Monks Cloth Fabric by the Yard — 100% Cotton, 14 Holes per Inch, Punch Needle & Tufting
$24.99
SKU Monk-001
This is 100% cotton monks cloth fabric, 60 inches wide, with 14 holes per inch and white grid positioning lines woven in both directions every 2 inches. It is the correct monks cloth for punch needle — and the best fabric for punch needle embroidery, needlepunch embroidery, rug hooking, and tufting guns — not the 7-hole Swedish weaving variety commonly found in craft stores. Natural unbleached beige. 230g/m² weight. Sold by the pack — 1 pack = 1 yard (36″ × 60″). Order multiple packs for larger projects.
14 holes per inchCorrect for punch needle & tufting
60″ wide × sold by the pack1 pack = 1 yard · 36″ × 60″
Grid lines both directionsEvery 2 inches — positioning guides
Ships 1 business dayCalifornia warehouse
100% cotton monks cloth fabric
14 holes per inch
60″ wide
Sold by the pack — 1 pack = 1 yard · monks cloth wholesale available
230g/m² weight
Natural unbleached
White grid lines — both directions
Serged edges
Punch needle · Tufting · Rug hooking · Needlepunch
Two types of monks cloth are sold online — make sure you're buying the right one
The correct monks cloth fabric for punch needle and tufting has approximately 12–14 holes per inch and white grid lines woven in. This is what we sell. The wrong monks cloth (used for Swedish weaving) has only 7 holes per inch, no grid lines, and is what Hobby Lobby and Joann typically stock — it will not hold punch needle loops and is not suitable for tufting guns. Our cloth is 14 holes per inch — confirmed correct for all punch needle sizes, needlepunch embroidery, and tufting applications.
White grid lines in both directions — every 2 inches.
Most monks cloth fabric has lines in one direction only. Ours has a full grid — horizontal and vertical lines spaced approximately every 2 inches. This makes it significantly easier to position your design accurately, stretch the fabric evenly on your frame, and keep geometric or symmetrical patterns aligned while punching. The lines are subtle and blend naturally into most finished projects.
Full Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Material | 100% Cotton |
| Holes per inch | 14 holes per inch |
| Weight | 230g/m² |
| Width | 60 inches |
| Sold as | Pack — 1 pack = 1 yard (36″ × 60″) |
| 1 pack = | 36″ long × 60″ wide |
| Color | Natural unbleached beige only — not available in black or other colors |
| Grid lines | White dotted lines — both directions, every ~2 inches |
| Edges | Serged on cut sides — raw edge on selvedge |
| Best for | Punch needle · Needlepunch embroidery · Rug hooking · Tufting gun · Machine embroidery |
| Ships from | California warehouse — Ontario, CA · Most US addresses receive within 2–3 business days |
| Ships in | 1 business day |
| Free shipping | Orders over $200 to continental US |
Material
100% Cotton
Holes per inch
14 holes per inch
Weight
230g/m²
Width
60 inches
Sold as
Pack — 1 pack = 1 yard (36″ × 60″)
Color
Natural unbleached beige
Grid lines
Both directions, every ~2 inches
Edges
Serged on cut sides
Best for
Punch needle · Needlepunch · Rug hooking · Tufting · Embroidery
Ships from
California — Ontario, CA
Ships in
1 business day
Free shipping
Orders over $200 — continental US
How much monks cloth do you need? Always add at least 5 inches on every side of your finished design. You need this extra fabric to grip in your frame while punching and to hem the edges of your finished piece. A 12″ × 12″ pillow front needs at least 22″ × 22″ of cloth. A 24″ × 36″ rug needs at least 34″ × 46″. For larger rugs, always order slightly more than you think you need — running short mid-project means a visible join line.
What It's Used For
Four Craft Applications — One Punch Needle Fabric
Punch Needle & Needlepunch Embroidery
The most popular use for monks cloth fabric. The 14-hole-per-inch open weave lets punch needles pass through cleanly — the needle glides in and the loop stays put. Works with all Oxford punch needle sizes, Jan Bent needles, and other standard punch needles. The cotton double-thread construction holds loops securely even with fine or slippery yarns. Also used for needlepunch embroidery where a dense, textured surface is built up by punching thread or yarn repeatedly through the cloth from the back.
Monks Cloth Rug Hooking
Pull strips of wool or yarn up through the weave to create loop-pile rugs. Monks cloth for rug hooking is preferred over burlap (too fragile for heavy use) and more affordable than primitive linen for large rug projects. The 60-inch width means you can make rugs up to 5 feet wide without joining pieces. The even weave ensures consistent loop heights across the entire surface. Weavers cloth is another name buyers use for this same type of backing fabric.
Monks Cloth Tufting — Primary Tufting Cloth
The 230g/m² weight and double-thread construction give enough structural strength to handle the mechanical action of both cut-pile and loop-pile electric tufting guns. This is the primary tufting cloth used by tufting studios, art school programs, and independent rug makers. Stretch tightly on a tufting frame — the grid lines make it easy to align your frame and track design positioning during tufting. Also suitable as primary backing fabric for finished tufted rugs.
