How to Make a Sunburst Punch Needle

Download and print off the template. Attach it, face down, to the front of the frame with tape.

Hold the frame in front of a light source such as a window or a light box and, using a fabric transfer pen or permanent marker, trace the design onto the fabric. Remove the template.

Set the needle to position C. Pass the wire end of the threader (this is sandwiched between the card of the needle packaging) through the outside hole in the tip of the needle and down the shaft until the wire sticks out at the base.

Thread the mustard 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 are now ready to punch!

You will be punching from the back of the frame to create looped, textured stitches on the front. Hold the needle as you would a pen. Push the tip of the needle, at a slight angle, all the way through the fabric in the bottom corner of the semi circle. Make sure you push it so the bottom of the shaft touches the fabric. The yarn tail will stay on this side of the fabric.

Lift the needle out gently and with the hole in the needle tip facing up, skim the surface of the fabric and push the needle in again at about 1cm along the line. This is your first stitch. Keep your yarn free flowing. Continue punching, skimming and lifting your needle until you reach the end of the line. Once you reach the corner, keep your needle pushed in and turn it in the direction you are punching. Continue to create the outline of the semi circle.

When you reach your starting point, punch your next stitch half way along your first. Continue punching in this brick pattern until you have filled the semi circle with stitches.

On your last stitch, keep your needle pushed in, pinch the yarn on the looped side and slowly pull your needle back through so you create one last looped stitch. Snip the yarn so the tail stays on the back.

Keep the mustard yarn threaded in your needle and punch the central sun ray section, starting with the outline and filling with stitches.

Thread the cream yarn and start punching the next ray section along the central mustard ray. Continue with the outline and fill the section with stitches.

Continue punching each ray section in alternate colours until all sections are complete.

Neaten any uneven loops between colours by gently separating them with the tip of your needle. You can also use your needle to gently push through any stitches of an uneven height.

Tidy the back by snipping the yarn tails. You could also cover the back with a piece of felt.