Paper Embroidery Christmas Card Instructions (Free Pattern Download)
Paper embroidery reminds me of the string art I used to make as a child. One of the things I like about paper embroidery is that you can create so many different effects with the same pattern just by varying the amount of space skipped between stitches.
The following instructions are for the teardrop shaped pattern. The pattern is available for download in PDF format.
If this is the first time you have tried paper embroidery, I recommend using heavy card stock as it will not tear as easily as the lighter weight card. I also recommend using a high quality embroidery floss such as DMC. The first few cards I made I used cheap floss and it frayed as I pulled it though the card, leaving the lines looking fuzzy.
You will need:
- Teardrop pattern (Click to Download)
- Heavy card stock 3 3/4″ x 5″
- Decorative paper – 3 3/4″ x 5″
- A craft knife for cutting the aperture in the decorative paper
- Pre-folded 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″ greeting card blank(or you can cut your own)
- Foam pad (1/8″ or so thick)- this will get poked full of holes so be sure to use something you don’t want to keep.
- Embroidery needle
- Paper piercing tool (optional)
- DMC embroidery floss: Red #304 and Gold #783
- 6 inches or so of thin gold ribbon
- Cellophane tape
- Glue
Step 1 Center the pattern on the front of the heavy cardstock and tape it down using low-tack tape. Place the cardstock on top of the foam pad. Using a paper piercing tool or your embroidery needle, poke a hole through each of the dots in the pattern making sure to go all the way through the card. When you have punched all of the holes, gently remove the pattern.
Step 2 Start with the circle in the center. Use a single strand of gold embroidery floss. Tape the end of the floss to the back of the card. It’s best not to tie knots as they will prevent your finished work from laying flat. Refer to the picture to the left. Red represents needle going from the back of the card to the front (or up). Black represents the needle going from the front of the card to the back (or down) Bring the needle up at 1, skip forward 8 holes and bring the needle down at 2, then up at 3, down at 4, up at 5, etc.
