To kick off 2020, I’m sharing my punch needle evergreen pattern with you! When you're done stitching your tree you can turn it into a stuffy like I did, or fill in the background and turn it into a wall-hanging. This beginner pattern is great for using up yarn scraps, and is a fun addition to your winter decor now that the holidays are over.
For this pattern you’ll need:
For my tree, I chose shades of green in a similar palette, but with enough contrast to differentiate the layers. When I'm deciding on what yarn to use, I'll unwind the yarn from the skein and lay it out over top of my template so that the colours are in proportion to the finished project. Then I'll step back and squint at what I've chosen- often I'll veto a colour that looks out of place, or switch out one colour for something that contrasts a bit more.
Also, don’t be afraid to experiment with different colourways. I think this tree would look stunning in shades of pale pink against a midnight-blue sky.
For my stuffy, I used the flat side facing out (flat stitch). In the picture below, you can see what it would look like with the loop side facing out (loop stitch). I love this plush look too! You could also try stitching your tree with the loops out, then stitch the background with a flat stitch for more contrast between textures.
Stitching your Tree:
If you’re using the 10” No-Slip hoop that’s included in my beginner kit, I’d recommend printing out the pattern at 100% (no scaling). Otherwise, enlarge or reduce the pattern to the size of your choosing. Download the PDF pattern here.
After you’ve traced the pattern onto your framed monk’s cloth, you're ready to start stitching with your punch needle. Begin by outlining then filling each of the tree segments. Next, outline then fill in the tree trunk.
Lastly, outline the tree in your background colour, then fill in. If you're turning your tree into a stuffy, stitch up to the border outline in the pattern template with your punch needle, then follow the instructions in this tutorial to complete your stuffy. If you want to create an embroidery hoop wall hanging, fill in the entire background, stitching all the way out to the edge of the frame. Then switch out your no-slip hoop for a simple embroidery hoop for display (check out this post for more info).
Find instructions on choosing supplies, preparing your frame, and making stitches with your punch needle in my ebook Drawing with Yarn: A Beginner’s Guide to Punch Needle. You'll also find lots of helpful information in this FAQ about punch needle blog post. Looking for more punch needle projects? Check out my free grapefruit pattern or shop all of my patterns here.
If you make a punch needle evergreen I would love to see it! Share your work by tagging me @homedaystudio on Instagram and use the hashtag #stayhomeandpunchneedle. Happy punching!
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Back in August, an editor at the U.K. magazine Mollie Makes emailed me to ask if I would be interested in designing and making a trio of punch needle animal stuffies for their December 2019 cover. I’ll admit I was intimidated- the deadline was tight considering my kids were still home with me for summer break, and I had more than a bit of performance anxiety (what if they’re just “meh” about the final product?).
Lesley Hill
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