What Is Punch Quilting?

Punch quilting patterns are enhanced by various fabrics.

If you're looking for a way to give more character to your quilting projects, consider punch quilting. Punch quilting is a no-sew quilting technique that gives quilts a three-dimensional, puffy appearance to outline images, designs and borders on the quilt. Special tools are necessary for punch quilting, which are different than the tools that are used for traditional quilting projects.

Technique

Punch quilting is an alternative quilting method in which a punch needle connects fabric together through an abrupt punching movement, as opposed to the traditional sewing method. The user applies pressure to the tool as it's placed on the edge of the fabric. The punching action leaves an inverted seam that outlines the image or border, giving it the look of being sewn.

Function

In punch quilting, the quilter arranges fabric wedges and scraps are arranged before punching them together. The materials are affixed onto a poster board, cork board or canvas board that acts as backing frame, which holds the materials in place as they're being bound together with the punch needle. Since the punching action is similar to a jab, punch quilting can't be performed on somebody's lap, as with traditional quilting, or the process will not work and the person could get injured.

Fabric

Punch quilts designs often feature a variety of fabrics in a single design. Incorporating various textures and colors into the quilt is effective for drawing attention to the main image. For instance, if you're punch quilting an image of mountains with a sunset, you should choose one type of material for the sun, a different material for the mountains and a special fabric for the background.

Specialty Tools

In addition to the punch needle, punch quilting requires a few other specialty tools, including a rotary tool and an acrylic template. Rotary cutting tools form shapes out of fabric scraps so quilters can achieve special designs for the quilt's pattern. An acrylic template provides guidelines for cutting fabric into squares, triangles, rectangles, diamonds and other shapes.

References

• "Brown Bag Punch Quilting"; Jean Kievlan; 1995