Layers of Meaning

Return of Punch Needle Embroidery

Punch Needle embroidery (or Bunka) seems to be creeping back into favor, after decades of disgrace from its visual abuse in the 1960s and 70s. Needle punch is an old Russian technique, which uses embroidery floss in a continuous feed system to create looped surface images. Rissa Peace offers this description of punch needle embroidery, "Punch Needle Embroidery is often referred to as thread painting, since it can be used to depict very complex scenes, not unlike an oil painting. This technique and its variants are know as Punch, Punch Embroidery, Punch Needle Embroidery, Russian Embroidery and Bunka (the Japanese variation). These terms are not universally interchangeable, but they use the same tool, a punch needle. The basic concept is pretty simple, yarn is punched through a fabric with a hollow pencil shaped needle and leaves tufted loops yarn on top of the fabric. You can create intricate, durable images out of the pile. The actual technique is more closely related to rug-hooking than embroidery, but the application and end product are better described as embroideries than rugs." Rissa provides a list of resources as well as an introduction to the craft of punch needlework.

The best illustrated directions that I could find online are from Amherst Antiques. They have images of the needles, threading directions, pattern transfer and 'Working the Design', as well as online patterns for beginning projects. Their emphasis at this site is on rug hooking though; the pieces tend to use wool and look like miniature rugs.

Libby Magnello has a page of needle punch work that she has integrated into her crazy quilts.

As I have mentioned before, to my mind, Missy Stevens remains the unrivaled artist in contemporary punch needle embroidery. Stevens created the artwork to the left, "Sanctuary,", 9" wide X 13-1/4" tall.