I’m not really one for New Year’s resolutions but one new thing that I have decided to engage with is a picking a word of the year for 2025. I’m sure I could have created a fancy Pinterest vision board or gone old school with some paper and pens in order to brainstorm, but I’ve decided not to overthink it.
My word for the year is ‘create’.
I found time for pockets of creativity in 2024, but not enough for my liking. Some of this was down to a very busy personal life (which you can read more about in my end of year roundup blog) but I think my perfectionist trait also got in the way and inhibited my creativity. Sometimes I was guilty of making the best the enemy of the good – or the enjoyable. I focussed too much on how I thought a finished project should look without taking time to enjoy the process.
This is something I want to fix this year. In 2025 I want to get out of my own way and spend less time thinking and more time doing! I’m planning to spend more time ‘making’ and ‘crafting’ – whether this is punch needle or other crafts.
I don’t want to put too many parameters around this (otherwise we’re back in resolution territory) but when it comes to punch needle some of the things I want to create are:
- punch needle patterns
- useful short punch needle tutorials
- a punch needle rug course
- practical punch needle items for the home
Then more generally I would like to create:
- more time for making and crafting with punch needle
- more time for exploring new crafts
- more time to spend outside
- more time to spend with loved ones
- a cosy and welcoming home environment for our new arrival (I’m hopeful this is nearly done, but there’s always room for improvement!)
Learning punch needle online in 2025
Obviously, I’m slightly biased (!) but if getting creative is on your ‘to do’ list for 2025 then punch needle is a great place to start.
I know lots of people reading this post will have tried punch needle before, and I hope that the new patterns and tutorials I am planning will help give you the inspiration you need to create beautiful projects for your home – whether we are talking about something simple like punch needle coasters, or larger items like cushions or rugs.
If you think that your skills might need a bit of a refresher – or you are planning on trying punch needle for the first time – the online course I launched towards the end of 2024 might help.
We’re all very busy and sometimes having the pressure of having to turn up on a specific day at a specific time to attend a course isn’t always viable. And if you want to start a new hobby at the start of the new year, it would be frustrating if the ‘in person’ courses you find aren’t running in January. I wanted to create a course that gives people the chance to learn at their own pace, at the time which works for them.
It’s for this reason that I pre-recorded all the course videos so that you can take your time in learning a new skill. Videos are specific, focus on one skill or technique at a time and come with detailed written instructions.
Why did I create the Introduction to Oxford Punch Needle online course?
One of the reasons I wanted to become a certified Oxford punch needle teacher was because I remember how daunting it can feel to get started with a new hobby. One of the things I love about my job is being able to help crafters who were in the same position as I was create their own projects without worrying about how things will turn out.
I know how important step-by-step guidance can be when you are starting out with a new craft – and that’s exactly the approach I’ve taken with my online Introduction to Oxford Punch Needle course.
I’ve tried to provide students with everything I needed as a beginner: a good understanding of the core materials, a firm grasp of techniques and (most importantly) the confidence to create their own projects.
Who is the course suitable for?
I know it’s important that if you are going to invest time and money in a new crafting experience that you get something that works for you.
The videos and detailed written instructions that students of the course receive are designed to be accessible for everyone – it is suitable for people who are entirely new to punch needle, beginner punch needlers or more confident crafters who want to refine their technique. But when I was developing the course some of the kind of crafters I had in mind were people who:
- want to make a punch needle project but don’t quite know where to start
- might have tried punch needle in the past, but need a refresher on techniques
- want to feel confident choosing materials and make a project that will last
- want to gain new craft skills that can be used to make everything from Christmas decorations to cushions and even rug
- want to fit crafting into a busy life using a course they can complete at their own pace
What’s included in the course fee?
The course walks you through the fundamentals of punch needle whilst working on your own punch needle project (a trivet). Students of the course receive:
- 20 pre-recorded videos covering all the punch needle skills that you need to get started: nearly 4 hours of craft content that you can work through at your own pace.
- Detailed written instructions to accompany the videos.
- Membership of a private punch needle Facebook group where you can ask me questions directly (and chat with other crafters in a warm and welcoming environment!)
Feedback from previous workshop attendees
The first cohort of crafters who joined the online course have been working on their trivets and produced some beautiful projects!
If you’re thinking about signing up to help you get creative in 2025 but are wondering if I’m going to be the right teacher for you, here are some of the things students have said after taking part in Whole Punching workshops:
“I enjoyed this workshop so much. The whole session was well thought out and appropriately paced. We covered a lot of technical info but Sara's approach is calm, friendly, fun and encouraging.”
- Bee
“Sara is a fantastic teacher - approachable, professional and a great communicator. The course was very well structured and we covered a lot of ground in the afternoon without it feeling overwhelming. I now feel confident to choose a design, transfer it onto cloth, prepare a frame and punch needle various shapes.”
- D
“Lovely workshop with lovely Sara! Really well organised, excellent teaching, helpful tips … very enjoyable afternoon, definitely given me a new addiction!”
- Sue
If getting creative is on your list for 2025 and you think my online course might help, I hope you will have a look. If you need any further information, please do get in touch. And I always love seeing the projects (punch needle or otherwise) people are planning or working on – if your new year plans include time for making, I want to hear about them! Drop a note in the comments or tag me on Instagram.
I’m always blown away and inspired by the ideas people have – and your work will help me live up to my word of the year.
Happy new year everyone. Here’s to a creative 2025.
