Christmas Trees Cross Stitched Card

 

Fun components to stitch a special holiday card, 

including starred trees base panel, offset accent panels, 

with whole front panel punched for cross-stitching 

as a solid color, or as shown with “ornament” contrast stitches. 

(Solid substitute tree shapes are included to create 

the card WITHOUT cross stitching.) Card base is top-fold, 

measuring approx. 4.63” tall x 6.25” wide when folded. 

Loopy trim strips tuck under center contrast band. 

Merry Christmas word cutout tops off the ensemble.

A coordinated trees trio flap cutout envelope

is also available as a cut file download

from Silhouette America's online store.

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:

A card base (top fold)

B front offset accent panel

C contrast front band

D loop top & bottom edge borders for shape C

E front band accent

F stitching shapes with stitching holes (2)

G stitching buffer shape

H stitched tree base shapes (2)

I double trees base shape

J partial tree (right side) accent

K Merry Christmas welded word cut out

2. Prepare the stitching shapes by poking through holes

to make sure any "crumbs" detach and can be

brushed away and removed. Easiest tool may be

a bent-open standard paperclip.

3. Layer and attach the stitching shapes, taking care

that all outer cut edges and stitching holes are

as precisely aligned as possible.

Once the stitching shapes are glued together,

place on a flat surface and press flat with a heavy,

flat weight such as a thick book, until thoroughly

dried, several hours or over night.

4. Prepare the built-up left tree base shapes by

layering and gluing together with all cut edges

aligned as precisely as possible. Also press this

glued-up shape under a heavy flat weight as

described in the frame above.

5. Assemble the supplies and tools for the embroidery

cross stitch, including red and ivory/cream 6-ply floss,

tapestry needle 24/26 size.

6. Cut a 36-40 inch length of floss, then separate

two single plies from the cut length.

7. Place the two plies together, then bend in half

to bring the four cut ends together, taking care

to even out the center loop where folded.

Thread the loops through the eye of the needle, then . . .

. . . pull the loop long, to leave 4-5" of the cut tails

beyond the needle eye. The loop is the long end.

8. Refer to the stitching diagram, either on screen

of from a printed copy, to identify the left end of

the bottom row, where the first set of four "corner"

holes will hold the first cross stitch of that row,

on diagram and on stitching shape.

9. Study the following diagram to learn how the cross stitches

are formed with a row of LEFT SLANT stitches across

the row, followed by the RIGHT SLANT stitches

coming back across the row. Always create the stitches

in the same fashion, to give the work a consistent

appearance. This may require changing the order

or placement of the numbered insertions.

10. A) Insert the loaded needle UP from backside through

the top left of the four bottom left set of stitch holes.

B) Pull the the thread through, leaving approx. 5-6 inches

of the loop end still beyond the stitching surface.

C) Create the first RIGHT SLANT stitch by inserting

 the needle down through right bottom hole of the first

four of the first stitch set, then . . . 

. . . on the backside, insert the needle through

the loop and . . . 

. . . pull up tight.

11. Continue to create the RIGHT SLANT stitches

working across the row. Be sure to SKIP the red accent

(light/ornament) stitches as shown on the chart.

When the stitching reaches the location of

the "trunk" pair of vertical stitches, pause 

the horizontal stitching to move downward . . .

. . . to complete the two trunk cross stitches.

Then continue up to the bottom row and work

the remaining stitches across (skipping where

diagrammed). 

At the end of the row, change direction and return

along the row to complete the LEFT SLANT

stitches.

Here is the first row of completed cross stitches.

12. Move upward to insert the needle through

the first stitch of Row 2 and continue the stitching

across then back.

13. When the current thread load is used up,

or when stitching needs to be ended, move needle

through to the backside, insert needle under 3-4

stitch loops,  push/pull needle through . . .

. . . and pull thread fully through. Trim thread excess

even with backside shape surface.

14. Complete the ivory tree stitches.

To work the contrast stitches, modify the needle loading

process to work with a single ply, folded with ends

brought together and threaded to needle eye.

Tie on in the usual way at one of the bottom stitches,

and create the first RIGHT SLANT stitch, then

repeat that same stitch so that the same fullness

is achieved for the contrast stitches as for

the regular tree stitches (4 plies). Then

complete the LEFT SLANT stitch and repeated stitch.

15. On the backside, move to the next contrast stitch,

"floating" the thread across, and repeat the process.

(The use of 2-plies helps minimize the bulk of floating

thread between stitches.)

16. Position and attach the buffer cut out shape

on the backside of the stitched panel.

(This shape provides a place for the thread thickness

to lie without distorting the tree edges too much.)

17. Position and attach the stitched assembly on the front

of the offset accent (LEFT) tree shape.

18. Position and attach the stitched unit on front of

the two-tree base shape, then . . . 

. . . position and attach the "brown" partial tree shape

along the edge of the LEFT tree, offset within outer

edges of the second tree's edges.

Press the glued-up assembly under a heavy, flat

weight until thoroughly dried.

19. Prepare the contrast band assembly by positioning

one loop trim behind the top edge of band, adjusted

downward so that only the loops are exposed.

Repeat for the bottom loop trim.

20. Position and attach the front accent band on

loop/band assembly, centered top to bottom.

21. Position band assemblies on front of main accent

panel, centered top to bottom, and glue in place.

22. Position and attach the combined assembly onto

folded card front.

23. Position tree accent assembly on card front

toward left, centered top to bottom on front band.

Then position and attach the Merry Christmas word cut.

Here is the completed card.