Christmas Bell Embroidery Design: Free Beginner Hoop

Size: design about 4.2 x 4.2 in (11 x 11 cm), for a 6 in (15 cm) hoop

Fabric: a 10 x 10 in (25 x 25 cm) square of cream or natural linen or linen-cotton, washed and pressed

Threads: DMC 6-strand embroidery floss, one skein of each colour; use 2 strands throughout. Lengths are the 2-strand thread you stitch with, with spare, cut in 18 in (45 cm) pieces:

- DMC 987 Dark Forest Green: about 24 in (61 cm)

- DMC 729 Medium Old Gold: about 72 in (183 cm)

- DMC 321 Red: about 16 in (41 cm)

Notions: 6 in embroidery hoop, size 7 embroidery needle, water-soluble fabric pen or a light pencil, scissors

Stitches: running stitch, backstitch, detached chain (lazy daisy), straight stitch, French knot

Transfer

Print the template page at 100% (actual size) and measure the 1 in scale square; if it is not exactly 1 in, check the print setting. Tape the template to a window, centre the fabric over it and trace the bell, its two bands, the clapper, the hanger, the bow, the four twinkles and the ring with the pen.

Put the fabric in the hoop so it is drum tight, with the screw at the top.

Stitch guide

Running stitch: Bring the needle up on the line, go down 1/8 in further along, come up again 1/16 in on, and repeat, so you get even dashes with gaps between them.

Backstitch: Bring the needle up one stitch length along the line, go down at the start of the line, then come up one stitch length ahead of your last stitch and go back down into the end of it, so the stitches touch.

Detached chain: Also called lazy daisy. Come up at the base of the petal, go back down in the same hole leaving a loop, come up at the tip of the petal inside the loop, and go down just outside the loop to tack it in place.

Straight stitch: One single stitch: come up at the inner end of the line and go down at the outer end, keeping the thread smooth and not too tight so it lies flat.

French knot: Come up where the knot goes, wrap the thread twice around the needle, hold the wraps snug with your other hand, and go down right next to where you came up, pulling the thread through slowly.

Order of work

1. Stitch the dotted green ring around the design in running stitch. DMC 987, 2 strands.
2. Backstitch the bell outline in one line, starting at the top centre: down the right side, out round the flared rim, across the bottom and back up the left side. Use shorter stitches round the rim corners so the curve stays smooth. DMC 729, 2 strands.
3. Backstitch the two band lines across the lower bell, each from the left side of the outline to the right, following the gentle curve. DMC 729, 2 strands.
4. Backstitch the small round clapper under the middle of the rim; leave the fabric between it and the rim unstitched. DMC 729, 2 strands.
5. Backstitch the short hanger straight up from the top of the bell to the centre of the bow. DMC 729, 2 strands.
6. Work the bow as four red lazy daisies from its centre: two long loops out to the sides, then two shorter tails angled down and out. DMC 321, 2 strands.
7. Add one red French knot in the middle of the bow, over the top of the hanger. DMC 321, 2 strands.
8. Work each of the four gold twinkles beside the bell as eight straight stitches from one centre point: four long ones (up, down, left, right) and four short diagonals (32 stitches). DMC 729, 2 strands.

Finishing

1. Rinse the fabric in cool water to remove the pen lines, roll it in a towel and press it face down on a soft towel.
2. Put it back in the hoop centred, tighten the screw, and trim the fabric to 1 in outside the hoop.
3. Run a running stitch around that edge, pull it up at the back like a drawstring, and tie off.

Counts: 43 running stitch dashes in the ring, 1 backstitched gold bell, 2 gold band lines, 1 gold clapper, 1 gold hanger, a red bow of 4 lazy daisies and 1 French knot, and 4 gold twinkles of 8 straight stitches each (32).