This holiday ornament is an Embroidery Free-For-All. My goal was a look of thick and random branches. For a neat-nick accustomed to counting Every Stitch, this was more challenging than you might expect! I suppose it was also liberating.

I never planned to share this as a "technique" until Needlework Nutshell reader (and non-stitcher), Chrissie, mentioned liking the messy back-side image from the Overdyed Thread Tutorial.

First, I backstitched the tree shape on the fabric. Combining 2 strands of DMC 501 with 1 strand of DMC 503, I stitched a bunch of straight stitches, every which way, overlapping, heaping, cramming. Along the edges, I carried the straight stitches over the backstitched outline to hide it. I planned to cut the shape out, so I opted not to have stray stitches (wispy branches) beyond the outline, though the idea was tempting.

The result was a dense piece of needlework, and I liked that look of randomness and depth. I considered stopping there, but decided to decorate the tree, too. I stitched red (DMC 321) satin-stitch balls, layering the stitches for a padded look. It was hard to get good circles on the uneven surface, but I decided that the irregular shapes were the result of branches obscuring the view! Small white French knots (DMC 1), a gold chain-stitch garland, and eyelet-style star (Kreinik #8 braid, 002 gold) completed the decorations.

To finish the ornament, I rubbed white glue into the back of the needlework and ground fabric to attach a wool felt backing, and to keep fabric edges from fraying when cut out. I pressed a square of wool felt to the back, running my finger around the edges several times to assure a good bond. After the glue dried overnight, I used sharp scissors to cut around the tree very close to the stitching. With a sharp needle (not a tapestry needle), I ran thin gold cord through the center of the star for a hanger.

What a treat to look at embroidery through a non-needleworkers eyes. Thanks, Chrissie! An Embroidery Free-For-All can have interesting and worthwhile results.

Mike and Jen Funk Weber Funk & Weber Designs 35232 W Pinochle Trail Sutton, AK 99674 (360) 546-2800 mail@funkandweber.com