REINDEER ORNAMENT STITCH GUIDE BY MARY WALDSMITH, OWL STITCHERY This piece was designed for Congress cloth. It can be stitched on any counted ground, with appropriate adjustments to the sizes of threads. On Congress cloth (24 count), the design size is 5 ½ inches long by 2 2/1 inches wide. Generally when doing Canvaswork, you should leave at least 2 inches blank canvas on each side of the piece, so you will need a piece of Congress cloth that is 10 inches long by 6 inches wide. This project should be worked on a static (not rolled) frame. Mini stretcher bars are available from local needlework shops that sell needlepoint. Tape each side of the canvas with painter s tape (not masking tape, which will leave a residue), then tack or staple the canvas to the bars. Working on a frame is the correct way to do all types of Canvaswork it keeps the piece clean, prevents the need for heavy blocking before finishing, and allows you to work two-handed when necessary. Supplies for this project as shown in the model: 10 x 6 white Congress Cloth Stretcher bars #8 Kreinik Metallic 002HL Gold Hi Lustre DMC #8 Pearl Cotton Threadworx #8 Pearl, colors 81089 (Bleeding Hearts) and 81048 (Woodland Green)
Alternative threads: Overdyed threads: substitute your favorite red and green flosses from Weeks Dye Works, Sampler Threads or Classic Colorworks. Use 3 strands. If you would rather not use an overdyed thread, you may use 3 strands DMC Floss: White for the #8 White Pearl 498 or 815 red 700 or 909 green Creative choices: Reverse the colors use green for the large reindeer and red for the small ones. If you choose that alternative I suggest doing the colored border stitches in red instead of green. Do the border stitches in combinations of red, green and white. The border counts for both the length and width of the piece will come out even using 3 colors, providing you stitch the corners in gold. You can change the colors completely if you d like. It s your piece. Stitch diagrams with numbering are included with this guide. If you primarily stitch on linen or are new to Canvaswork, it s important to understand how to read stitch guide numbering. For basic needlepoint stitches the goal is to get as much thread on the back of the canvas as possible. This provides stability for the piece. For example, doing a cross stitch on needlepoint is different than on linen. Following the numbering on the stitch graphs will ensure that you stitch this piece correctly. If you are using overdyed threads you should stitch each cross stitch on the reindeer individually. This will show the overdyed variations more clearly. This is the general rule when using overdyed threads on either Canvaswork or linen, although for creative or design purposes you may be instructed differently.
The chart is divided into three sections: The top reindeer, the middle smaller reindeer, and the bottom reindeer. The top and bottom reindeer charts each include the Satin Stitch white dividing bands above and below the small reindeer band. Please refer to the photo for color placement. Start stitching in the upper right corner border (gold corner). Use an away waste knot anchored into the border either horizontally or vertically for the gold corner. (See note on last page for waste knot).
A waste knot is a thread that is knotted and brought down into a canvas hole at least 1 ½ inches away from where you intend to start stitching. For the top corner of this piece it is illustrated below. 1. Plunge knotted thread into canvas hole from the top of the canvas. 2. Shows thread on the back of the canvas in a horizontal line. 3. Bring thread up here and start stitching. Ensure that your stitching covers the horizontal thread. When you reach the knot, pull it up and gently cut it off on top of the canvas. Finishing: The model was finished as a puffy ornament with gold twisted cording. Because there is no background on the piece, you or your finisher should back the Congress cloth with fabric before finishing it. The model was backed with a plain white fabric. If you want more glitz you can back it with a shiny fabric such as gold lame.