At Winter’s Door

Poinsettias

After embroidering the foliage last week, today we’re tackling the most colorful part of the wreath: the poinsettias. Their large, deep red stars add sparkle and a festive touch that will bring the whole design to life.

To embroider the poinsettias, I used all the shades of red from the palette presented in the first article.

After outlining each petal with split backstitch, I edged them all with satin stitch in the most purplish shade to distinguish them from one another. The filling was then done with long and short stitch, blending the different shades of red harmoniously. I chose darker shades for the outer petals, while reserving the brightest red for the center petals to enhance the depth and vibrancy of each flower. All the embroidery was done with a single thread to maintain delicacy and lightness.

To add the finishing touch, a few small golden beads are delicately scattered around the heart, adding a subtle yet precious sparkle.

To guide you through the process, here are some close-ups of the poinsettias on the left side of the wreath.

And close-up photos of the poinsettias on the right side of the wreath.

With the embroidery of the flowers, we are halfway through the work. Next week, we will tackle the ribbon, undoubtedly the most technical part of the design. Its loops will be worked in weave stitch, while its long strands will take shape in juxtaposed stem stitch, all combining cotton and metallic threads for a luminous and refined effect.