Christmas trees - FREE Pattern

Happy start of December to everyone!
I don't know about you, but to me this last month of the year has a nasty habit of sneaking up on me and I find myself completely surprised it is 'that time of year' again already. But last week I found myself stitching Christmas decorations.

I suddenly had the idea for a couple of new Christmas ornaments and I figure you have to do these things when inspiration hits you, Right?. Besides, I haven't made any since I did Starry Night (and that was much longer than I thought) so it was about time.

I drew up a simple Christmas tree shape, scattered some dots over it, grabbed some of my favourite coloured threads (yes, blues) and started stitching Starbursts

Each starburst is a group of pistil stitches, worked from the centre out. First 6 longish (10-12mm) then shorter ones between.
To brighten it up a bit, I added crisp white straight stitches between the pistil stitches - for more bling, you could use silver or gold, but I kind of like the more subtle highlight of white against the linen.
I bead in the middle and BINGO you have a starburst...

Of course, as always, my mind makes up new ideas while I stitch...
        ... how about a bauble??

So same tree, same dots, only for the baubles, I drew a small circle around each dot (about 8mm in diameter. Then set to work make whipped back stitch spots.

For this size spot, I used two strands of cotton and eight spokes for the whipping. They still ended up not quite covering the marked lines, so I added a fine white outline and used the same thread to stitch a 'hanging loop' and bow at the top.
A sparkly bead in the middle, and there's a bauble.

I just love the texture of whipped back stitch (or whipped spider's web).
So my trees were ready to be put together, only it would be nice to have something on the back...

... I used the wording from the Starry Night ornaments. I really don't like doing the same thing twice, so while embroidering this one, I wondered if the second would look pretty just with scattered beads.
I used the same clear beads but stitched them on with bright blue thread for a bit of colour. They still looked a bit sparse... so I decided to add some French knots around each and so ended up with pretty snowflakes...

... Snowflakes way too pretty to go on the back!
I now had three pretty fronts so found some fabric in my stash to go on the back of two of them.

The original plan had been to make another set of Christmas tree ornaments to go on my big tree but instead I decided to make them into 'real' trees. After sewing them up, and partially filling them, I added sticks from the garden for trunks before finishing each with beads around the edges...

I was going to go to the craft store and get some tiny terracotta pots and air-drying clay to sit them in, but I think I rather like them growing amongst my succulents...

I know this is a busy time of year for everyone, but I have added the pattern HERE if anyone would like to make one or two... and they really don't take long.

Happy December, Happy Sunday
Anna XX