Have you tried these on-trend yarn crafts yet? (2024)

We have some woolly good news! Yarn crafts have seen a huge surge in popularity recently and not just classic ones like knitting and crochet. Crafts like tufting and punch needle embroidery are having a moment and there are no signs of the trend slowing down.

From cushions and throws, to rugs and wall art, the crafting boom has seen an explosion of both punch needle embroidery and tufting crafts – if you haven’t tried them yet, now is the time to give them a go!

What is tufting and why should you try it?

Tufting is an ancient weaving technique that is known for its calming benefits, much like tie-dyeing and baking.

It’s a method of rug making and works by placing strands of wool or yarn onto a frame and punching the strands through with a tufting tool that is shaped bit like a gun. Chunky yarns are perfect for tufting as they give a soft fluffy finish but adding in different thicknesses and types of yarn can help you create lovely varied designs.

A #TufTok community has even flourished on TikTok, showcasing a huge range of humorous interior designs with the hashtag reaching over 16M million views so far. Think huge rugs and speeded up videos of them coming to life – they're rather addictive to watch!

But it's not just a social media obsession. Hobbycraft has seen sales for their Super Chunky Yarn on their website increase by 74 per cent and they believe it's due to so many people wanting to give tufting a try.

Their Knitcraft Brand Manger Emily Platt said: “It's great to see this tufting yarn craft boom in 2022 and transfer across into the world of interiors!

"The beauty of tufting is that the designs are completely up to you, and you can find your own unique style to suit your space. Wool yarn is the perfect option as it is more resistant and environmentally friendly.”

Because tufting leads to large pieces and takes up more space you may prefer to try the other trending wool craft – punch needle embroidery.

What is punch needle embroidery and why should you try it?

Punch needling is very similar to tufting and produces the same effect but on a much smaller scale, which is a relief if your craft habit already takes up a lot of space!

The results are stunning – punch needling creates a gorgeously soft, puffy pile texture that can be used to make hoop art, wall hangings, mini rugs and more, we particularly love the snuggly nature of punch needle cushions. Punch needling requires just a few simple materials: a cotton fabric called monks cloth, punch needle tools and yarn, or you can buy a punch needle kit.

Is punch needle easier than embroidery?

Punch needle is a type of embroidery that involves pulling thread through fabric to create a looped design but it uses a different type of needle. Within embroidery there are lots of different types of embroidery stitches, some are easier than others.

Some people find punch needling easier than embroidery as it's quicker than traditional hand stitching. To create textures you simple change the weight of your yarn, where as in embroidery you'd need to do a different stitch.

The main issue that people tend to encounter with punch needling is getting the tension right on their yarn. If the isn't enough slack on your yarn as you push the tool through the monks cloth it can't easily create and leave the required loop.
To solve this issue you need to ensure that you have plenty of loose yarn between your punch needle tool and your skein or ball of yarn. Make sure you aren't holding on to or restricting the yarn as you push the needle through the cloth, push through to the full depth of the needle and then lift it back out - this should create the perfect loop.

The key difference between punch needling and tufting is that tufting is done with a tufting gun and punch needle is done by hand with a punch needle tool. Tufting is like the industrial version of punch needling, the kit to get started with tufting has a much higher price point but it also allows you to make much bigger projects.

Getting started with punch needling

You’ll find everything you need to get started with punch needling in a kit designed for beginners including a punch needle tool, punch needle threader, yarn, monks cloth and embroidery hoop.

Soofiya has now started making their own punch needle embroidery designs and particularly enjoys the moments of mindfulness this craft gives them: "I love the slowness, so much of work, projects and life is fast paced with a quick turnaround, with deadlines to meet and things to deliver.

"The slowness is so refreshing, it takes time and patience to punch needle, it slows me down and helps me be more present."

If you're keen to give these must-try crafts go, check out the gallery below for some of our favourite craft supplies to get you started, we’ve also compiled a list of the best punch needle kits to help you choose you next craft project.

Have you got into punch needle or tufting? Share your creations with us by tagging @primamag in your pictures on Instagram!