You'll quickly notice that I always start with the details. It's no different here. I would start with the gray accent at the top of the dog's nose in Dove using Continental.

Then move on to the pink dog's tongue, using Rose in Continental or Basketweave, whichever you're more comfortable with. I try to use Basketweave on medium to large areas, and this is a great place to practices. But, Continental is a little easier, and will work perfectly fine for this area.

Finish up the details by stitching the dog's black face accents (his nose, mouth, and eyes) in Black using Continental or Basketweave. Choose the stitch using the same logic as the previous step.

Now, onto the dog's fur. Work the light brown mid-tone of the fur in Biscuit using Basketweave.

Stitch the lightest cream tone of the dog's fur, using in Cream and working in Basketweave.

Finally, fill in the main, muted gold color of the dog's fur in Old Gold using Basketweave.

Green Gift Under Dog

Next, let's move on to the gifts under the dog. First, the green gift!

Start with the dark red accents on the bow in Wine using Continental. For the main, bright red color of the gift bow, use Scarlet in Basketweave.

Now, onto the gift box. Stitch the dark green accent color on the top and sides of the gift box in Forest using Basketweave. Work the main, yellowy-green color of the gift box in Olive using Basketweave.

Red Gift Under Dog

Next, the red gift! Follow the same process, by stitching the bow first. Work on the dark green accents on the bow in Forest using Continental or Basketweave. For the main, yellowy-green color of the gift bow, use Olive in Basketweave.

Finish up by stitching the gift box. Find the dark red accent color on the top and side corner of the gift box, and stitch it in Wine using Continental. Then, fill the main, bright red color of the gift box in Scarlet using Basketweave. Fill the main, bright red color of the gift box in Scarlet using Basketweave.

You may have noticed that we didn't add in the white snow piled on top and around the gifts. If you want to stitch it now, you totally can. Use Bleach in Basketweave. I choose to wait until the end to stitch it at the same time as all the snow flakes swirling around the scene.

Sleigh

Now, let's move on to the sleigh! I recommend stitching the sleigh runners and body first, then move onto the gifts.

First, stitch the darkest part of the sleigh runners in Black using Continental or Basketweave, whichever you prefer. Either are fine here! Finish up the runners by working on the lighter, gray shadow n Dove using Continental or Basketweave.

Stitch the darker yellow gold details on the sleigh body in Amber using Basketweave. Finally, fill in the main, dark red color of the sleigh body, using Wine in Basketweave.

Gifts in Sleigh

Next up, the gifts in the sleigh. I've labeled them with numbers (1-5). Gift 1 is the first, leftmost gift. Gift 2 is the second gift from the left, etc etc.

Pro tip! This gift area has quite a few charming details, with quite a few thread changes :) A few tips about thread changes for small details:

• You don't have to tie off between every tiny stitch, if you're using the same color. I am a pretty lazy stitcher, so I usually do not. I do all the stitches for a given color at once, and then tie off when I'm done. I'm just careful to leave enough yarn on the back so the canvas isn't getting distorted by pulling too tightly on the back. It should be just a tiny bit slack on the back
• You don't have to start a thread with the waste knot method every single time. You can use existing stitches to bury the thread tails. On the back of the canvas, just slip a needle with unknotted thread through about 5 stitches, then bring it up through the front. Be careful not to pull too tightly on that first stitch in case your yarn slips out.

Gift 1 (Red, Pink, Blue)

Start with the light blue, main color of the bow on the front of the gift in Robin's Egg using Continental.

For the mid-tone blue shadow color of the ribbon on the side, use a few stitches of Denim in Continental.

Add the pink accent on the side of the gift box in Rose using Basketweave.

Fill the bright red, main color on the front of the gift box in Scarlet using Basketweave.

Gift 2 (Green and Red)

Stitch the bright red, main color of the bow on the front in Scarlet using Continental.

For the dark red shadow color of the bow on the side, use Wine in Continental.

Add the dark green accent on the side of the gift box in Forest using Basketweave.

Work the yellowy-green, main color on the front of the gift box in Olive using Basketweave.

Gift 3 (Red, Pink, Blue)

For the mid-tone blue shadows on the front of the gift bow, use Denim in Continental.

Stitch the light blue, main color of the bow on the front in Robin's Egg using Continental or Basketweave.

Add the darkest blue shadow of the ribbon on the side in Midnight using Continental.

Work the bright red accent on the side of the gift box in Scarlet using Basketweave.

Fill the pink main color on the front of the gift box in Rose using Basketweave.

Gift 4 (Yellow and Blue)

Stitch the dark blue accent of the ribbon and the accents on the bow in Midnight using Continental.

For the mid-blue, main color of the loopy gift bow, use Denim in Continental.

Add the darker yellow accent on the side of the gift box in Amber using Basketweave.

Work the main, lighter yellow on the front of the gift box in Gold using Basketweave.

Gift 5 (Green and Blue)

Stitch the light blue accents on the gift bow in Robin's Egg using Continental.

For the mid-blue, main color of the gift bow, use Denim in Continental or Basketweave.

Add the dark green accent on the side of the gift box in Forest using Basketweave.

Fill the yellowy-green, main color on the front of the gift box in Olive using Basketweave.

