How to Weave in Punch Needle Ends

Yarn pictured was provided by Shepherd’s Lamb.

We recently took a look at how to do basic punch needle rug hooking, covering how to start a punch needle project and work with a punch needle tool. So what’s next? What do you do with something once it’s all punch needled? While it all depends on the project in question, today we’re going to tackle how to weave in and secure your ends. For many punch needle projects, you will need to weave in your ends before securing your canvas in a frame, sewing it to a cushion cover, or whatever finishing your particular project calls for. Ready to weave in your ends? Let’s dive in!

Note: I use the words “tail” and “end” interchangeably throughout this tutorial.
Also note: This is a tutorial designed for beginning punch needlers.

Supplies
punch needle project in need of end-weaving
tapestry needle (large-eyed, blunt-tipped)
scissors

Weaving in Right Side Punch Needle Ends

Begin by determining which side of your project is the “right side” and which is the “wrong side.” (Brand new to punch needle? Check out my punch needle 101 tutorial to learn how to do the technique, including some more info about right vs. wrong sides!)

How to hide ends on the right side of a “stitched” section of punch needle.

Using a tapestry (large-eyed) needle, bring your ends to the wrong side of your work. You’ll be sewing a stitch, rather than punching it with a punch needle tool. To hide your stitch effectively, it should be approximately as wide as the other stitches on the right side of your work.

Turn your work so that the wrong side is facing you. Being careful not to pull on the tail, trim it with scissors, blending the tail in with its surrounding loops. Since the wrong side of a patch of “stitched” punch needle is a patch of loops, you should also be careful not to cut any of the loops in the process.

Hiding ends on the right side of a looped section of punch needle.

For hiding tails in a looped section of punch needle, it’s just the opposite. Thread your end into your tapestry needle and, hiding it in your right side loops, draw it to the wrong (in this case “stitched”) side of your work.

Next, glide your tapestry needle, end threaded, under an inch or two of “stitches” on the wrong side. Be careful not to pull up a loop as you go.

To finish, trim any excess yarn close to your work.

How to weave in wrong side punch needle ends

Since the wrong side of your work won’t often be looked at, depending on your project, weaving in these ends is a bit simpler. You get to skip the whole artfully-bringing-ends-to-the-wrong-side step!

Weaving in wrong side “stitched” ends

If you’re not already looking at the wrong side of your work, turn it to face you. Thread your end onto your tapestry needle and carefully sew it under several stitches, again being careful not to pull out or loosen them. When you’re all stitched, simply trim the excess tail.

Weaving in wrong side looped ends

Well, I saved the easiest for last! If you’ve got yourself a tail coming out of a looped, wrong side section, you just sew it under a few stitches & trim. Just that simple!

What happens when all ends are woven in?

There are SO MANY creative ways to finish a punch needle project beyond weaving in ends! So many, in fact, that I plan on saving that topic for another day. Now that we’ve covered the basic mechanics of how to punch needle and, today, how to weave in punch needle ends, we’ve got a good foundation to work from for blog posts featuring punch needle patterns! In the coming weeks, I’ve got a couple posts planned featuring punch needle rug hooking, all designed with beginners in mind. Each project will involve different methods for punch needle finishing, so I plan on including finishing tutorials with each of them. Are you as excited as I am for more punch needle rug hooking? :)

Yarn pictured was provided by Shepherd’s Lamb.