How to make a punch needle cushion

We love the retro feel of this 60s-inspired cushion by Shikira Alleyne-Samuel! Find out how to make your own punch needle cushion with our step-by-step guide

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Shikira Alleyne-Samuel

Published: June 29, 2022 at 6:00 am

One of the easiest, instantly gratifying crafts has to be punch needle embroidery. I love it because you can see your design forming quickly and I tend to use bright bold colours for my projects which always lift my mood.

This cushion project was inspired by the type of prints and patterns created in the 60’s and 70’s. I wanted it to have a real retro vibe so chose a colour palette which I thought reflected this period. Plus I am obsessed with pink and red together.

If you've never tried punch needle embroidery before, we'd recommend that you check out our needle punching for beginners guide before you get started. If you want new projects to try, take a look at our pick of the best punch needle kits.

Read on to learn how to make a punch needle cushion…

You will need:

Heat transfer pen
Adjustable punch needle tool
Monks cloth (50x50cm)
Large clip frame to hold the fabric in
Stylecraft Special chunky yarn (in colours Watermelon, Lipstick, Pomegranate, and Spice)
Paintbox chunky yarn 355
Rico Design Punch needle fabric glue
Paint brush
Inner cushion (41x41cm)
Fabric scissors
Sewing machine
A pencil
Ruler or pattern master
Rose and Hubble Craft Cotton (in Peach) (1/2 metre)
Matching coloured thread
An iron and ironing board
Dressmakers pins
Templates (find the templates in step 1)

Step 1

Print out the 6 page template and piece it together like a puzzle as instructed on the pattern.

Assembling the punch needle templates

Use a heat transfer pen to trace over the pattern lines.

Tracing over the lines with a heat transfer pen

Step 2

With the iron heated and ready to use, have your monks cloth on your ironing board. Place the traced pattern face down onto the monks cloth to transfer the pattern onto the fabric. Once the pattern is transferred use a ruler to mark out the edge of the design.

Ironing over the design

Step 3

Thread your punch needle tool with Stylecraft Special Chunky in colour Spice. Adjust your needle to stitch loop D and stitch flat stitches filling each centre circle of the geometric florals.

Punching the centres of the flowers using orange yarn

Step 4

Once the centre circles are filled move onto the petals. Adjust the punch needle tool to stitch loop C. This will give you slightly larger loops on the reverse side of the monks cloth. Again the stitch used is flat stitches. Alternate the colours for the petals from Stylecraft Special Chunky in colours Lipstick and Pomegranate.

Adding the petals

Step 5

Adjust punch needle tool again back to stitch loop D and fill the outer circles of the geometric floral with Stylecraft special chunky in colour Watermelon.

Adding the watermelon yarn

Step 6

Take the design off the clip frame and hold the monks cloth up against a light box or bright window with the textured side facing you. Trace the outlines of all the stems and leaves. The textured side is the side which will be used for the final design.

Tracing the design by putting the monks cloth up against a window

Step 7

On the textured side of the design (textured vs flat stitches) Adjust the punch needle to stitch loop D and stitch the leaf and stem with Stylecraft yarn in colour Spice.

Adding the leaves and the stem

Step 8

Once complete, change the yarn colour to Paintbox colour 355. Adjust the needle to loop length D and fill in the entire remaining spaces of the design till it is all complete.

Change to Paintbox colour 355

Step 9

Trim all of the loose yarn on the design with sharp embroidery scissors.

Trim away the loose yarn using sharp embroidery scissors

Step 10

Using a paint brush, paint on the Rico Design textile glue all over the flat stitched floral side, which is the original side to begin with. This glue will secure the stitches.

Brush the flat side with glue to secure the stitches

Step 11

Using a pattern master or ruler, measure a rectangle 26x44cm. This will create the cushion back. Cut 2 of these shapes out of a Rose and Hubble Craft Cotton in colour peach. A seam will be stitched on both long edges of fabric and will form the envelop opening of the cushion to allow the inner cushion to be inserted.

Step 12

Press your seam on the long edges measuring 1cm from the edge and folding, then fold that rough edge of fabric into the crease of the first fold.

Press all with an iron.

Step 13

Stitch the seams of the fabric.

Step 14

Mark out a 1.5cm seam allowance around the edge of the punch needled fabric design and cut away the excess fabric.

Mark out the seam allowance along the edge of your punch needle design

Step 15

Pin the cotton fabric to the punch needled fabric with right sides facing each other. Stitch around the cushion edge as close as you can possibly get to the edge of the punch needled stitches. This may be 1.5cm - 2cm wide. Turn the cushion out to the right sides facing and insert the inner cushion.

You’re done! We hope you enjoyed making this punch needle cushion project. Looking for more DIY projects for your home? Learn how to make a lampshade, how to make a cushion cover or how to make a macrame plant hanger.

Punch needle cushion