and patience, so the last outcome you could want is for it to all fall apart because you have used the wrong fabric.
There are a few options to choose from when it comes to the right punch needle fabric, but you cannot just use any piece of material. The type of fiber used in the punch needle embroidery will also determine what the weight of the foundation fabric needs to be.
To ensure your project has the right base, which is the best fabric to use for punch needle? The right fabric to use should preferably be 50 percent cotton and 50 percent polyester and should be a tightly woven fabric. The right fabric will hold the thread loops in place, even when the fabric is removed from the hoop.
The types of fabric you can use for punch needle include weaver’s cloth, which is the most popular, denim, and Aida cloth. Which fabric you use will depend on your project, and the punch needle thread you are using.
A Guide To Punch Needle Fabric
Below are the 3 best types of cloth to use for punch needle. We’ll explain why these are the best fabrics and then move on to our list of the best fabrics available for purchase. Enjoy!
Weaver’s Cloth
Weaver’s cloth is a blend of polyester and cotton, which works well for punch needle designs which are embroidered with one to three strands of buttonhole thread or embroidery floss.
Commercial punch needle kits are most commonly sold with designs printed on weaver’s cloth.
Denim
Denim is tightly woven, made from cotton fabric which provides a great base for punch needle designs. There are different denim fabric weights available, with the heavier weight denim working better than the lightweight kind.
Denim which contains stretch polyester should not be used for punch needle, and you should only use heavy denim when embroidering with a 4 ply yarn.
Aida Cloth
Aida cloth is commonly used for cross-stitch, but it is also popularly used for punch needle as well. Aida cloth is available in different counts, which is the number of cross stitches per inch that the fabric will hold.
For punch needle, you should not use Aida cloth which holds less than 14 stitches per inch, or what would be called a 14-count cloth.
Lower count Aida cloths have a more open weave, which does not hold the punch needle loops in place. A higher count of Aida cloth will provide better results.
The Best 7 Fabrics For Punch Needle
Choosing the right fabric can be tough, especially if you are just starting out in the world of punch needle. To help you choose the best fabric to use, we have found the best 7 fabrics. These will not only be easy and comfortable to work with, but they will hold the embroidery in place well after the fabric is removed from the hoop.
| Rank | Product | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Wool Queen Punch Needle Frame | Cotton covered frames, 2 pieces, 9.8 inches by 9.8 inches |
| 2. | Aida Cloth Fabric | Pure natural cotton, 5 piece set, pre-cut fabric, 12 inches by 12 inches |
| 3. | CoCloArt Monk's Cloth | Cotton monk's cloth, 3 piece set, 26 inches by 19.5 inches |
| 4. | CopyLove Natural Linen Fabric | Specialized 3D-touch cloth, 9.8 inches by 9.8 inches |
| 5. | Punch Needle Weaver’s Cloth Fabric Denim | Cotton-polyester blend denim, includes free punch needle embroidery design |
| 6. | Aida Cloth Punch Needle Fabric | Aida cloth, 5 piece set, 12 inches by 18 inches |
| 7. | Dorr Mill Monk’s Cloth | Cotton backing fabric, 60 inches wide, 24x26 thread per inch |
1. Wool Queen Punch Needle Frame
Check the Current Price on Amazon
For those who are looking for fabric to create a piece of art with punch needle, to hang up on the wall to display, this is a brilliant option.
The high-quality, durable frame is covered in Monk’s cloth and measures 9.8 inches by 9.8 inches.
The fabric is 100% cotton and completely environmentally friendly. The cloth is made from 230g/m2 high-quality fabric, and the smaller pieces of the Monk’s cloth have edge banding to stop fraying.
Included are 2 Monk’s cloth-covered frames measuring the same size, and they are suitable to be used for punch needle, machine embroidery, and needlework.
2. Aida Cloth Fabric
Check the Current Price on Amazon
Aida cloth is a great fabric to use for punch needle and other cross stitch projects.
This 5 piece set gives you enough pre-cut fabric to use for a while and is a cost-effective way to purchase ready-to-use punch needle fabric.
Each piece of the embroidered cloth measures 12 inches by 12 inches, which is the most commonly used sized for punch needle scenes.
The material used to make the Aida fabric is pure natural cotton, and the fabric is only available in white.
