How to Make a Punch Needle Candy Cane Cushion

Slot the four sides of the stretcher frame together to create a rectangle. Stretch the foundation fabric over the frame (click here for step by step instructions on how to do this).

Download and print out the template joining any sections together to create one side of the candy cane.

Attach it to the back of the stretched fabric with masking tape, allowing an extra 2” border around the shape.

Place the frame in front of a light source, such as a window or a light box, and trace the design using the fabric marker. Turn the template over and trace the template again so you have a front and back piece.

Set the needle to position C. 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 at the base. Thread the red 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 10cm from the tip of the needle.

You will start by punching one section of the candy cane. Hold the needle as you would a pen and place the tip at the corner of one of the sections. Push the tip of the needle, at a slight angle, all the way through the foundation fabric so the base of the handle shaft touches the fabric.

Keeping the yarn tail on this side, bring the needle up and out slightly, then glide it across for about 1cm, before pushing the needle back in. Punch stitches to create the outline of the section. Continue punching stitches until the whole section is full. The flat stitches on this side will be the back of your piece.

On your last stitch, keep your needle pushed in and with your other hand, pinch the yarn at the tip of your needle on the looped side and gradually pull your needle through to the back. Snip the yarn. You will now have 2 yarn tails on this side. Continue punching all the other sections on both pieces, alternating between the red and white yarn for each section.

Use the tip of your needle or scissors to neaten the stitches where the colours meet.

Remove the pieces from the stretcher frame and cut around each piece allowing for an extra 2” around both pieces. Cut notches in the curved edges.

Place the 2 pieces wrong sides together, fold the border under and over stitch them together. It is a good idea to sew the curved section first and stuff this before moving on to the straight sections.

Stuff the rest of the candy cane and stitch the last gap together.