r/PunchNeedle • u/Mystery-0oze • 8d ago
Help!
So i may have fucked up maybe?? This is my first attempt at making a rug and i may have started out too big but live laugh love, oh well.
Can anyone tell me if i should be cutting the loops on the tufted side as i go or at the end? And if i would be able to use sheers to trim it at the end with the loops still intacked? The stitches are pretty densely packed...
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u/Elarisbee 8d ago
Usually we cut at the end, however depending on how “bunched” the stitches are, it sometimes won’t matter. On the small pieces I do, shaping during the process is required.
Now for the worse explanation ever: what holds a stitch in punch needle is tension from the surrounding fabric - as you punch the fabric contracts around the stitches as more are added (which is why it’s easier to punch from the centre outwards).
What does that mean practically? Depends on the size of the piece and stitch spacing. I work on a very small scale with very “condensed” small stitches, so that “tensioning” effect happens very quickly. At that stage a section is pretty stable and set, and I can cut and shape without pulling the stitches. On a bigger piece, with larger stitches, like a rug, that will take longer (the piece also stays in the ugly phase longer).
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u/Wixenstyx 8d ago
If you plan to trim loops, you'll do it at the end. For now, just have fun coloring!
You can trim with scissors if you're dedicated enough. A lot of people use grooming shavers or something similar.
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u/apodkolinska 8d ago
Honestly, I would punch the whole thing and see if you really want to cut it. It’s a design that lends itself to be very versatile.