This 5 piece set of pre-cut Aida fabric is such a great option for both beginner and experience punch needle crafters alike, and it can be used for many other embroidery projects as well.
3. KOVIPGU Monks Cloth
Check the Current Price on Amazon
Made from 100% cotton, the monk’s cloth from CoCloArt will be fairly soft, but also quite durable and very easy to clean. This durable material with an open weave is suitable for punch needle embroidery, and all other embroidery work like cross stitch as well.
There are 3 pieces included in the set measuring 26 inches by 19.5 inches. You will have plenty of monk’s cloth fabric for all your different project needs.
The durable material will hold the thread well once the project has been completed, and is a wonderful fabric to use as a display piece for your artwork.
Your work can be hung on the wall, used as a placemat, or put to whatever purpose, and be cleaned quite easily and be trusted to hold the project indefinitely.
4. CopyLove Natural Linen Fabric
Check the Current Price on Amazon
The CopyLove embroidery fabric is made from high-quality, pure cotton, pure natural material.
With specialized workmanship, it has been ensured that the embroidery cloth won’t wear down the threads when the needles are pulled and lifted, and the material will keep the thread free from fraying and fuzziness, keeping your project delicate and neat.
The strong 3D touch feeling cloth has a defined feel to it, making it great for beginners and experienced punch needlers.
It can be used for punch needle, hanging embroidery, machine embroidery, and other cross-stitch designs.
Measuring 9.8 inches by 9.8 inches, it is a good size to use for many different projects.
5. Punch Needle Weaver’s Cloth Fabric Denim
Check the Current Price on Amazon
This tightly woven weaver’s cloth fabric is made only from the highest quality fibers, with a delicate blend of cotton and polyester.
The makeup of the fabric ensures that it will hold the punch needle hoops in place, keeping your work and art secure, and durable, for easy crafting.
The fabric is available in four different popular colors which are all perfectly matched to DMC Embroidery Floss colors, and each pack of the denim cloth fabric comes with a free punch needle embroidery design.
6. Aida Cloth Punch Needle Fabric
Check the Current Price on Amazon
With 5 pieces of Aida cloth included in the set, you will have enough of the right fabric to achieve a good few punch needle projects.
The embroidered cloth measures 12 inches by 18 inches, which is one of the most commonly used sizes, and is suitable for many different scenes and pictures.
The pure cotton material used is all-natural and holds the threads in place securely without fraying or fuzzing at the edges.
Use the pack of 5 pieces for punch needle, hanging embroidery or other cross-stitch works.
7. Dorr Mill Monk’s Cloth
Check the Current Price on Amazon
Dor Mills is one of the better options to choose from when it comes to a fabric foundation for punch needlework.
The 100% cotton backing fabric is lightweight and soft, which makes it an absolute dream to work with.
There is a white line placed every 2 inches on the fabric, and there are exactly 12 holes per inch, with 24×26 thread per inch, helping you measure and plan your work to absolute perfection.
The total width of the fabric is 60 inches, so you can adjust it to smaller project pieces, or do one large punch needle embroidery piece!
Related Questions
Can you punch a needle on any fabric?
You can punch needle on any type of fabric which has a weave, even a fabric such as velvet. Some other fabrics can have a cotton or polyester woven interfacing ironed onto the back of the fabric, which can help it adapt to be suitable for punch needle.
Small needles can be used for most fabrics, but usually, it is recommended to stay away from 100% cotton linen, as it will not hold the threads and loops well.
What thread should you use for punch needle?
Punch needling should be done with cotton or wool floss, or even yarn which is suitable for knitting and crochet. The thread you use will depend on the needle thickness, with thicker needles being able to punch needle with a thicker thread or yarn.
Is punch needle easy?
Punch needle takes some practice, but it is an easy way to create textured designs on different fabrics. It is much easier to learn than embroidery and you can pretty much needle punch any design you could want onto fabric. For all punch needle designs, you should sketch your design on the fabric first.
The Best Fabric For Punch Needle
Choosing the right fabric for punch needle is so important to ensure that you give your work the right backing it needs to make the punch needling easier to do and to ensure your work lasts longer and the threads do not fray or fuzz.
When choosing the best fabric for punch needling, the best options to choose are weaver’s cloth, Aida cloth or denim, and the above list of the 7 best fabrics for punch needling will give you the best start!
Up Next: The Best Punch Needle Embroidery Kits
