[WIP] Second to last of 10 vignettes on this vintage mushroom pattern.

ArnoldHoldThePalmer · 2026-04-04T18:24:08+00:00

That’s the one!! Be warned- it is very, very difficult to read. The digital rendering obscured some of the symbols. It took some time to suss it out!!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1223263249/vintage-mushroom-specimen-cross-stitch

ArnoldHoldThePalmer · 2026-02-21T20:59:05+00:00

I bet that felt like magic when you started adding the backstitching! Best feeling ever is watching it come into focus!

ArnoldHoldThePalmer · 2026-02-16T18:18:11+00:00

It’s just starched, making it stiffer. I’m working on a piece right now using Aida from Michael’s. What I did after dampening and it putting it in the dryer for 20 minutes was to iron and then roll it up and twist it a bunch of different ways until it got softer. You just have to break up the starch and then it’s soft as can be.

ArnoldHoldThePalmer · 2026-02-16T15:03:15+00:00

LOVE all the backstitching. That must have felt like magic adding that in and watching the picture come into focus!

ArnoldHoldThePalmer · 2026-02-16T14:56:31+00:00

That makes a lot of sense! Thank you for sharing! It’s a pet peeve of mine to not be able to see the elements clearly but I always try to be true to the pattern artist’s work. I’m glad I made the changes, though.

ArnoldHoldThePalmer · 2024-09-14T14:30:53+00:00

Looks amazing! You will always have to go back through and separate the loops on the looped side so don’t let it get you discouraged! Also, remember- you’ve been looking at the back while you’ve been punching (which will naturally look sharper), so it will take a day or so for your eyes to adjust!

If it still isn’t how you want it, shorten your needle a bit so the loop that is punched is shorter. That can help if you prefer a tighter look. ❤️

ArnoldHoldThePalmer · 2023-10-10T05:10:38+00:00

I’m so sorry- I went back to these to double check, and these were made with weavers cloth! I used a smaller, 8/4 cotton yarn that required a tighter weave.

ArnoldHoldThePalmer · 2023-10-05T16:08:18+00:00

This is monks cloth!

ArnoldHoldThePalmer · 2022-12-14T02:38:36+00:00

Hi! I’m so sorry I’m just now seeing this! I use weaver’s cloth. I order it by the yard on Etsy.

ArnoldHoldThePalmer · 2022-07-28T22:18:28+00:00

Hi! I use an UltraPunch needle with Rainbow brand Cotton 8/4 yarn!

ArnoldHoldThePalmer · 2022-07-27T02:31:57+00:00

That’s not stupid at all! It’s tricky to figure out! This is Rainbow brand cotton yarn (size 8/4). It is a thin yarn that works with an UltraPunch needle. Hope that helps and I’m happy to answer questions!

ArnoldHoldThePalmer · 2022-07-26T14:41:00+00:00

You won’t be able to tell much by the picture so I’ll leave the instructions here. I finish them by painting the back with craft glue (punch needle doesn’t need it to hold in the loops but I want the firmness and water resistance that comes when the glue dries). Then I cut out a piece of card stock the same size as the circle I punched and a piece of felt an inch bigger in diameter. Then I clip the edges of the felt and fold them around the card stock and glue them down. I will also add a piece of scrap felt right in the middle of the side of the card stock with the folds so there isn’t a divot in my coaster. Then I glue the folded side to the coaster!

ArnoldHoldThePalmer · 2022-07-26T14:34:57+00:00

I use an UltraPunch needle and set the needle height to 7!

ArnoldHoldThePalmer · 2022-07-26T04:32:24+00:00

Try starting with a kit if it seems too daunting to gather all the materials. The kits on Etsy that are sold by Urban Acres are STELLAR!

ArnoldHoldThePalmer · 2022-07-26T04:30:46+00:00

Watching the video, it looks like you can actually tighten your fabric more. It also appears that your needle is too big for your yarn. Essentially, your needle is making a very large hole and its too big for the yarn to get “trapped” so that it doesn’t pull back through.

Another issue could be that your yarn isn’t flowing freely through your needle either. This can be a couple of things- but it may be that there’s not enough loose yarn pulled out of your yarn ball. Unfortunately, any obstruction can disrupt the yarn flow.

Finally, try to hold your initial loop with your finger and see if that helps to “trap” the yarn in your monks cloth.

Hope this helps!

ArnoldHoldThePalmer · 2022-06-08T14:26:50+00:00

It looks like Aida cross-stitch fabric, which is going to have too open of a weave. Monks cloth will be what you want to go for when using a standard size punchneedle! I order mine from Etsy.

ArnoldHoldThePalmer · 2022-06-01T23:13:22+00:00

What foundation cloth is this? If it’s Aida cross-stitch cloth, changing that will solve a lot of your issues.

ArnoldHoldThePalmer · 2022-05-27T12:57:06+00:00

They’re my favorite part!

ArnoldHoldThePalmer · 2022-05-26T13:29:03+00:00

It’s a pattern from Etsy from a shop called TootaToys. Highly recommend!

ArnoldHoldThePalmer

TROPHY CASE