Houses

You can work the houses from left to right, or you can choose the house with the color that makes you happiest! Either way works.

Pro tip! We will be adding in some snow in this section. White yarn can sometimes look thin because it’s not plumped by dye, so for any medium or large white areas, use Bleach in Basketweave.

If you notice the yarn is looking thin, you might consider adding an extra strand for better coverage. You'll want to test this to make sure there's not a noticeable texture difference between two strands and three strands. It's easiest to do this at natural design breaks (like different elements in the illustration).

If you see a thin stitch only here or there, you can just go over it again with another stitch at the end.

Green House

Start with the black accents around windows in Black using Continental.

Add the glowing lights in the windows in Gold using Continental.

For the main brown color of the door, use Caramel in Basketweave.

Stitch the tiny white accents around windows and door, using Bleach in Continental. Move onto the white snow accents on the roof, still using Bleach but switch to Basketweave.

Work the light blue snow, main color of the roof, in Robin's Egg using Basketweave.

Add the dark green accent on the leftmost portion of the house and chimney shadows in Forest using Basketweave.

Fill the main, yellowy-green color of the house in Olive using Basketweave.

Stitch the chimney smoke in Dove using Continental.

Caramel House

Stitch the black accents around windows and in the door window in Black using Continental.

Add the glowing lights in the windows in Gold using Continental.

Stitch the tiny white accents around windows and door, using Bleach in Continental. Move onto the white snow accents on the roof, still using Bleach but switch to Basketweave.

Work the light blue snow, the main color of the roof, in Robin's Egg using Basketweave.

Stitch the main color of the door, darker accent on the leftmost portion, line under the roof eaves, and chimney shadow in Caramel using Basketweave.

Fill the lighter color of the house (smaller, leftmost, front face) in Amber using Basketweave.

Add the chimney smoke in Dove using Continental.

Pink House

Stitch the black accents around windows, on the door, and the line dividing the house in Black using Continental.

Add the glowing lights in the windows in Gold using Continental.

For the main brown color of the door, use Caramel in Basketweave.

Stitch the tiny white accents around windows and door, using Bleach in Continental. Move onto the white snow accents on the roof, still using Bleach but switch to Basketweave.

Work on the light blue snow, the main color of the roof, in Robin's Egg using Basketweave.

Add the bright red shadows on the leftmost portion of the house, red shadow under eaves, and chimney shadow in Forest using Basketweave.

Fill the main, pink color of the house in Olive using Basketweave.

Stitch the chimney smoke in Dove using Continental.

Red House

Stitch the black accents around windows and on the door in Black using Continental.

Add the glowing lights in the windows in Gold using Continental.

Stitch the tiny white accents around windows and door, using Bleach in Continental. Move onto the white snow accents on the roof, still using Bleach but switch to Basketweave.

Work on the light blue snow, the main color of the roof, in Robin's Egg using Basketweave.

Add the dark red accent on the leftmost portion of the house in Forest using Basketweave.

Fill the main, bright red color of the house and accent over the cut-off round window in Olive using Basketweave.

Stitch the chimney smoke in Dove using Continental.

Trees

Pro tip! The tree 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.

Back Group of Trees - Center Mint Tree

Stitch the darker, mid-green tone of the accents in the middle of the tree in Fir using Basketweave.

For the lighter, main color on the outer edge of the tree, use Mint in Basketweave.

Back Group of Trees - Two Jade Trees

Work the darker, mid-green tone of the accents in the middle of the trees in Fir using Basketweave.

For the lighter, main color on the outer edge of the trees, use Jade in Basketweave.

Front Trees - Left, Mint Tree

Stitch the darker, mid-green tone of the accents in the middle of the tree in Fir using Basketweave.

For the lighter, main color on the outer edge of the tree, use Mint in Basketweave.

Work the tree trunks in Caramel using Basketweave.

Front Trees - Right, Fir Tree

Stitch the lighter green tone of the accents in the middle of the tree in Jade using Basketweave.

For the darker, mid-green, main color on the outer edge of the tree, use Fir in Basketweave.

Work the tree trunks in Caramel using Basketweave.

Moon and Stars

We're getting to the final details! Stitch the moon and stars in Gold using Continental.

Name

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

I first stitch the lighter, main color of the name in Continental, using Bleach. Next, I stitch in the name accents (or shadows) in Gold, using Continental.

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 🙂

Snow

Stitch the snowflakes that are sprinkled across the canvas in Bleach using Continental. This is an area where I would not tie off between every single snowflake, but instead do a bunch of the snowflakes in the same area at once. I'm careful to leave enough yarn on the back so the canvas isn't getting distorted by pulling too tightly on the back. It should be just a tiny bit slack on the back.

I would stitch the snow drifts on the sleigh, under the sleigh runners, and piled on top and around all the gifts in Bleach using Basketweave.

Backgrounds

The big, simple blocks of color are often the very last thing I complete on any stockings. I think about it like filling in backgrounds after the details are completed.

Night Sky

Fill the night sky in Midnight using Basketweave.

Slate Blue Ground

Work the grey-blue shade of the ground in Slate using Basketweave.

Light Blue Ground

Stitch the light blue roads and ground in Robin's Egg using Basketweave.

Cream Ground