L.C. here reporting from the front lines of the craft room. It was a harrowing few days of punch needle trials and tribulations but I made it!!!!
I was seriously wondering if we were going to have a punchy post today because I was having some serious pitchy punch moments. I am pleased as punch to report that Hank patched things up and came to the rescue! pffft!
Let's get started with the supplies and reference links first and then we can move on to the projects!
Firstly...
I bought a kit from Sew Say It. You can see that kit HERE (#1 in the pic). It came with a punch needle in a couple of different sizes (the needle height is adjustable which is why this kit was so appealing to me) and some thread. I used that for a while and felt like the needle attachment thing was not the strongest so I decided I wanted to try a heavy duty adjustable punch needle.
My next purchase was a needle kit from Boye (#2 in the pic). You can see that kit HERE. I hate to say this... but it broke before I even used it once. I would not recommend getting this needle as the adjustable piece is what broke on me (maybe I just put the LollyChops whim wham on it...I dunno but I am not she-ra or anything...honest).
So lastly I decided to get a needle that was not adjustable (just something to get the job done (#3 in the pic). It's from Dimensions and you can see it HERE. I only paid $2.99 for this needle and I should have saved myself all that money and just gone with this one from the beginning (I got mine at JoAnn). It was by far the best of the 3.
You are also going to need a cool weird long threader thingy (to thread that super long needle). Every needle I got came with at least 1 - 2 threader thingies so you should not need to buy one (just FYI...the threader is a truly essential piece of equipment so it's a good thing they all come with a couple!).
An embroidery hoop is another must have (I managed to use one with and without a lip with the same results). Some folks said that you had to have one with a lip but I really did not see any benefit there. If you are an embroidery person and want to explain the benefit of that lip please do! I do not want to steer folks wrong!
The material you punch on is called weavers cloth. Even though most kits come with the thread and material... you might want to get some to play with (it's best to practice a little before you dive right into your nice kit). I found some on sale on line HERE and HERE.
I also used some regular 6 strand DMC thread (you know the kind I am talking about... comes in about a trillion colors and is pretty affordable).
You will want to get some thread to play with as well (if you do not already have gobs and gobs... just go raid someone's stash!.. tell 'em LollyChops sent you (and then give them a little hug from me)).
A TIP..
Speaking of that 6 strand thread... part of the punchy power of punch needle is that you have to separate each of those 6 strands of thread (and then put back together however many you are going to use... I stuck with 3-at-a-time).
I was really struggling with that whole separation thing so I started to google ways to do that a little easier and WOW COW! I found this little video and I HAD to share it. You all prolly already knew this but this was a mouth popping moment for me. I had NO idea it was so easy to separate the strands! WHEW... if I learn nothing else for an entire year I'll be happy just having learned how to do this!!! You can see that marvel of a technique HERE.
So before we get started I want you to print out this little badge and get a pin and pin it to your shirt.
Ok... are you wearing your "Hank says... patience" badge? Whew.
Now... repeat after me. "I can do this!!!" Say it about 15 times for effectiveness (and to try to help convince yourself that you really can) and then raise your fist in the air and say it again real loud once more (don't do this when anyone else is there though ok... they might think you a tad touched)!
I bought a totally cute bird kit from Dimensions (I got it at JoAnn too - I might as well sign my paychecks over to them... I swears). You can see the kit HERE.
It came with the fabric, thread and some KILLER instructions. The best I have ever seen. But in case you decide not to get a kit and just go with the weavers cloth and some DMC thread I figured we had better get some online tutorials together for you... so I have links to a few that I found. Check out a couple you can watch HERE and HERE and some you can read through HERE and HERE. The first link is from a really nice lady (Hi Marilyn!!!) who I wrote for advice and tips (you can learn all about her HERE). She wrote me back right away and basically held my hand as I went through this learning process. So BIG thanks to her!
Front view of my first few stitches. Not looking so hot here - but Marilyn says to keep on punching.
It will all come together (she swears).
The back view is a horror story
(you punch through the pattern on the back and the front is the ruggy looking side).
I am pretty sure it's not supposed to look all loopy and crazy like this but I was hanging on by a thread (the punch needle was on the verge of becoming a dart at this point).
See what a little patience gets you!
It's actually taking on some mini-rug like qualities!
Just one tip... make sure the tail of your thread is not snagged on anything or it will pull out your stitches (trust Lolly on this... after I pulled out about 237 stitches I finally learned not to let that thread snag on anything!).
Here is the back.
Meh
Do we really need to talk about the back?!?!?!
I didn't think so either.
Moving on...
Ahhh... see what I mean! It's actually looking ok!
At this point I got REALLY excited.
But first...another back shot.
That's nice looking right????
Maybe I should just forget about the lovely rugesque thing I have going on in the front and just frame this side?
Wadda think?
So as I was saying... I got SUPER excited and decided to scrap the whole kit thing
...and go with a HANKTACULAR PUNCH NEEDLE PROJECT!
There's my boy.
I traced him on to some teal fabric (which by-the-way never looks teal in the pics).
I was so excited that I did not stop to take any pics of Hank-in-the-making.
But here is a utterly scary pic of his backside.
I could be wrong but I think I am getting less loopy.
But I could be wrong. Wait... did I already say that?
Anyhoot...
It's not really and truly Hank you know.
Until you see that little Hanky Smile!
He's already a pattern that you can download from my embroidery patterns download page. The Hank in-the-flesh PDF can be found HERE but I recommend you go check out the whole set of patterns HERE (Hank has a lot of friends)!
I used some really weird teal almost weavers cloth and it held up pretty good... but having used the real deal... nothing is as sturdy as that stuff. I am telling you... I was so over the top excited that I had to make him on this teal fabric (look at me throwing caution to the wind on my almost second project). I am such a daredevil.
DMC 3184 - teal for the swirl in the trunk
DMC 838 - dark brown for the base of his trunkness
DMC 898 - lighter brown for the outlines (base of the trunk and around his "head")
DMC 166 - bright green for the leaves and his french knot eyes and Hankey smile
I framed him in a regular picture frame that I got at Tuesday Morning and used some bamboo letters I had from Making Memories (bamboo alpha #32288)... to spell tHANKs. You can get those letters HERE or HERE.
I just want to cuddle with my little Hank Rug. I swears.
So that's all I got! Sorry it was such a LONG post! I had a lot to say (like that's a shocker).
I'll be back next Monday!
Weekly HUGS!
P.S. Ok so seriously you guys... 95 comments?!?!?! WOW! I gotta tell ya... I am really feeling the love from you all. So tHANKs! Your warm comments and silly comments and overall commenty comments really made my whole week fantastic!
P.S.S. What's your vote? Are you gonna give punch needle a try? Have you tried before and gave up in endless frustration? Are you a punch master scoffing at my loopy backsides? Inquiring minds wanna know!
