DIY Punch needle rainbow cushion

Start by drawing the rainbow on the canvas using the prepared template (just print it out). Draw it on both sides of the canvas, as both sides will be embroidered. Place the canvas in the embroidery drum, tightening the screw to prevent the canvas from slipping and loosening.

For the 1st bow, choose a pretty coral color. To make this part stand out, you'll need to make curls. To do this, draw a line of flat stitches around the edge of the bow, then turn the drum over and embroider flat stitches on the reverse side of the fabric. This way, the loops will be visible on the right side of the canvas, then turn the drum over again.

For the 2nd bow, use a pretty orange color and choose a different style of stitch: flat, vertically embroidered past-stitches to fill the entire width of the bow. To make them, leave the drum right side up, and use small, classic flat stitches to mark the outline of the bow. Then embroider the flat stitches.

For the 3rd bow, opt for wool to create a different effect from cotton yarn. Use thick wool and make curls, as for the 1st bow. The result with wool is completely different from that with coral cotton thread, and gives a very different texture.
Trace around the bow with flat stitches, then embroider the loops after turning the drum over.

For the next bow, use a pretty water-green thread and this time embroider classic flat stitches, for a change from the previous ones. Turn the drum right side up and embroider flat stitches with the water-green cotton thread.

For the last part of the rainbow, the central bow, use light blue cotton thread and try out a new type of stitch: cut loops. As with the other loop-filled bows, make the loops by embroidering flat stitches on the wrong side of the fabric, then turn the drum right side out. For longer loops, use an adjustable needle, setting it to the maximum length.

After filling the bow with loops, cut them with scissors. Choose scissors that cut well to avoid pulling on the loops and undoing the embroidery. That's how you get that soft, fluffy effect!

And that's the embroidery part done. Take care of the finishing touches before moving on to the sewing to make a lovely comforter.

Trim any threads protruding from the back of the embroidery, after tying knots at the ends to hold the threads in place and prevent them from unravelling.

Undo the embroidery drum to remove the fabric.

To consolidate the embroidery, apply fusible webbing to the reverse side of the embroidery to hold the stitches in place. Cut out a square of canvas and secure with an iron.

Once the iron-on fabric is secure, cut the punch needle fabric around the rainbow, leaving a margin of approx. 4 cm. Next, cut out the velvet fabric: to obtain the same shape, place the embroidery on the velvet coupon and cut.

To sew these 2 coupons, place them right sides together and secure with pins. Place them flush with the embroidery to sew without revealing the embroidery fabric. Machine or hand stitch, leaving a 10 cm opening.

Once you've finished sewing, cut off the excess fabric around the rainbow, leaving only about 2 cm. And notch the 2 corners (i.e. cut on the bias, to keep the shape once the work has been turned inside out).

You can then turn the work over through the opening, taking care not to pull on the embroidery. This is a very delicate step, and you need to be very careful.
Then insert the stuffing and, once the comforter is well filled, finish by closing the opening with invisible hand-stitching.

This is a lovely decorative comforter, full of colors and textures that your baby will be delighted to discover!