The Triplets, Revealed At Last.

"Baby Duncan #1" approximately 8"x10" Koigu sock yarn and a variety of Valdani cotton embroidery floss in size 8, 6-strand DMC scavenged from second-hand shops. Created with the Ultra-Punch medium needle set on a number 2 height. 2023. By permission of WCushing & Co (they have the copyright on the pattern, a Pearl K. McGown design).

"Baby Duncan #2," approximately 7x10". Malabrigo wool sock yarn and Koigu sock yarn, with some Valdani and DMC cotton threads. 2023. By permission of W Cushing & Co, Wells, Maine.

"Baby Duncan #3," a mixture of random wool sock yarn and second-hand-store scavenged DMC 6-strand cotton thread. 2023. Approximately 8.5x10". By permission of W Cushing & Co, Wells, Maine.

I worked on these three punch needle embroideries between April and July this year, since I was unable to hook rugs during that time due to a temporary medical situation (now happily resolved).  I used the Ultra Punch medium needle on a #2 height and mixed sock yarns and cotton floss in all of them.  After getting permission from W Cushing & Co <wcushing.com> I made these 3 to show possible variations to the basic pattern.

At W. Cushing & Co's request, I made a copy of the hand-drawn pattern for them--they are now making it available on their website.  If you want to try your own hand at making a "Baby Duncan," you can buy the pattern.  Much easier than drawing it yourself. 

One word of caution:  If you haven't ever done punchneedle EMBROIDERY before, I would not begin with this pattern.  Do something simple first, like embroidering a few random circles and squares, to be sure you get the technique.  Once you've done that, go ahead and try this.  And here's a hint:  begin punching in one of the corners.  That way, if you can test out your colors and alter them before you get too far into your punching.  Enjoy. 

Below is a quick side-by-side view of The Triplets:

I had to laugh when I put them together--up until then I thought I'd made them all the same size!  Um, NO.  Because I had to hand-draw each pattern (Cushing hadn't printed my pattern at that point, so I was free-handing it every time), they all came out slightly different sizes.