Cross Stitched Rose with Tall Stem

A6 side-fold card becomes a keepsake treasure by 

hand cross-stitching a single long stem rose bloom 

onto the stitching holes-punched offset front panel. 

Round-corners window is positioned off center 

on the front accent panel to showcase the stitching 

with “MOTHER’S DAY” printed as “print & cut” panel 

(optional plain front panel also included). 

Sentiment is completed as two-layer “happy” welded word. 

Cross stitching pattern included. 

Card measures approx. 4.63” wide x 6.25” tall when closed.

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:

A main card base

B hole-punched stitching panel (2 to layer for strength)

C contrast margin overlay panel

D front frame overlay, print & cut with "MOTHER'S DAY"

E happy welded word cut with offset base

2. If using the print & cut panel, follow tutorials provided

by Silhouette America's online support to set up

the front panel on screen, send to printer, prepare

for cutting, then cut out.

3. Prepare each of the stitching panels to remove ALL

remaining "chads" or cut out crumbs. One way to do this

is to un-coil a basic paper clip to use the end as a tool

to poke through each hole on the whole array of both.

Turn the shapes over to brush or scrape away punches.

For the tiny holes where half stitches will fall between

the regular "squared" stitch holes, use a smaller diam.

tool such as the tapestry needle that will be used

to complete the stitching, to make sure they are open holes.

4. Layer and attach together the two stitching panels,

taking care that all cut edges as well as the holes

align as precisely as possible.

One way to do this is to use the paper clip tool

to push through the corner holes of the joined

layers to make the adjustment, if necessary.

Once the panels are joined and adjusted,

press flat using a heavy flat weight such as this thick

book volume, with something else heavy on top

until the glue is completely dried, usually several

hours or over night.

5. Assemble materials needed for embroidery,

including three closely-matched colors for bloom,

and three related greens for leaves, sepals and stem.

For the sample project, these are the floss colors chosen:
lightest pink 350 for main rose body

med pink 309 for rose body side shading

darkest pink 814 for rose tip shading

bright green 471 for lightest leaf & sepal shading

deep green 3362 for darker leaf & sepal shading

darkest green 895 for stems

Procure stitching needles for cross stitching,

such as this recommended tapestry needle size 24.

STITCHING INSTRUCTIONS

6.  Cut a 24-30" length of 6-strand floss, then separate

two strands then lay them together . . . 

. . . fold the lengths in half . . .

. . . and thread the four ends through eye of a blunt tip darning

needle size 24/26 (recommended). Pull the ends

part-way down - the loops will remain as the long end

and will be used to "tie on".

7. Study this diagram to understand how to form

cross stitches for uniform appearance and tension.

NOTE that the RIGHT SLANT stitches are generally

placed across the row first, followed by the LEFT SLANT

stitches placed coming back across the row.

8. Create a print out of the rosebud stitching diagram 

(or simply view it on-screen). 

9. Make the first few stitches:

A) Insert the loaded needle UP from backside through

the  hole of the FOUR holes that will create

the first 'X" of the top left sepal "leaf" tip. 

Pull needle and thread through leaving approx. 3-4" 

of loop "tail" still on backside.

B) Insert the needle into the bottom right hole of first 'X' . . . 

. . . and pull through until front thread is nearly flush with surface,

and short loop remains on the backside of the panel.

Pass the needle through the loop and cinch the thread up

 firmly on the back. 

This completes the "tie on" step.

10. Continue by inserting the needle in the top RIGHT

hole of the first 'X', pull thread full fully, then

insert into the bottom left hole that will . . .

. . . complete the first 'X'.

11. Next, continue stitching the next short "column" of

three green stitches, completing . . .

. . . the left slant stitches one following the previous,

moving downward. Then, move back toward top of

the column to create the right slant stitches and

complete the 'X' stitches.

12. Continue in the same manner to begin and complete

the stitches of the same color on the chart.

When loaded needle needs to transition from panel

backside at one place where adjacent stitches have

been completed to a different location where stitches 

can continue, pass the needle under the stitches in

the pathway to emerge (still on backside of work),

in the position to continue stitching.

When floss length on needle gets close to being

too short to continue, pause in mid stitch when needle

is pulled through to backside, then slip the needle under

the adjacent 4-5 stitches. Pull the needle fully through,

then trim tail beyond stitching, remove needle and re-thread.

13. Identify and locate the next place to begin stitching,

load the appropriate floss color, then repeat

the "tying on" process and complete the "color block".

14. The rose bud design includes half stitches along

the "seam" between the two leaf colors.

At this positions - three on each leaf - there are tiny

holes punched that will accept the diagonal left or

right half stitches in the same manner.

15. For this design, the stem stitching up center line

and leaf stems are completed with alternating

straight stitches. To complete these, tie on at the base

of the bud, complete the triangle of stitches there,

then continue downward to complete straight

stitches with spaces in between. When the floss and

needle reach the bottom of stem . . 

. . .  continue back up the line to add stitches at the spaces. 

