Snowy Christmas Trees Embroidery (Free Pattern)

Materials:
 
Lightboard, to transfer the pattern (optional)
Transfer pen (white chalk pencil or white water- erasable pen)
A minimum 7" (18-cm) square piece of light blue pure cotton or linen fabric
5" (13-cm) hoop with screws
DMC930(Dark Antique Blue), 611 (Drab Brown), 700 (Bright Green), 522 (Fern Green), E703 (Light Emerald Green), 166 (Lime Green), 3346 (Hunter Green), 934 (Black Avocado Green), 17 (Light Yellow Plum), DMC 762 (Very Light Pearl Grey)
Frixion Heat Erasable Pen or any water-erasable pen
Size 3 and 5 embroidery needles (size 3 for metallic floss and French knots and size 5 for the rest of the floss/ stitches)
Small embroidery scissors

Stitches Used:
Split Stitch, Running Stitch, Back Stitch, Herringbone Stitch, Satin Stitch, Fishbone Stitch, French Knots
 
Start by transferring the pattern and mounting the fabric on the hoop, making sure it’s taut, and then the transferred pattern is centered.

Begin embroidering the landscape mountains with split stitch using strands of DMC 930 — add an accent with a single line of running stitch using two strands of the same floss. If you are not comfortable free-stitching the running stitch (simply keep the stitches parallel to the stitch line above), feel free to draw parallel lines with a Frixion pen underneath all the landscape mountains and then make running stitch on these.

Next, proceed to embroider all the tree trunks with the backstitch using four strands of DMC 611. Depending on which stitch we use to embroider the main body of the tree, some of the tree trunks will eventually be hidden, but you’ll still be able to see them through the stitches, and that will add to the visual appeal.

Referring to the schematic, begin embroidering the trees using six strands (except the metallic floss where I have used four strands) of different shades of green floss (DMC 700, DMC 522, DMC E703, DMC 166, DMC 3346, DMC 934, and DMC 17). I have used seven shades of greens to embroider fourteen trees, thus embroidering two trees with each of the floss numbers given above but using different stitches each time. This gives a beautiful effect because each stitch looks quite different with different colors. The only stitch with which you’ll see the tree trunk fully is the satin stitch.

Although I have used six strands of cotton floss to embroider the trees, I have used only four strands of metallic floss (DMC E703), as it has a greater volume than cotton floss. Always take two strands of the floss and double them over; this will give you greater control over the floss and help you flatten it as you stitch. One standard hurdle most stitchers face with metallic floss is that it tends to get knotted really easily while you’re taking a stitch. What always helps me is to put your thumb between the floss and the fabric just before you end a stitch. Repeat the step when you are bringing the floss up after taking a stitch as well. This simple step will keep the floss flat against the fabric and you’ll avoid all the knots!

Once you have stitched all the trees, your embroidery is already complete. However, you can add a snowy touch if you want to invoke the winter spirit! And it’s easy to do this—simply take scattered French knots across the entire embroidery with six strands of DMC 762 floss (three strands of floss doubled over). Put them on the trees, in the air, and on the ground. Bunch a few together. It’s up to you how many or how few you embroider!

When you’ve finished embroidering the pattern, remove any stabilizer or pen marks. If needed, wash, dry, and refix the embroidery in your hoop and then close and back your hoop.

Excerpted with permission from The Embroidery Handbook: All the Stitches You Need to Know to Create Gorgeous Designs.