Punch needle rug hooking is a contemporary take on traditional rug hooking, in which the piece is worked from the back using an Oxford Punch Needle. The yarn is fed through the core of the punch needle, which leaves behind even loops on the opposite side of the backing. This creates a “coloring with yarn process” that feels like magic and invites imaginative interpretation of the design. Explore this new style of rug hooking with a selection of bird-themed designs from the instructor (cardinal, chickadee, loon, owl, or hummingbird) to create a colorful and textural piece of your own. Using yarn from the instructor’s sheep, students will learn how to stretch the monk’s cloth backing onto a frame and use two sizes of the Oxford Punch Needle to turn the chosen design into a looped pile home accent.

Designed by Amy Oxford in Vermont, the Oxford Punch Needle transforms this traditionally hooked rug process so that it’s both speedier and kinder on the wrists. Wool and wool-blend yarns are the best fibers to use in the punch needle, so please make certain you do not have a wool allergy before signing up for this class.

See a demo of punch needle rug hooking in the video below!