April Ornament Diamond
Designed and Stitched by Lou Kilgore

Materials:

• 23-24 count blue Congress Cloth - 8" square
• Stretcher bars - 8" x 8"
• DMC 6-Strand Embroidery Thread (floss), color to match Congress Cloth
• Kreinik Metallic Braid Size 8 - Color #032 (Pearl)
• DMC 6-Strand Embroidery Thread (floss) - white or Accentuate (a fine metallic from Access Commodities) - Color #300 (Pearl)
• Crystal Seed Beads (optional) and beading needle or #10 sharp needle
• #24 and #26 tapestry needles
• #8 crewel needle
• Refer to Finishing Instructions for materials needed for finishing the ornament.

You can substitute some of these threads. Refer to the colored photo for ideas and appropriate colors.

Using the template at right, trace the design onto your canvas. The template should have a height of 3-1/8 inches and a width of 4-1/2".  If it is a different size when you print it, please enlarge or reduce it as necessary on a photocopier.

Use a very fine point blue permanent marker. Do not trace the "rays" that extend from the diamond. When you are ready to stitch these, if you need to have lines, use a purple air-disappearing ink pen. Then you won't accidentally have any drawn lines peeking around your couching stitches.

Using 3 strands of the DMC 6-Strand Embroidery Thread (floss) that matches your canvas color and a #24 tapestry needle, stitch a row of tent stitches on the perimeter of the ornament template. Stitch a second row for finishing purposes.

NOTE Kreinik #8 Braid - Color #032 - along with a #24 tapestry needle is used to stitch Areas 1-7, shown in close-up below.

Area 1 - Reverse Mosaic Stitch

1. Stitch this area according to the diagram on the left below working in diagonal rows.

2. Now stitch in the opposite direction (in diagonal rows) reversing the direction of your stitches. Refer to the diagram on the right above. In this diagram, the Step 1 stitches are shown as white hollow stitches and the Step 2 stitches are solid black.

Area 2 - Scotch Stitch over 3 threads

Stitch these stitches as diagrammed (in diagonal rows).

Area 3 - Reversed Scotch Stitch over 3 threads

Follow the same procedure as for Area 2, reversing the diagonal and the direction of the stitches.

Area 4 - Diagonal Mosaic Stitch

Again, this stitch is worked in diagonal rows.

Area 5 - Reversed Diagonal Mosaic Stitch

And one more time... reverse the direction of the diagonal and the direction of your stitches.

Area 6 - Basketweave

Area 7 - Reversed Basketweave

For the last time, you are reversing the direction.

Area Outlines and "Rays" - Couching

Use two needles for this area:

• Thread a #24 tapestry needle with Kreinik #8 Braid
• Thread #26 tapestry needle OR a #8 crewel needle with a strand of Accentuate or a strand white DMC 6-Strand Embroidery Thread.

Bring the Kreinik braid to the surface. Then tack it in place with small slanted or straight stitches using the fine thread. Your tacking stitches should always be perpendicular to the Kreinik braid. Outline the perimeter of the diamond gem and all edges of Areas 1-7. Refer to the close-up photo above.

Also, use this same stitch to make the "rays". (Use your air-disappearing ink pen to mark these if needed.) You can certainly add more rays of contrasting lengths if desired.

Embellish with Beads

For even more sparkle, attach crystal beads in randomly placed clusters in Area 1. Refer to the directions for the June, November, or December ornaments for instructions in attaching beads.

See the Finishing Instructions to complete your ornament.