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Summer Tree -- Canvas Designed and Stitched by Priscilla Brant Materials: 18-count canvas - 8" x 8" Stretcher bars - to fit canvas square DMC 6-Strand Embroidery Thread (floss) #336 (blue) #498 (red) #538 (dark brown) #610 (brown) #647 (light brown) Blanc (white) Caron Collection Wildflowers - Ice Rainbow Galleries Rainbow Tweed RT 28 (dark green) RT 37 (light green) #22 and #24 tapestry needles Refer to Finishing Instructions for materials needed for finishing the ornament.

Trace the oval shape onto the canvas and mount the canvas on stretcher bars as explained in the General Instructions.

Stitch two rows of continental stitch around the outer shape (see General Instructions) using 1 strand of Wildflowers Ice.

Refer to the Master Diagram for the location of the tree stitches.  The key for the Master Diagram is shown at right.

Tree Trunk

Following the Master Diagram, stitch the tree trunk in the Knotted Stitch. Use a combination of colors in a #22 tapestry needle as follows:

DMC #538 - 2 strands DMC #610 - 2 strands DMC #647 - 1 strand

Knotted Stitch

Branches and Roots

Stitch the branches and exposed roots with Backstitches or Slanted/Diagonal Stitches over 2 canvas threads. Use 2 strands of DMC #647 in a #24 tapestry needle except for the shadow stitches on the trunk above the ribbon. Use DMC #538 for these stitches. The shadow stitches are stitched right on top of the knotted stitches (see photo detail).

Leaves

Most of the leaves are worked in Rice Stitch over 2 canvas threads. The large cross stitches are stitched using 1 strand of Rainbow Tweed RT 28. The small crossing stitches at the corners are stitched in 1 strand of Rainbow Tweed RT 28 and RT 37. See the photo for the placement of these colors.

Rice Stitch

Leaves at End of Branches

These leaves are worked in the Ray Stitch using Rainbow Tweed RT 37. Don't carry your thread across the back of the canvas in the sky (background) area. Instead, run the thread through the back of the cross stitches to travel from one branch to another.

Ray Stitch

Ribbon on Trunk

The ribbon itself is stitched in Tent Stitch. The top row is red (DMC #498), the middle row is white (DMC Blanc), and the bottom row is blue (DMC #336). Use 2 strands for these stitches. When you have completed each row, park the thread at the side of the canvas instead of ending off the thread. Then you won't have to begin a thread length again to stitch the bow.

Ribbon Bow

The bow loops are Lazy Daisy Stitch. Stitch the blue ones first (inside loops), then the white, and finally the red (outside loops). When you complete the two Lazy Daisy stitches in each color, work two straight stitches in the same color for the hanging ends of the ribbon. After stitching the red loops and ribbon ends, stitch a French Knot for the bow's knot.

Ribbon Bow

Grass

Stitch the grass in Brick Stitch over 2 canvas threads. Most of the grass stitches are worked in Rainbow Tweed - RT 37 with a few stitches using RT 28 (see photo). Be sure to notice that a few stitches in approximate center are stitched over 3 and 4 canvas threads.

Brick Stitch

Sky

The sky is stitched in a Darning Pattern. Use 1 strand of Wildflowers - Ice.

Darning Pattern

See the finishing instructions to complete the ornament.