The Homeday Blog

Free Pattern: Punch Needle Grapefruit

by Lesley Hill

Today I’m sharing a free pattern with you: my punch needle grapefruit! This is one of the first things I made with my punch needle and is a great project for beginners.

When you’re done punching your grapefruit you could turn it into a stuffie like I did (‘cause who doesn’t need a plush grapefruit to snuggle with?) or fill in the background and turn it into a wall-hanging.

Punch Needle Tutorial: How to make a Plush Stuffie

by Lesley Hill

My friend Danielle (who also makes the sweetest art illustrations for kids), came to one of my punch needle workshops this spring. She had never needle punched before, but brought her own sketch and made this adorable little fox. After Danielle was finishing punching her fox on a stretcher bar frame, she asked me to help her turn her project into a little pillow. I though I’d share the process in a blog post, because people can’t get enough of these plush punch needle projects!

New in the Shop: Starter Punch Needle Kits

by Lesley Hill

Starter punch needle kits are now in the shop! I realize this probably should have been the first kit I offered, but hey- better late than never, right? I put this kit together because the right materials are so important to the success of your punch needle project (hello tension!), and gathering all these supplies often means buying from many different places.

Entryway Inspiration: Decorating with Quilts

by Lesley Hill

When we purchased our 130-year-old fixer-upper for a bargain five years ago, we went giddy with renovations. New kitchen, updated bathrooms, refinished floors, painted walls- almost every room got a fresh start. But then we ran out of steam (and, um, money). Five years later, our long and narrow front hall is still painted primer white, has no trim or mouldings, and is generally a dumping ground for stuff that doesn’t really belong anywhere else.

Toronto Star Article: Punch Needle Crafting

by Lesley Hill

For as long as I can remember my grandparents read the Toronto Star every day from cover-to-cover. So I was pretty thrilled to see my name in print in the Star's Life section this past weekend. Debra Norton wrote a great piece on the resurgence of punch needle and the social media origins of this craft trend.

New in the Shop: Punch Needle Bunny Pattern & Kit

by Lesley Hill

I’m excited to share that my punch needle bunny pattern and kit are now available in the shop! Perfect for beginners, this bunny is super-simple to make and gives you the opportunity to practice making flat stitches, loop stitches (for that sweet, fluffy-bunny face) and adding small details like the nose, cheeks and eyes. This bunny looks adorable in a nursery or kid’s room, and makes a thoughtful gift for a crafty new mom.

Punch Needle Tutorial: Using an Embroidery Hoop Frame to Make a Wall Hanging

by Lesley Hill

Choosing the right frame and preparing your foundation material is key when you’re planning your punch needle project. There are no knots with punch needle, so the tension of the yarn and cloth is what keeps your stitches from unravelling. A key part of achieving this tension is making sure your foundation material is stretched very tightly across a frame while you punch your project.

Punch Needle Frequently Asked Questions

by Lesley Hill

Punch needle embroidery is fast, easy-to-learn and completely addictive. But because it's a relatively new craft (or a least enjoying a resurgence thanks to social media), there isn't a lot of resources out there. To get you started, I've compiled a list of the punch needle questions I most commonly receive online and at my in-person workshops.

Learn to Punch Needle: My Favourite Resources for Beginners

by Lesley Hill

In case you couldn’t tell from my Instagram account, 2018 was the year that I fell in love with punch needle. It started with a spring class with Toronto textile queen Arounna Khounnoraj of Bookhou and quickly become an obsession as I found myself needle punching in my car during my lunch breaks at work (yup: proud, crafty introvert here).

An easy pegboard DIY that will delight your inner neat freak

by Lesley Hill

I have a long-standing obsession with pegboard walls. The pegboard wall at Homeday Studio (above) is one of my very favourite things about our space. Perhaps it's my love of mise en place (a french culinary phrase for “everything in its place”) or the graphic minimalism of those tiny grid-like circles, but I think there’s a place for a pegboard wall in every home. Read on for some simple tips for installing a pegboard wall in your creative space.

Color Crush: Mustard Yellow & Coral Pink

by Lesley Hill

Perhaps it’s the fact that we’re emerging from months of gray skies and white landscapes, but I'm loving saturated yellow hues this spring. I spotted this sunny yellow sofa on Pinterest the other day, and thought it would be the perfect intensity to pair wth my coral star quilt in shades of peach, pink and the darkest navy blue.

Five Ways to Make Your Bedroom a Sanctuary

by Lesley Hill

I’m a little obsessive about sleep. And I have to admit- I’m one of those annoying people who gets a solid seven to eight hours of sleep each night. While there are lots of really real reasons why a good night's sleep isn’t a reality for everyone (shift work, babies, a snoring person in your bed), I’m a big believer that a few simple changes to your space can make a big difference in how you live and feel. Read on for 5 ways to make your bedroom a sleep sanctuary.

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