Machine & Hand Embroidery
The consistent open weave provides a stable foundation for machine embroidery — the fabric feeds evenly and holds embroidery stabilizer well. For hand embroidery, the open holes make needle placement straightforward. Popular for large decorative embroidery pieces, wall hangings, and textile art where a natural cotton ground cloth is preferred over synthetic embroidery fabric.
How It Compares
Monks Cloth vs Weavers Cloth vs Linen vs Burlap
The most common punch needle and rug hooking backing fabrics compared — including weavers cloth, which is another name buyers use for monks-style open-weave cotton backing:
| Feature | Monks Cloth (this) | Primitive Linen | Burlap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Material | 100% cotton | 100% linen | Jute |
| Holes per inch | 14 — ideal | ~13 — good | ~12 — variable |
| Can frog (undo)? | ✓ Yes — many times | Limited — tears faster | ✗ Poor — tears easily |
| Durability | Excellent | Very good | Poor — degrades over time |
| Best for beginners | ✓ Most forgiving | Good with practice | Not recommended |
| Tufting gun compatible | ✓ Yes | Sometimes | ✗ Not recommended |
| Price | Mid range | Higher cost | Low cost |
| Grid positioning lines | ✓ Both directions | ✗ Usually none | ✗ None |
Material
Monks Cloth100% cotton
Linen100% linen
BurlapJute
Holes per inch
Monks Cloth14 — ideal
Linen~13 — good
Burlap~12 — variable
Can frog (undo)?
Monks Cloth✓ Yes — many times
LinenLimited
Burlap✗ Poor
Durability
Monks ClothExcellent
LinenVery good
BurlapPoor
Best for beginners
Monks Cloth✓ Most forgiving
LinenWith practice
BurlapNot recommended
Tufting gun compatible
Monks Cloth✓ Yes
LinenSometimes
Burlap✗ No
Grid positioning lines
Monks Cloth✓ Both directions
Linen✗ Usually none
Burlap✗ None
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
14 holes per inch — this is the correct monks cloth fabric for punch needle and tufting. Not to be confused with the 7-hole Swedish weaving monks cloth sold in most craft chain stores, which will not hold punch needle loops. Our 14-hole cloth works with all Oxford punch needle sizes, Jan Bent needles, and electric tufting guns.
60 inches wide. Each pack = 1 yard (36″ × 60″). These are pre-cut individual pieces — not cut from a continuous roll. Select the number of packs you need at checkout. For monks cloth by the yard in larger quantities, simply add multiple packs.
They are positioning guide lines woven directly into the fabric in a grid pattern — running in both horizontal and vertical directions, approximately every 2 inches. They help you position your design accurately on the fabric, stretch it evenly on your frame, and track alignment while you're punching. They blend naturally into most finished designs and don't need to be removed.
Add at least 5 inches on every side of your finished design size. You need this for framing and hemming. Examples: a 12″×12″ pillow needs 22″×22″ of cloth (just under 1 yard). A 24″×36″ rug needs 34″×46″ — 2 packs covers this comfortably with the 60″ width. Always order extra for a large rug — running short means a visible seam.
Yes — the 14 holes per inch, 230g/m² weight, and double-thread cotton construction give it enough strength for both cut-pile and loop-pile electric tufting guns. This is the standard primary tufting cloth used by tufting studios and independent rug makers. Stretch tightly on a tufting frame before starting. The grid lines make it easy to align your frame and track design progress.
The correct 14-hole punch needle monks cloth is not reliably stocked in most craft chain stores — what Hobby Lobby and Joann typically carry is the 7-hole Swedish weaving variety, which does not work for punch needle. If you're searching for monks cloth near me or tufting cloth near me, ordering online is the most reliable way to get the correct fabric. We ship from Ontario, California — most US addresses receive orders within 2–3 business days. Free shipping on orders over $200.
Yes — this is one of the main advantages of 100% cotton monks cloth. You can pull out loops and re-punch the same area many times without tearing the base fabric. This makes it ideal for beginners adjusting their design, and for experienced punchers fine-tuning color placement. The cotton double-thread weave holds up through repeated frogging much better than burlap or thin linen.
Recommended if your finished piece will be washed regularly — rugs, kitchen items, or anything that will see water. Pre-washing removes any residual sizing and causes the slight shrinkage before you start rather than after. It also tightens the weave slightly, which helps hold loops from slippery yarns. Machine wash warm, tumble dry low.
Monks cloth is more forgiving than linen — you can frog more times without damage, and it's easier for beginners to punch through. Weavers cloth for punch needle is simply another name for the same type of open-weave cotton backing fabric — functionally identical to monks cloth. Linen is stiffer, preferred by some traditional rug hookers for large heavy-use rugs. For punch needle linen specifically, some experienced hookers prefer it for fine-gauge work. For most punch needle projects, wall hangings, pillows, and tufting, monks cloth is the best choice. See our monks cloth guide for a more detailed comparison.
Our monks cloth is available in natural unbleached beige only. Black monks cloth is sometimes searched for but is not a standard product — the beige background works for most projects as it will be covered by yarn. If you need a different background color, 100% cotton monks cloth can be dyed with fiber-reactive or all-purpose dyes before starting your project.
New to monks cloth? Start with our complete guide.
Everything you need to know about monks cloth — what it is, how to use it, how to frame it, which punch needles work with it, and how to finish your projects.
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