Start on the bottom left of the canvas with the the white ornament highlights. Stitch in Bleach using Continental or Basketweave stitches. I personally use Continental on the smaller sections, and Basketweave on the white stripes.

For the light blue stripes, stitch in Robin's Egg using Basketweave stitch.

For the dark blue stripes, use Royal with Basketweave stitch.

Move onto the ornament outline details. Stitch in Black using Continental. For the ornament caps, keep using Black, but think about switching to Basketweave.

For the silvery ornament background color, use Dove with Basketweave stitch.

Salmon Diamond Ornament

Stay near the bottom of the canvas, but shift to the center to stitch the salmon diamond ornament. Again, start with the highlights, using Bleach with Continental stitch.

For the splashes of pink, use Salmon with Basketweave stitch.

Move onto the ornament outline details, stitching in Black with Continental. For the ornament caps, use Black with Basketweave.

Finish up with the the ornament background color, using Dove with Basketweave stitch.

Ball Ornament with Star

For the rightmost ornament on the toe of the stocking, we'll (again) start the highlights, using Bleach with Continental stitch.

For the light green stripe, use Mint with Basketweave stitch.

Next, work the light blue stripe, stitching in Robin's Egg with Basketweave stitch.

Move to the ornament outline details, stitching in Black using Continental. For the ornament caps, use Black with Basketweave.

Next, we'll move to the center section of the ornament, anchored by the black star outline. Stich the red accents around the star, using Scarlet with Continental stitch.

For the pink background color behind the star, use Salmon with Continental stitch.

Finish up this starry area with the yellow background color around the star, using Gold with Basketweave stitch.

Finally stitch the silver ornament background color, using Dove with Basketweave stitch.

Red Striped Ornament

Move on to the true center of the canvas, to the red striped ornament. For the highlights, use Bleach with Continental or Basketweave stitches. I would use Basketweave on the large white, triangular section on the top right of the ornament.

Next, work on the red accents, using Scarlet with Basketweave stitch.

For ornament outline details, stitch in Black using Continental. For the ornament caps, use Black with Basketweave.

Finish up with the silvery ornament background color. Use Dove with Basketweave stitch.

Green Striped Ball Ornament

At the top left of the canvas is the green striped ball ornament. No surprises here! For the highlights, use Bleach with Continental stitch.

For the ornament outline details, stitch in Black using Continental. For the ornament caps, use Black with Basketweave.

For lightest green tone, use Mint stitching in Basketweave.

For darker green tone, use Fir with Basketweave stitch.

Finish up with the few sections of the silver ornament background color, using Dove with Basketweave stitch.

Salmon and Gold Curved Ornament

Finally, finish up the ornaments by moving to the top right of the canvas for the curvy salmon and gold ornament. Work the white highlights, using Bleach with Continental or Basketweave stitches. Much like the first ornament, I use Continental on the smaller sections, and Basketweave on the white stripes.

For the large yellow stripe in the center of the ornament, use Gold with Basketweave stitch.

For the smaller pink stripes, use Salmon with Basketweave stitch.

For ornament outline details, stitch in Black using Continental. For the ornament caps, use Black with Basketweave.

You're almost finished with all of the ornaments! For the silver background color, stitch with Dove using Basketweave stitch.

Tree Branches

You may find yourself wanting to completely stitch one branch at a time using all three colors. Or you may want to stitch all of the Olive sections, then all of the Jade, etc. Neither way is right or wrong. I actually did a bit of both when stitching this stocking!

These branches are feathery, especially at the edges. It's easy to get carried away with stitching one color and encroach a little on another. I wouldn't get too worked up if I missed a stitch here or there, or accidentally used the wrong color in a place or two. Just make sure to go back at the end of your work to ensure all the intersections are covered.

I often find it's hardest to see the difference between shades of green. For that reason, I always stitch one of the lighter green tones first to make it easier to see for myself. For the lightest, yellowy-green tone on branches, use Olive with Basketweave stitch. This color is in the center of each of the branches.

Follow-up with the mid-green tone that surrounds the Olive green color. Use Jade with Basketweave stitch.

Finally, fill in darkest section of the branch backgrounds. Use Black with Basketweave stitch.

Name Area

Here's a how-to video showing how I stitch our classic lettering style in Scarlet & Wine, but the same principles apply if you’re stitching a different colorway, or even a different font!

Deep Dive: Stitching Your Name >

I stitch one letter at a time and one color at a time. I tend to tie off between letters, just to keep everything super crisp. I think it’s especially important to do this if you’re stitching a name with a white background. It’s less important if you have a dark background behind the name because the thread tails are unlikely to show through. To keep things easy for myself, I just tie off between letters 🙂

Name

You’re almost there! For the name, I actually change the order I stitch in.

I first stitch the lighter green, main color of the name in Continental, using Jade. I keep every letter separate, without long, connecting thread tails. So I would start with a new knot for each letter and tie off each yarn when I’m finished with the letter. This probably isn’t totally necessary, but I want the name to be super crisp, with no chance of thread tails showing through the white name plate.

Finally, I fill in the darker green name accents using Half-Cross to add detail, using Forest.

Nameplate

After you stitch the name, you should fill in the nameplate background.

White yarn is notoriously thin — it’s because there’s no dye to thicken the fibers — so you must stitch in Basketweave. If your yarn is looking very thin, particularly with crewel wool, you may want to add another strand of yarn.

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