Teardrop Ornament Straight Stitch Card

Front card includes stitching hole cutouts at ornament 

contour outlines. When no. 5 “perle cotton” 

(or 6-ply embroidery floss) horizontal stitches 

are added, the simple contour sections appears. 

A6 top-fold card measures approx. 4.63” tall x 6.25” wide. 

Above the stitched design, the ornament “collar” shape 

is attached, with a double layer arch banner 

can convey festive sentiment: be joyful! 

(use print & cut procedures).

Final touch is the optional hook 

that barely loops over the banner top. 

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:

A card front panel with stitching holes

B card front underlayer panel with stitching holes

C stitching buffer (back) layer

D card base with top-fold perforation

E ornament "collar"

F print & cut banner front with printed "be joyful"

and banner base layer

G center accent circle

NOT SHOWN: top ornament hook shape

Also shown: no. 5 perle cotton "thread"

Model colors: DMC deep red and burgundy red (915)

2. Use a poking tool such as this unbent standard

paper clip end to punch through each cut stitching

hole to make sure each is open. Remove "chad" crumbs

from both front layer and duplicate reinforcing layer.

3. Apply glue to backside of front panel, layer together

with reinforcement panel and join together.

Immediately double check holes alignment by

inserting tool into random holes across design.

Press the assembly under a heavy flat weight on

flat work surface until completely dry, to help prevent

warping or curling. Drying may require several hours

or overnight.

4. Cut a length of DMC no. 5 perle cotton 

selected color for inner contours. Thread onto

a blunt tapestry needle. Locate a good starting position

such as the top-most long stitch as selected for

this tutorial. Select a convenient space where . . .

. . . thread can be attached on the backside of panel

such as the area indicated by pointing finger here.

On backside in selected space, attach tail end of

perle cotton "thread" using a small piece of cello tape.

This is the "anchor on" step.

5. Insert needle UP through top section hole on

one side and pull thread through until tape anchor

stops it.

6. Move across panel and insert needle DOWN

through opposite hole on same "level".

Pull thread through to complete first top straight stitch.

6. ON BACKSIDE, move needle down one hole

immediately below downward hole just previously

stitched, insert needle UP through that hole.

Move across to hole opposite, just below beginning

hole, to complete second long stitch.

(Refer to Step 9 second image to see backside

as stitching progresses.)

7. Repeat the long stitch process to complete

6 stitches, as shown here.

8. For 7th long stitch, insert needle UP through

outer hole, then across to first hole on same level,

to complete a shorter, "half" stitch which begins

the inward definition contour around center circle space.

9. Continue in same fashion to complete the shorter

stitches down the side contour.

On the backside, the stitches are short, moving

down to the next level, instead of across panel.

10. When the side contour stitching holes are all

stitched (15), change back to long stitches at

the bottom below the circle space, to complete

5 long stitches across.

11. When the "thread" on the needle begins to run out,

insert needle DOWN to backside in regular sequence . . .

. . . then remove needle. Trim tail to 1/2" or so,

then . . .

. . . secure on the backside of front panel with

a small piece of cello tape. This is the "tie-off" process.

12. Load needle again with matching color, then

continue to complete the straight stitches of

the inner contour with circle blank. 

(NOTE that for the model, the tying-on for second load

was done toward top of second contour side,

then shorter side stitches were added working down.)

13. Tie off when stitches for threaded color are done.

14. Load second color for outer contours, following

the same process as before to tie on and complete

top two long stitches across full design.

Work down one side to complete shorter stitches until . . .

. . . stitching reaches the bottom, then complete

three stitches across the full design.

Next, work up the second side, tying off and on

new needle-load load as needed. 

Tie off when complete.

15. Apply glue to backside of buffer layer, then

position on backside of stitching panel, with

panel outer edges precisely aligned. 

Stitching will

be centered inside window cut out.

15. Use Print & Cut procedures to print and cut out

the banner front panel. (Or use blank shape to

hand-pen or stamp selected words.)

16. Position front arc onto banner base where edges

align, and attach in place.

17. Position and attach the accent shapes:

top hook, collar, center circle, arch banner.

18. Fold card base on perforation.

Position and attach front panel assembly onto front

with narrow offset margin all around.

Here is the completed card, with optional hook accent

shape in place, bottom end tucked under collar.