Where the branch stems positions are reached, re-direct

the straight stitches up between the leaf halves,

then pass the needle back to where other stem can 

be stitched. Finally, continue back up the stem until

all required straight stitches are completed.

Tie off in the usual manner.

This completes the cross stitching.

16. Complete the card with the following operations:

A) position and attach the window accent layer

with window opening edges evenly spaced around

hole cut outs, and outer edge just beyond the cut

edge of the stitching panel, evenly all around.

B) position and attach front window panel

with window cut out edges aligned, even offset

margin remaining revealed all around.

(Press the assembly under heavy flat weight.)

C) Position, centered, and attach word cut out onto

offset base word cut.

D) position and attach the "happy" word cut assembly

onto the card front just above the printed words line,

and centered left to right in the plain margin.

E) position and attach the front assembly onto

the front panel of folded card base, with even

offset margin revealed all around.

F) tie a neat bow from 6-ply floss, then glue to

stitching panel at stem just below bud, if desired.

Paint the floss cut ends with clear nail polish.

Here is the completed card.

Floral Lattice with Flowers Swirl

Frame card has delicate edge scallop tracery with 

six-petal flowers with inner panel of on-point cross hatch lattice. 

‘Beading’ base and top secondary frame layers add dimension 

to frame front. Add rectangle of vellum to inside back panel. 

Embellish easily with pearl studs or jewel gems. 

Decorate with “Flower Cluster Swirl Mom Tag” or 

“Tags Four Female Titles” separate designs. 

Measures approx. 5” x 7” when closed. 

The floral lattice frame assembly will be shown first,
with the flower cluster steps shown at the end,
beginning in Step 11.


ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:
NOTE that the delicacy of this frame may require a fresh
sharp blade when cutting, and extra care when
removing from the cutting mat.
A floral lattice front panel (2 layers for rigidity and strength)
B floral lattice back panel with top arch tabs (1)
C floral lattice back panel (1)
D optional back vellum panel
E beading inner frame (2)
F beading base frame (2)

2. The open nature and delicacy of the front and back

panels, etc., warrant stacking two layers.

Position and attach together the 2 front frame panels,

taking care to align all cut edges as precisely as possible.

Press under a large flat weight to ensure that the frame

dries flat to avoid curling or warping or other

distortion. This may take some time to ensure it will

be completely dry. Use the pressing step as each of 

the components is stacked, under separate weights or

equivalent, possibly attaching several of the components

together then pressing as an assembly.

3. Layer and attach the inner and base beading

frames in similar manner.

4. Position and attach the stacked beading layers,

taking care that the cut out square edges align

as precisely as possible.

5. Position the beading frame assembly on top
of the front panel, centered over the solid frame area.

NOTE that it may be helpful to turn the work

face side down to view the offset beading frame

around the solid frame of front panel assembly

to ensure that it is centered appropriately.

6. Prepare the lattice back panel by carefully bending
back on the short perforation lines at the five attached
scallops. HINT: bend carefully with fingertips, then
place on flat surface to crease with more pressure.

7. Position the top of the FRONT panel scallop edges
over the BACK panel scallop tabs, align edges that match,
and attach together.

8. Position and attach the back lattice panel over

the matching back panel. 

9. If desired, position and attach the vellum panel

on the interior face of the back lattice frame.

10. Add embellishments such as these pearl studs

at the flower centers, or smaller gems at arch

intersections, etc.

Here is the competed lattice frame.

11. To prepare the flower cluster, identify and cut the shapes

as shown here. NOTE that more can be added as preferred.

12. Assemble the swirl tendril shapes by overlapping

the base circle areas and lining up the center circles

and also the smaller registration circles, and glue together.

13. Repeat the alignment and attachment process from
Step 12 with the leaf sprig shapes.

14. Position the leaf sprig unit on top of 

the tendril sprig unit, lining up the circle bases,

and interior large and small circles, and glue

together at the base circles, and other positions

as deemed prudent when there is overlap.

Press flat while drying.

15. Add shape to the flower petals by impressing

them as shown: use the rounded end of an instrument

such as this paint brush handle tip, embossing

from the backside within the petal shape, using

something with firm but pliable "give" such as this

cork coaster or thick layers of fabric, etc.

 Use a thin cylinder tool such as this stylus to
add curl to the petals.

 Attach the flower centers to each flower.

 Curl can also be added to the daisy-style flower petals.

16. Test the positions of the flowers, with the larger

flowers positioned at center, overlapping the smaller ones,

or as desired. Carefully add dabs of quick-grab adhesive

to the underside of the flower petals where they touch

the leaf and swirl "base" or other flowers, then add and

attach each in place until the ensemble is complete.

17. Prepare the tag by positioning and attaching

the reinforcement ring over the hole punch,

"Mother" word cut more or less centered,

shaped flower as desired.

18. Position and attach the flowers cluster in the lower
left corner of the completed lattice card front,
with tag tucked under slightly so that edges do NOT
extend beyond frame edges IF the card will need
to fit into the coordinated envelope for 5x7 card size.
(If it will NOT be placed in an envelope, the tag can be
placed with top corners beyond frame edges.)

Here is the completed card ensemble.