Smiley faces punch needle coasters with the kit

Frog faces and smiley faces

Frogs and Smileys Punch Needle Coaster Kit, Set of 6

$33.95

Punch six cheerful yarn coasters for the table. Printed cloth, a hoop, yarn, a punch needle, snips, felt backs and instructions are all in the box.

Expected delivery Thu, Nov 5 to Tue, Nov 10

Free shipping over $49
30-day returns

In the box

Six cloth squares printed with the designs, yarn in every color, a punch needle, a threader, an embroidery hoop, thread snips, six adhesive felt backs, a reference picture and instructions.

Materials and care

Soft yarn punched into a woven cloth base, with a felt back. Blot spills straight away and spot clean with a damp cloth; don't put the coasters in the washing machine, because the felt backs are stuck on rather than sewn.

Before you start

Thread the needle with the wire threader and stretch one printed square in the hoop until it is drum tight. Lay out the yarn next to the reference picture so you can see which color goes where.

Read the project guide

Shipping and returns

Free shipping over $49. Arrives in 8-13 days. Shipping times and costs per country

Not what you were looking for? Return it within 30 days of delivery. How returns work

Specifications

Craft: Punch needle
Time: About 3-6 hours
Skill: First-timer
Finished size: 4 x 4 in (10 x 10 cm) each
Coasters: Six per kit, one design each
In the box: Printed cloth, yarn, punch needle, threader, hoop, snips, felt backs and instructions
Designs: Two frog sets and one smiley set

About the designs

These are the happiest coasters on the table. Choose a set:

Frog faces: six frogs in orange, pink, green, purple, dark green and blue, each with big black eyes and a pale belly.
Pastel frogs: six frogs in pink, orange, pale pink, blue, green and purple with rosy cheeks.
Smiley faces: six round smiley faces in peach, purple, blue, pink, mustard and sage.

The frogs are shaped coasters, cut around the eyes on top of the head. The smileys are simple circles with two eyes and a smile, the easiest design to start with.

How punch needle works

Punch needle is the most relaxed way into needlework there is. You work from the back of the cloth, where the design is printed: push the needle straight down until it stops, lift it just clear of the cloth, slide it a little way along the line and push again. Each punch leaves a small loop of yarn on the front, and rows of loops build a soft, plush surface like a tiny rug.

Three habits make it go smoothly. Keep the opening of the needle facing the way you are moving. Keep the needle low as you slide it to the next spot, so you don't pull the last loop out. And keep your punches close together, so the front fills in without gaps. Outline each color area first, then fill it in rows or spirals.

Getting the eyes right

Punch the eyes first: the dark centers, then the white rings around them, then the face. Small shapes are easiest to keep crisp when they are surrounded by loops on every side.

What is in the kit

Six squares of cloth, each printed with one design
Yarn in all the colors the set uses
A punch needle and a wire threader
An embroidery hoop to hold the cloth
Thread snips
Six adhesive felt backs
A color reference picture and instructions

How long it takes

Plan on 30 minutes to an hour per coaster, so about 3 to 6 hours for the set of six. The first one is the slowest while you find your rhythm; by the third you will be punching without thinking about it. Each coaster is a complete little project you can finish in one sitting.

Finishing your coasters

When a design is filled, take it out of the hoop and trim the cloth around the edge, leaving a small margin. Peel the paper off one of the felt backs, press it firmly onto the back of the coaster and trim any felt that shows beyond the edge. The felt hides the back of the stitches and gives each coaster a neat, flat base for a mug or glass.

Delivery and returns

Delivery is $6.95, and free on orders from $49. The delivery estimate for your address shows on this page and at checkout. You can return the kit within 30 days of delivery; return shipping is yours unless it arrives faulty or wrong. See delivery and returns for the details, or compare the other punch needle kits.

Questions

How big are the coasters?

Each one is about 4 x 4 in (10 x 10 cm), the size of a regular coaster. The frogs are a little wider than they are tall because of the eyes.

Which design should I start with?

The smiley faces. Each one is a single color with two eyes and a smile, so you can get used to the punching motion before you try the frog shapes.

Do I need anything else?

No. The cloth, yarn, needle, threader, hoop, snips and felt backs are all in the box. A pair of larger scissors is handy for trimming the cloth at the end, but the snips will do the job.