Christmas Cardinal Stocking #49, The Victoria Sampler

The cardinal bird theme for this stocking has been with me since childhood. The beautiful red cardinal is a familiar theme, and never fails to fill me with nostalgia. My mother used to draw these sweet birds on paper, and decorate our Christmas gifts with them. This keepsake heirloom stocking is stitched with a plethora of silk flosses, gold metallic and glittering beads on rich Amsterdam Blue linen. A number of specialty stitches enhance the elegant Hardanger areas in this design. There is also a separate Hardanger cuff design at the back of the leaflet. It can be stitched and used to add a cuff to any ready-made or home- made stocking using your choice of a luxury fabric like moire, velvet or plaid taffeta! Designing this stocking was so much fun that I created several more items using the cardinal theme. A leaflet featuring the Christmas Cardinal Sampler and Cardinal Sugar-Plum ornament compliment this stocking beautifully! There is a small matching ornament in the 2004 Christmas Ornament issue of Just Cross Stitch as well. Showcase your Hardanger talents by stitching this stocking and hanging it by your fire this coming Christmas!

Christmas Cardinal Stocking Sampler

Design area: 154w x 243h (11" Wide x 17.35" High)
Model: 28ct Cashel Linen Amsterdam Blue:
Cut fabric: 16" wide x 22.5" long for stocking

Christmas Cardinal Stocking Cuff

Design area: 198w x 62h (14.15" Wide x 4.5" High)
Model: 28ct Cream Cashel Linen:
Cut fabric: 20" wide x 8" long for stocking cuff

Suggested Materials

• Kreinik #4 Braid #002 - metallic gold
• Kreinik Mori #0103 - pink lt, #0304 - salmon, #1113 - orange red, #1114 - red lt, #1117 - red, #4044 - teal med, #4046 - teal dk, #7014 - golden brown lt, #7124 - antique white and #8050 - black
• Access AVA Soie #3412 -beaver grey lt, #3341 -beige, brown med, #3843 -ash grey vy dk and #4624 - red dk
• Needlepoint Inc #974 - brown dk (med.dk brown)
• Mill Hill Seed Bead #3007 - teal
• 28ct Cashel Linen Amsterdam Blue or other choice
• Access Soie Perlee Crème - cream (or DMC Perle Cotton #8 ecru)
• DMC #12 Perle Cotton - ecru (thinnest twisted thread)