Susan Bates - Designing the “Holiday Magic” Patterns for StitchableCards

Nothing evokes the holiday season more than a Christmas tree, so to kick off this set of designs I’ve created a design which prominently features a stylised Christmas tree, adorned with colourful decorations. The tree is rendered in a soft green shade which transitions subtly through to darker tones towards the base. Interspersed amongst the branches are cheerful stylised red flowers and golden yellow curving stems and leaves. These decorations add a pretty pop of colour to the design. At the top of the tree, a star glimmers in a golden hue, symbolising the iconic tree topper often associated with Christmas. The pale pink background gives the piece a slightly more contemporary look and a couple of sprigs of holly at the top of the design help to complete the festive look.

Who doesn’t love a cheeky Christmas elf? Elves are well know for their mischievous spirit, and my elf is no exception! This elf's face exudes a cheerful expression, accentuated by a gentle pink blush on his cheeks. Dark, expressive eyes with a hint of mischief shine beneath his neatly embroidered eyebrows. He sports a distinctive red and green stripy hat, topped with a fluffy white pompom, which complements his green and red striped tunic. The red and green shades of the elf’s outfit stand out against the soft warm yellow threads in the background. Overall, this design has a playful theme, which adds to its whimsical appeal.

For the heart-shaped template shape a robin occupies centre stage. The robin is often associated with the festive season, although in the UK and Europe you can see them all year round. In the winter they are a welcome visitor to the garden with their colourful red plumage that stands out against the frosty and snowy landscape. My robin here is depicted in rich hues of brown and vibrant red. He’s perched on a delicate branch, surrounded by lush green leaves and red berries and all of this is set against a pale blue wintery sky. The design encapsulates a whimsical, festive atmosphere, which I hope you’ll love.

For this final design in the set the circular-shaped template showcases a charming moose adorned with a colourful scarf. The moose's expressive face, characterised by its distinctive features, such as large antlers and gentle eyes, captures your attention immediately. The antlers are a rich brown, contrasting strikingly with the lighter shades of the animal's fur. The scarf, knitted in a playful pattern of red and green stripes, adds a further festive touch. The moose’s gaze suggests friendliness and inquisitiveness. Is he perhaps looking for Father Christmas?! A serene winter landscape is shown in the background. Soft green trees rise in the background, their tips dusted with white, evoking the feeling of a snowy atmosphere. The subtle pale blue sky, suggests a clear winters day. The colour scheme throughout the design is vibrant yet harmonious and makes a fun pattern to stitch.

These designs were such fun to create! I’ve included a range of festive themed motifs, in order to try and capture the joyous feel of this time of year. I hope you’ll love my designs and really enjoy stitching them up. If you create them now you’ll have plenty of time to make them to give to loved ones over the festive holiday season! The completed stitched pieces could be used on greetings cards or gift tags, or even just given as a little embroidered picture.