If you love punch needle rug hooking, you already know that a good frame can completely transform your experience. Many beginners struggle with loose fabric and uneven loops, only to watch their work improve instantly once they switch to a reliable frame. Punch needle art is deeply satisfying, and the right setup makes the process smoother, faster, and far more enjoyable.
This guide also honors the legacy of Amy Oxford, the founder of Oxford Rug Hooking School and creator of the Oxford Punch Needle. Her expertise and thoughtful craftsmanship influence every frame in the collection. Whether you are just beginning or have been punching for years, Oxford frames are designed with your comfort, precision, and creativity in mind.
Let’s explore the full range of Oxford punch needle frames and help you find the perfect one for your next project.
Why a Good Frame Matters
A strong, stable frame is the foundation of good punch needlework. When your fabric is properly stretched, everything becomes easier. Even loops form naturally, your hand stays relaxed, and your stitches build cleanly row after row. This is true whether you are working on rugs, pillows, wall hangings, or small decorative pieces.
Good frames offer:
- Consistent tension
- Better control of your needle
- Less hand and wrist fatigue
- Smooth punching
- Neat and consistent results
Poor backing tension caused by incorrect frame choices is a frequent frustration we see among beginners. Loose monk’s cloth leads to uneven loops, slipping fabric, and constant readjustment. A quality frame eliminates all that, giving you a solid base to enjoy your creativity.
Types of Punch Needle ‘Frames’
The Oxford Company offers a variety of punch needle frames and hoops, each designed with a specific purpose in mind. The most popular categories are:
Gripper Strip Lap Frames
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Buy Gripper Frame - $45 (6" x 6")
These frames are equipped with gripper strips that hold your monk’s cloth or linen tightly with minimal effort. The pine-wood construction is lightweight and sturdy. The frames are strong, durable, and come in a wide variety of sizes to suit all project types. The high-quality gripper strips keep the fabric taut and in place, ready for punching. In Amy’s words, “So taut that a quarter could bounce off the surface.”
Look out for the sharp edges, especially at the corners of the gripper strip frames- it is easy to scratch your hands and arms on them if you don’t take care. The good news is, we’ve got frame covers especially for all our Oxford Gripper Strip Lap Frames made from 2 layers of extra soft fleece and 1 layer of polyfill inside. These extra cushiony covers feel wonderful and soft, and they keep your hands and arms safe from accidents as you punch! Both sides of the cover have sturdy elastic, making it easy to pop the cover on and off your frame.
Buy Gripper Strip Frame Cover - $ 21.00 (6" x 6")
The best part? This is a lifetime purchase. Once you have one you'll use it over and over. Advanced long-time punchers love our frames and use them for all their projects. Many eventually collect several sizes so they can switch depending on their needs!
No-Slip Hoops
Good for smaller pieces or travel setups, no-slip hoops, like the Morgan brand, grip your foundation fabric securely so it does not pop loose. They are affordable, lightweight, easy to use, and work for projects that fit within the hoop diameter. Due to the bulkiness of punched loops, maintaining a taut backing in a hoop becomes challenging with larger projects.
Stretching Your Foundation Backing
If you want to know more about how to stretch the foundation fabric on the frame, we’ve got a complete guide along with videos!
Just follow our YouTube channel - Oxford Moment - How taut should you stretch your monk's cloth?
How to Choose the Right Frame for Your Project
You cannot go wrong with a gripper strip frame! Many of us eventually collect different sizes to match different project needs, or because we are having so much fun punching, we have multiple projects on the go at once!
Fabric choice
- Monk’s cloth is the top choice for all Oxford Punch Needles and both Oxford Gripper Strip Lap Frames or Morgan No-Slip Hoops. It is strong, supple, and durable, and can handle being stretched ultra-taut over the gripper strip ‘teeth’ or in hoops without any fear of tearing.
- Our monk’s cloth precuts have serged edges and are ready to use! They come in a variety of sizes to match your project and your frame.
When cutting your own monk’s cloth from our yardage or choosing a pre-cut size keep in mind the size of your project pattern and the size of your frame.
- It is best to choose monk’s cloth that allows for an extra 5" (12.7cm) of backing on each side of your pattern to make sure you have enough to hem your rug. So, if your rug is 24" x 36" (60.96 x 91.44cm) your backing should be 34" x 46" (86.36 x 116.84cm).
- Always keep your frame size in mind when choosing your monk’s cloth. We have five sizes monk’s cloth to fit our frames:
- 10" x 10" (25.4 x 25.4cm)- fits our 6”x 6” (15cm x 15cm) frame
- 15" x 15" (38.1 x 38.1cm) -fits our 10” x 10” (25.4 x 25.4cm) frame
- 24” x 24” (60.96 x 60.96cm) -great for our 14” x 14” (35cm x 35cm) frame and our 18” x 18” (45cm x 45cm) frames!
- 25” x 36” (63.5 x 91.44cm) - fits our 15" x 26"(38 x 66cm) frame
- 34” x 46” (86.36 x 116.84cm) -fits our 20" x 30"(51 x 76cm) frame and is the perfect size for a 24” by 36” floor rug!
Comfort
Choosing the right punch needle frame is an important step in creating beautiful, long-lasting work. It affects your tension, your comfort, and the overall quality of your project. Oxford Certified Instructors, see the difference a well-built frame makes for beginners and advanced punchers alike!
Did you know that the measurements on all Oxford Gripper Strip Lap Frames reflect the inside working area and not the outside dimensions? This makes it easy to know if your pattern will fit!
- For tiny projects like ornaments and coasters, our cute little 6”x 6” (15cm x 15cm) frame is perfect, plus it allows you to use up small bits of monk’s cloth as well!
- Small punch needle projects like mug rugs, coasters, ornaments and little trivets or wall hangings are great on our 10” x 10” (25.4 x 25.4cm) frame.
- The 14" x 14" (35cm x 35cm) frame is super for all kinds of projects – coasters, ornaments, small bags, wall hangings, trivets – you name it!
- The slightly larger 18" x 18" (45cm x 45cm) frame is our most popular size! It works well for all chair pads and many other projects as well. Many punchers also use this frame to make larger rugs, simply moving the pattern along as they punch each area.
- The rectangular 15" x 26"(38 x 66cm) is a comfortable size frame to make custom-sized rugs and the 15" x 26"(38 x 66cm) is great when punching the ever-popular 2” x 3” floor rug, as you’ll only need to move the pattern once on this frame!
All of the Oxford frames can be easily disassembled for travel or storage! The smaller ones are great for tucking into a bag and will fit just about anywhere, and the medium frames fit well into suitcases.
The biggest advantage? You can successfully move most larger projects around on a smaller gripper strip frame if they are punched with good-quality yarns like Violet Jane. However, if you wish to avoid moving your project, choose one that is at least a few inches larger than the size of your design. This gives plenty of room to stretch the backing taut and to keep the design within the working area.
To summarize, the Oxford punch needle frames are crafted with care, stability, and a deep understanding of what punch needle artists need. They support you through every loop, every row, and every creative moment. Explore the Frames and Supplies Collection and find the Oxford punch needle frame that will bring joy and help you achieve quality craftsmanship!
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Why Are My Punch Needle Loops Falling Out? Common Mistakes Explained
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