Pearl Cotton in Punch Needle

Detailed punch work with the fine needle is done in pearl cotton: a single, non-divisible, tightly twisted strand that runs through the needle without catching and gives even, durable loops. This category gathers the DMC sizes that suit punch: No 5 (25 m skein, medium needle), No 8 (80 m ball, fine needle) and No 12 (120 m ball, extra-fine needle). The full guide is in DMC Pearl Cotton.

Which Size, Which Needle?

No 5 with the medium tip fills small panels fast and full; No 8 with the fine tip suits lettering, outlines and detail; No 12 with the finest tip is for tiny facial features and shading. Stretch dense cotton duck or fine monk's cloth very tightly. A 15 cm panel takes 2–3 skeins of No 5 or 1–2 balls of No 8.

Can I punch pearl cotton with the thick needle?

No; the thick needle is for knitting yarn and will not hold pearl cotton loops.