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
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.
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