Punch Needle Patterns
Print a punch needle pattern at the exact size of your hoop. Pick one of our 15 designs (florals, geometric shapes and lettering), a 5, 6, 7 or 8 inch hoop, and your yarn colours. The first page is the transfer at real size, already mirrored, because punch needle is worked from the back of the cloth: trace it onto the back and the design comes out the right way round on the loop side. Each area is numbered, and the second page is the colour key in front view, with which areas are loops and which are flat stitches and how much of the design each colour covers. Turn Mirror off for a front view. Download a PDF, 300 DPI PNGs or an SVG. Nothing is uploaded.
100% private — everything runs in your browser. Everything runs in your browser; nothing is uploaded.
Print at 100% (Actual size) and check the 50 mm bar. Trace the transfer page onto the back of your cloth with a light box or a sunny window.
Pattern
Yarn colours
Runs in your browser with our own code: nothing is uploaded or saved. The patterns are our own drawings. You may use what you make here, including commercially, with no credit needed.
How to use a punch needle pattern
- Choose a pattern and the size of your hoop or frame.
- Keep Mirror on if you will trace onto the back of the cloth (the usual way).
- Change the yarn colours to match what you have.
- Download the PDF and print at 100%; check the 50 mm bar with a ruler.
- Trace the transfer onto the back of your cloth, then punch each numbered area with the colour from the key.
What you can use it for
- A first project in a 6 inch hoop
- Lettering like HOME, LOVE or JOY for a gift
- A floral wall hanging or a cushion front
- Coasters and patches from the small geometric designs
- A class or workshop handout with one pattern per person
- Testing yarn colours before you start
The 15 patterns
| Pattern | Group | Colours | Stitches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daisy | Floral | 3 | Loop |
| Tulip pair | Floral | 4 | Loop + flat |
| Rose bloom | Floral | 4 | Loop + flat |
| Leaf with holes | Floral | 3 | Loop + flat |
| Sunflower | Floral | 4 | Loop + flat |
| Leaf sprig | Floral | 3 | Loop + flat |
| Rainbow | Geometric | 5 | Loop + flat |
| Diamond grid | Geometric | 3 | Loop + flat |
| Circles | Geometric | 4 | Loop |
| Chevrons | Geometric | 3 | Loop + flat |
| Sun rays | Geometric | 3 | Loop |
| Mountains | Geometric | 5 | Loop + flat |
| HOME with a heart | Lettering | 3 | Loop + flat |
| LOVE | Lettering | 3 | Loop + flat |
| JOY | Lettering | 3 | Loop + flat |
All are our own drawings. You can change every colour; the outlines stay the same.
Hoop sizes and design sizes
| Hoop or frame | Design across | Hoop inside |
|---|---|---|
| 5 in | 108 mm (4.25 in) | 127 mm |
| 6 in | 133.4 mm (5.25 in) | 152.4 mm |
| 7 in | 158.8 mm (6.25 in) | 177.8 mm |
| 8 in | 184.1 mm (7.25 in) | 203.2 mm |
The design is the hoop size minus 3/4 inch. Our tests read the design circle and the 50 mm check bar back from the PDF on US Letter and A4.
What prints
| Page | What is on it |
|---|---|
| Transfer | The outlines at real size, mirrored for the back of the cloth (or front view), colour numbers, the hoop circle (dashed), centre marks and a 50 mm check bar |
| Colour key | The design in colour (front view), each yarn with its number, loop or flat, the share of the design, and stitch notes |
To mirror your own drawing before you trace it, use Flip Image; for symmetric designs to punch, try the Mandala Maker.
Pattern groups
| Group | Patterns |
|---|---|
| Floral | Daisy, Tulip pair, Rose bloom, Leaf with holes, Sunflower, Leaf sprig |
| Geometric | Rainbow, Diamond grid, Circles, Chevrons, Sun rays, Mountains |
| Lettering | HOME with a heart, LOVE, JOY |
Lettering uses our own block letters, one outline per letter so there are no lines to trace inside a stroke.
Which tool to use
| You want | Use |
|---|---|
| A punch needle design to trace | Punch Needle Patterns (this page) |
| A cross stitch chart from a picture | Cross Stitch Pattern Maker |
| A knitting colourwork chart | Knitting Chart Maker |
| A quilt block layout | Quilt Pattern Maker |
Also handy: the Cross Stitch Pattern Maker, the Knitting Chart Maker and the Stencil Maker.
More free tools
Stitching, hooking and pattern tools?
Pattern tools that run privately in your browser, with no sign-up and no watermark.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the pattern mirrored?
Punch needle is usually worked from the back of the cloth: you punch on the side you traced, and the loops form on the other side. Anything traced on the back appears reversed on the front, so the transfer is mirrored to come out the right way round. Lettering shows this best: on the transfer it reads backwards.
What size should I print?
Choose the hoop or frame you will use. The design is the hoop size minus 3/4 inch, which leaves room for the hoop edge, so a 6 inch hoop gets a 5.25 inch (133.4 mm) design. Print at 100% and check the 50 mm bar.
How do I transfer the pattern to the cloth?
Tape the printout to a window or a light box, put the cloth on top with its back facing you, and trace the lines with a fine permanent or fabric marker. Line up the four centre marks with the middle of the cloth. Then stretch the cloth drum tight in the hoop.
What is the difference between loop and flat stitches?
The side you punch on shows flat stitches, like a backstitch line; the other side shows loops. A design can use both: the key lists, for each colour, whether that area shows loops or flat stitches on the finished front, so you punch flat areas from the front.
What cloth and yarn do I need?
Monk’s cloth or weaver’s cloth for a medium punch needle and worsted or rug yarn, or a fine needle with embroidery floss on a tighter weave. Use a hoop or gripper frame that holds the cloth very tight.
How much yarn will I need?
The key gives the share of the design each colour covers. Larger areas need far more yarn; buy a little extra for the background colour.
Can I change the colours?
Yes. Each colour box changes one numbered colour. The key page and the preview update; the transfer stays the same, with the numbers.
Can I use these patterns for rug hooking or tufting?
Yes. Turn Mirror on for hooking from the back as well; tufting guns usually work from the back too. Scale is fixed to the hoop sizes here.
Is it free?
Yes. There is no sign-up, no watermark and no limit.
Is anything uploaded?
No. The pattern is drawn by JavaScript in your browser. Nothing is sent anywhere or saved when you close the page.