Santa Primitive Shaped Stitched Card

Simple shapes compose this Santa Head, 

with dimensional tiny rosette "tassel" 

that can be tied with twine bow accent. 

Mustache and beard are accented using 

hand-applied blanket over-edge stitching. 

(Separate substitute shapes also included 

to omit the stitching if preferred.) 

Structure allows card to be displayed as self-standing. 

Card base back includes perforation to allow it 

to bend out of the way to reveal space for 

message plaque to be attached behind card front. 

Measures approx. 5" wide x 6.625" long when folded 

(fits into a 5x7 envelope.)

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:
A card base front   B card base back (with perforation)
C sentiment "label"   D card base front back "cover"
F silhouette for assembling card front shapes
G beard shape  H mustache shape
I face with eye cutouts  
J hat fur shape    K hat shape
L hat tassel rosette pleating strip with 
front and back button discs

2. Position beard shape over the silhouette base

and match up the beard stitching holes over

the silhouette shape; attach in place.

Using an awl or other pointed instrument or darning
needle will help make sure holes are aligned.

3. Position the silhouette/beard assembly
over the card front base and line up the
stitching holes over the inner holes on
card front. NOTE: the outer stitching holes
of base will fall near the edge of the beard edge.
Attach in place.

Use the sharp tool to align stitching holes.

4. Select and cut a long length of

the stitching "thread". The sample

uses black DMC perle cotton no.12.

Embroidery floss (6 strands as twisted in skein)

is another good choice.

Thread onto a blunt tapestry needle.

5. Anchor the lead end with a small piece of cello tape
near the end of the stitching holes run that makes
best sense for the dominant hand of the stitcher -
right side in this case.

6. NOTE the stitching style for the beard imitates 

a blanket stitch, but is actually a back stitch

where the needle will pass through some holes

more than once.

Begin the stitching run by inserting the needle

from backside up to front in the top-most hole

which is on the outer row, and . . . 

. . . pull up slack.

7. Insert the needle downward through the next

hole on the outer row (through base only)

and pull up slack (pull up for each successive step

unless otherwise indicated).

8. Insert needle upward through hole inward
from last hole stitched through that pierces beard,
then insert needle downward through the previous
hole that completed the first stitch in beard outline.

9. Continue in the same manner to complete

one of line stitches that fall at beard edge then

the next perpendicular stitch inward in sequence.

10. At the "space" where the mustache overlay will

be placed, the stitches are omitted, since they will

not show. The first section of stitches ends with

the beard edge stitch, then the thread moves across

the space on the backside then the stitching begins

again with the beard edge stitch.

11. Continue to stitch across bottom, skip 

the second mustache overlap transition,

then complete the final stitches, ending with

the final beard edge stitch where the needle

will insert from front toward back.

12. On the backside, trim excess thread

with about a 1 inch tail, and anchor the tail

with a small piece of cello tape.

13. If a second length of thread is needed,

tie off  first piece with tape and tie on new length

with tape, as can be seen on the backside

of the assembly in this image.

14. The mustache "applique" is blanket stitched

in a more conventional stitching pattern.

Thread a length of thread onto the blunt needle,

then select a starting place (recommended to be

away from any corners) and anchor the tail with

a small piece of thread on 

the mustache shape backside.

15. Insert the threaded needle through first hole
from backside toward front and pull up slack.

16. Take a "whipstitch" - which is to say, insert

the needle in the next hole in same upward, back

to front direction. Then . . . 

. . . before the thread is pulled up tight,

slip the needle through the loop.

Pull up the stitch only moderately tight,

to allow for the final connecting stitch to be made.

17. Continue the whipstitch plus inserting needle

through loop action to add stitching to the edge

of the mustache shape. NOTE that at the tips,

two stitches are taken through the same hole.

Endeavor to keep the top loop of each stitch

positioned at mustache shape edge as shown.

18. Complete the stitching circuit. Then when

the final hole has a stitch, imitate taking one more

stitch, except only slip the needle through . . .

. . . the loop of the beginning stitch.

(This image shows more clearly that the needle

is under the first "loop".)

Pull thread tight and perpendicular to edge, 
endeavoring to have the first stitch appear
like all others, then . . . 

. . . move the thread to the mustache shape
backside, trim for a 1" tail, and anchor with
small piece of cello tape.

19. Position the mustache applique
over the assembly, with tips lined up
with the silhouette base shape that is
still exposed, and attach in place.

20. To hide the stitching and anchor tape,

position and attach the card front back cover shape,

match up edges as precisely as possible,

and attach in place.

21. Prepare the card base back shape by bending

the top portion forward along the perforation line.

22.  Position the back card over the matching
portion of the front card assembly, and attach
the two surfaces between perforation line and
top of hat. (If you look closely, you CAN see
the card front assembly under the left hand.)

23. Position and attach the sentiment plaque
to the inside of the card, on the backside of
the front panel.

24. Prepare the tassel rosette by pleating the strip,

working from the left edge (face up), bend the first

perforation line as a "valley" fold, then alternate

"mountain" and "valley" folds across the strip.

25. Identify the left end tab, then form the strip into

a "tube" to attach the tab in front of the first pleat

segment wall.

26. With quick set glue ready at hand (sample uses
hot melt glue), place the rosette ring on the working
surface, and begin to gather the pleats into the center,
working slowly . . . 

. . . until the pleats are condensed and the
rosette eventually can be laid flat . . . 

. . . with the center pleat edges as tight as possible.
Apply glue around the center opening edges,
then quickly . . . 

. . . position (centered) the front "button" disc.
Immediately continue to force the pleating inward
to be as tight as possible, endeavoring to keep
the pleat spacing even all around.

27. Repeat the glue application to the backside

around the pleating opening, then position

and attach the backside button.

28. Thread a length of twine down and up again

through button holes, then tie a knot and bow.

29. Position and attach at top of hat.

Here is the completed stitched Santa card.