All about the Lavor punch needles
It’s no secret that my favorite punch needles are the ones from Lavorneedles. With this post, I want to tell you a bit more about them; why I like them, the different sizes, some more about the different kinds and which size yarn is suitable for them. If you are interested in purchasing them or you have just purchased one, this can be a handy reference to help you get started.
Why I love them!
Lavorneedles is a small company situated in Portugal and this is also where the punch needles are manufactured. The needles are made with metal and recycled plastic. Even though I would prefer a wooden handle, I do think that, the fact the plastic is recycled, is a good thing. The quality is high, the needle glides through the fabric with ease and that is what you want. With just 3 needles, the SMALL, FINE and REGULAR size, the possibilities are endless. You can use yarn from size chunky to embroidery floss. The needles are also adjustable, so bring on that texture!
The Lavorneedles come in 3 sizes.
Lavorneedles has 5 different punch needles available, but there are only 3 sizes. Let me explain! Size SMALL comes in a pack with a handle and 3 small needles. This is needle one. Furthermore, we have sizes FINE and REGULAR, they are available in 2 kinds. The original ones, with a small handle and the new ERGONOMIC needles with a larger, more comfortable handle. These different needles produce the same result, but one is simply more comfortable to use, than the other…it’s an upgrade.
What about the yarn?
Let’s talk about the sizes of the needles; what do they mean. The size SMALL has three needles, a 1 mm, a 2 mm and a 3 mm needle. This measurement is the thickness of the needle itself. The FINE needle is 4 mm and the REGULAR is 5,5 mm. Of course it would now be interesting to know which yarn fits which size punch needle. In my YouTube video: https://youtu.be/ejf2_SOltgg , I’ve attempted to explain yarn weight, but that can become quite complicated. There are different names for yarn weights in different parts of the world. But let me give it a try!
SMALL - 1 mm -> #1, super fine, sockyarn, fingering, emrboidery floss
SMALL - 2 mm -> #2, fine, sport
SMALL - 3 mm -> #3, light, DK, light worsted
FINE - 4 mm -> #4, medium, worsted, aran, afghan
REGULAR - 5,5 mm -> #5, bulky, chunky
This is not an exact science. When a type of yarn is very squishy it might work with a smaller needle, eg. super bulky squishy yarn might still work with the REGULAR punch needle. This comes down to experimenting what works for you and the base cloth you are using.
All the Lavorneedles are adjustable.
One of the major advantages in my opinion is the adjustability of these punch needles. Being able to create texture is what differentiates punch needle from other crafts. With the adjustability you can set the needle to different heights and thus create loops in a variety of lengths. It is possible to create loops with a length of 5 mm (app. 3/16”) up to 1.6 cm (app. 2/3”). The FINE and REGULAR needle have 7 settings, but I have to say that the smallest setting doesn’t work. The loops are too short and won’t stay in the fabric. The SMALL needle works differently. The handle has a wheel on the side and you can adjust the needle with it in any height you want. However, don’t set it too short!
The threaders.
For these needles you need a threader to get the yarn through the needle. The original needles all come in a pack with a wire threader. This is simply a piece of wire folded in half. It works, but it is not the best. The ERGONOMIC needles come with a new plastic threader, which is much better and more comfortable to use. This threader only works with the FINE and REGULAR sizes. In my shop I offer to add this threader to your order of one or both of the originals with the smaller handle. I would highly recommend doing this, you won’t regret it!