Are your punch needle loops slipping right out, no matter how carefully you work? This is a very common beginner punch needle question that we hear at The Oxford Company, and the good news is: the solution is usually simple and easy to fix. A few tweaks in backing fabric, yarn, or technique will have your loops staying snug and secure. Let’s walk through the most common reasons loops fall out, and how to fix them like a pro.
Understanding How Punch Needle Works
Each time you punch through the backing fabric, the yarn loop is held in place by the weave of your foundation cloth. When the correct fabric is stretched tightly and paired with the right yarn and punch needle (Regular or Fine Point), your loops should stay in easily. If they’re popping out as you punch or coming undone, it means something’s off in the setup or technique.
Let’s troubleshoot together.
Mistake 1: Using the Wrong Foundation Backing
Not all fabrics can handle punch needle rug hooking. If the weave is uneven, too tight, too loose, too stiff or made of weak threads, your loops won’t hold. Backing that is too hairy or coarse will also affect loop formation.
Fix: Use good quality monk’s cloth designed specifically for punch needle rug hooking; it’s the gold standard and not without reason. Our Oxford Monk’s Cloth is 100% cotton, 13 double threads per inch, and woven with handy grid lines every two inches for easy pattern placement and stretching. It is strong and durable allowing for easy and fearless corrections, redos, and changes of mind.
Mistake 2: Loose Foundation Backing Tension
Even the best monk’s cloth needs to be stretched extremely taut to work to the best of its ability. If it is saggy, it’s harder to punch into and your loops can become uneven with the possibility of falling out.
Fix: Stretch your monk’s cloth until it’s drum-tight! In the words of Amy Oxford, the fabric should be taut enough that you can bounce a penny off its surface. For the right tension, frames matter! Our Oxford Gripper Strip Lap Frames, with their fine metal teeth allow you to get the monk’s cloth exceptionally taut, and there are sizes suitable for projects from small coasters to large rugs.
Mistake 3: Punch Needle Size and Yarns Don’t Match
If your yarn and punch needle aren’t compatible, you’ll struggle. Too thin or too thick of yarn will cause problems and your loops won’t form properly or will have difficulties staying in the backing.
Fix: Match them up. Follow the guidelines for punch needle sizes and recommended yarn weight. Regular Point Oxford Punch Needles pair perfectly with rug yarn, many chunky yarns, or even 8 cut, 7 cut and 6 cut strips of fabric. In the Fine Point Oxford Punch Needles use finer yarns, like worsted-weight, DK, aran weight yarns, or even 3 cut wool strips. Our Violet Jane Yarn Collection in two weights (hand-dyed 100% wool in solids and variegated shades) flows smoothly and punches beautifully.
Mistake 4: Yarn Flow is Interrupted
If your yarn catches or snags on something, loops may start to pop right back out. Even the slight tension created by the yarn pulling out of the ball can cause problems with loops forming properly or staying in!
Fix: Avoid all tension on the yarn. Pull plenty of yarn out of the ball or skein to create a loose “puddle” of yarn that can flow freely as you punch. Keep an eye on it, and as the “puddle” gets low, pull more yarn to maintain plenty of loose yarn as you work.
Avoid catching your yarn on your frame, under your hand or arm, or on anything else as you punch. Check for knots or lumps in your yarn as these can also cause tension or can even get stuck in your punch needle preventing loops from forming or staying in. To stop the yarn snagging on the prickly teeth of your frame, use an Oxford Frame cover. Made from 2 layers of extra soft fleece and 1 layer of polyfill inside, these extra cushiony frame covers will protect your hands and arms.
Mistake 5: Problem with Punching Technique
If you lift the punch needle too high above the backing as you punch you’ll get lumps forming on the back and loops that are uneven or won’t stay in.
Fix: As you make each stitch, allow the punch needle tip to simply graze the monk’s cloth surface, without lifting it up above the cloth. Aim for a steady and smooth motion. This is where practice makes magic!
A word from Oxford Certified Instructors:
If your loops are falling out, don’t feel discouraged; every single punch needle artist has been there. With the right punch needle tool, foundation fabric, yarn, and technique, your loops will stay neat and secure. Even if things go south, there’s always a way to fix it; this is one of the great things about punch needle rug hooking! Remember, every project is part of the learning process, and you’ll gain confidence with every punch.
Happy punching!
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