How to Personalise a Canvas Bag with Punch Needle

* Milward Punch Needle Size 10 Set 2 Pack

* Milward 3 in 1 Punch Needle Hoop Stand

* Large Canvas Tote Bag 43cm x 38cm x 10cm

* Women's Institute Azure Soft and Silky 4 Ply Yarn 100g

* Women’s Institute Orange Premium Acrylic Yarn 100g

* Women’s Institute Cool Vanilla Premium Acrylic Yarn 100g

* Women’s Institute Mustard Premium Acrylic Yarn 100g

* Patons Apricot Fairytale Merino Mix DK Yarn 50g

* Knitcraft Hot Pink Everyday DK Yarn 50g

* Hemline Iron-On Interfacing 1m x 1m

* Free Templates - Downloaded + Printed

* Masking Tape

* Fabric Pen or Permanent Marker

* Milward Stork Embroidery Scissors

Download the PDF template here

Press the bag and turn it inside out. Attach the 9” hoop to the centre of one side of the bag and stretch the fabric so it is drum tight. As you progress through the project, the fabric may loosen slightly so keep checking it is tight.

Download and print off the template with yarn guide, for the letter you wish to create. Attach the template to the back of the fabric using masking tape.

Place the bag in front of a light source, such as a window or light box, and trace the design using a fabric pen or permanent marker.

Remove the template.

You will be using the fine punch needle for this project.

Pass the wire end of the threader through the outside hole in the tip of the needle and down the shaft until the wire sticks out the base. Thread your first yarn through the threader.

Using the white tab, pull the yarn up through the shaft and the hole in the tip of the needle. Ensure you have a yarn tail of about 5cm.

You will be punching from the back of the frame to create looped stitches on the front.

Hold the needle as you would a pen, and push the tip of the needle, at a slight angle, all the way through the fabric on the corner of the chequered section. On the opposite side, gently pull the yarn tail through so it is on the right side of the bag.

Lift the needle out gently so the tip of the needle is still touching the fabric. With the inside hole in the needle tip facing up, skim the surface of the fabric for about half a centimetre and push the needle in again. This is your first stitch.

Continue punching the outline of this section. Once you reach your starting point, keep your needle pushed in, turn it in the direction of the next stitch, and fill the rest of the shape with stitches.

On your last stitch, keep your needle pushed in and with your other hand, slowly pull a short section of the yarn through the needle, making sure you don’t pull the yarn from your stitches.

Snip the yarn on the front.

Continue punching all the sections.

Remove the hoop and turn the bag the correct way round. Snip all of the yarn tails on the front of the letter so they are flush with the punched stitches.

Attach interfacing to the inside of the letter to give the punched section more stability.

Finish by pressing the bag on the front.