A guide to punch needle tools in 2023:
Which punch needle tool should you use

by Sara Moore - 28 April 2023

Lavor punch needles

Back in 2019 I wrote a blog post on ‘which punch needle tool to use’. In the last four years the range of punch needle tools available to buy has broadened hugely and I decided it was time for an update. The rise in popularity of punch needle has meant that there is now a much wider variety of tools to choose from, but with increased choice it can sometimes be harder to pick the right one.

Rather than go through every single different punch needle tool available I’m going to give you my recommended highlights. As well as discussing the benefits of each tool I’ll also give you some ideas of what materials are best to be used with them.

Most punch needle tools can be separated into two categories based on their traditional use. Tools are usually for:

- punch needle rug hooking
- punch needle embroidery

Punch needle rug hooking

The term ‘punch needle rug hooking’ refers to the traditional craft of making rugs. The punch needle tool was invented to speed up the craft of rug hooking. Rug hooks work similarly to punch needles in that they both use a foundation fabric with yarn to create loop stitches which form the basis of a rug. However, the technique for creating the loops differs between the two tools. Rug hooks work from the top (or finished side) of the fabric pulling up the loops, whereas punch needles work from the underneath the fabric (or back side) pushing the loops upwards. Rug hooks tend to use small strips of yarn or fabric and punch needles usually use a continuous length of fibre (but can also use smaller scraps of yarn).

Punch needle tools that are used for making rugs tend to have a wider handle and needle to accommodate thicker yarn. Many rugs are made using 100% wool rug yarn as it is very durable and hardwearing. This rug yarn tends to be chunky in weight and therefore needs a wider punch needle to accommodate it.

Punch needle rug and Oxford punch needle

Punch needle embroidery

As the name may suggest, tools for punch needle embroidery are much finer as the effect created is much more delicate. These tools tend to have very small, short needles that can accommodate either a full skein of embroidery floss or just a few strands. These finer punch needles can also be used with finer fibres such as lace or super fine weight yarn.

Different punch needle brands

The tools I recommend are manufactured by two companies; The Oxford Company and Lavor. The Oxford Company is based in Vermont and was established by punch needle expert Amy Oxford. They manufacture their own punch needles and dye their own yarn under the brand ‘Violet Jane Rug Yarn’. Lavor is based in Portugal and manufacture a range of craft tools including punch needles, knitting needles and crochet hooks.

Oxford punch needles

Oxford punch needles are considered by many to be the premium brand of punch needles. The Oxford punch needles are self-threading and are designed to be comfortable for extended periods of use. Sold with a lifetime guarantee they are a very worthwhile investment. The punch needles are available as ‘boxed’ or ‘unboxed’. Boxed punch needles are a bit more expensive, but include a helpful handbook written by Amy Oxford which has a wealth of tips and tricks to help you get started with punch needle. The 28-page booklet includes illustrations and all the information you need to use your new tool successfully. Also in the box is a stitch guide, which is useful for maintaining consistent stitch length.

Oxford punch needle specifics

• Made in the USA
• Ergonomically designed for comfort and speed
• Hand-turned maple handle
• Electro-polished stainless-steel needle
• Designed by Punch Needle expert Amy Oxford

Oxford punch needles are available in two widths: fine and regular. They are static (as opposed to adjustable) and create one loop length per needle. The full range of Oxford punch needle sizes are:

Regular Oxford punch needle with stitch gauge, handbook and box

Regular Oxford Punch Needles

• #8 regular Oxford punch needle creates 1/2 inch loops
• #9 regular Oxford punch needle creates 3/8 inch loops
• #10 regular Oxford punch needle creates 1/4 inch loops

Recommended materials for use with regular Oxford punch needles

• chunky 100% wool rug yarn
• monks cloth fabric (12-14 count)
• linen punch needle fabric

Fine Oxford Punch Needles

• #8 fine Oxford punch needle creates 1/2 inch loops
• #9 fine Oxford punch needle creates 3/8 inch loops
• #10 fine Oxford punch needle creates 1/4 inch loops
• #13 fine Oxford punch needle creates 3/16 inch loops
• #14 fine Oxford punch needle creates 1/8 inch loops

Recommended materials for use with fine Oxford punch needles

• aran weight yarn
• monks cloth fabric (12-14 count)
• linen punch needle fabric

Lavor punch needles

An established manufacturer of knitting needles and crochet tools, Lavor began to produce punch needle tools a few years ago to fill a gap in the market for punch needles at a lower price point.

Affordable and easy to use, their punch needles are great for beginners and those looking to experiment with punch needle.

Lavor punch needles are made in Portugal and feature handles made from recycled plastic. Each punch needle comes with a handy storage pouch and threader. All the punch needles are adjustable (as opposed to static) allowing you to create loops of different heights. This is great for creating texture within a project whilst only using one punch needle.

Lavor punch needles are available in three different widths to accommodate a broad range of fibres:

• fine Lavor punch needles
• 4 mm Lavor punch needles
• 5.5 mm Lavor punch needles

The 4 mm and 5.5 mm punch needles are available with two different handles; one more compact handle and one that is larger and more ergonomic. This gives you the option to choose which size is more comfortable for you.

Lavor punch needles

Recommended materials for use with fine Lavor punch needle

• aran weight yarn (largest needle tip)
• monks cloth fabric (largest needle tip)
• weavers cloth or tightly woven cotton fabric (small and medium needle tips)

Recommended materials for use with 4 mm Lavor punch needles

• medium weight yarn
• monks cloth fabric
• linen fabric

Recommended materials for use with 5.5 mm Lavor punch needles

• chunky weight yarn
• monks cloth fabric
• linen fabric

Between these two brands you should be able to find a punch needle suitable for your project.

My favourite punch needles to use are the regular width Oxford punch needles and the fine Lavor punch needle. I tend to use the largest needle tip with the fine Lavor punch needle and aran weight yarn for small projects such as coasters and display hoops.

If I’m making something more substantial like a cushion or rug, I use a regular Oxford punch needle and chunky wool rug yarn. For making a rug the #9 regular Oxford punch needle is a good choice as the slightly longer loop length gives a more plush feel underfoot.