At Winter’s Door

The ribbon and the mistletoe

After last week’s flamboyant display of poinsettias, today we continue with a more delicate but equally essential element: the ribbon.

I chose to work this section with cream yarn combined with gold metallic thread, a combination that highlights the preciousness of this pattern. Its strands slip and intertwine among the foliage with elegant sophistication, giving the pattern a subtle sparkle reminiscent of holiday decorations.

We will also discuss embroidering mistletoe berries, for which I have introduced two new threads, visible in the photos below.

Ribbon embroidery

The outer parts of the loops are worked in weave stitch, alternating the two threads: two passes over and under with the cream thread, then two passes with the gold thread. This regular weaving creates a shiny surface that mimics the look of satin ribbon.

The inner parts of the loops and the long sections of ribbon are embroidered using a juxtaposed stem stitch, using two strands of cream thread and one strand of gold thread. The combination of these two textures creates a subtle sparkle and ensures the continuity of the pattern.

The entire ribbon is then outlined with backstitching using gold metallic thread to define its contours and accentuate the elegance of its movements.

Finally, the center of the knot is embroidered using a satin stitch with cream thread, then covered with a simple lattice stitch in gold thread to give it more relief and shine.

The embroidery of mistletoe berries

To embroider the mistletoe berries, I chose to play with two complementary textures to give depth to this small, single-color motif, which might otherwise be lost among the richness of the other elements of the wreath.

Some berries are made using satin stitch with silk thread, which creates a smooth, slightly shiny surface. Others, however, are embroidered using French knots with Perle thread, which adds roundness and subtle texture suited to the fleshy nature of berries.

Here are the colors I used to embroider the bow and mistletoe.

Perle cotton 84C Birch

House of Embroidery

To guide you through the process, here are some close-up shots of the knot and the mistletoe.

We are slowly approaching the end of this project, just in time for Christmas. Next week, we will add the finishing touches with the embroidery of the series of Christmas balls hanging in the center of the wreath, a final creative moment that will illuminate the entire design.