Needlepoint Stitch Guide for Mid-Century Bluebirds

A mid-century modern interpretation of two bluebirds with a fun stitch guide.

• The threads are used single-ply, just as they come, unless otherwise instructed.
• Sort your threads to make sure you know what colors go where, and that you have everything you need.
• You can start anywhere on the canvas, but we recommend stitching the detail first.
• All of these stitches are optional, and you can use any stitches you like. We have provided enough thread for basketweave and most decorative stitches.
• If you need more thread you can complete our Thread Request form.
• You can print this guide as a pdf.

Leaves—Milanese using two shades of green:

Milanese is stitched in diagonal rows. You can either stitch one shade of green and then the other, or thread two needles with the different shades and change the colors randomly as you go. Follow our model as a guide, or free-stitch and change the colors as you like. You can even stitch one leaf in one color and one leaf in another (the easiest method). What we're saying is, use your imagination and go for it!

Bird Heads—Vertical Brick Stitch:

Stitched in horizontal rows, over two intersections. 

Right Bird Body—Woven stitch:

Also stitched in horizontal rows. Use your needle to make space for the stitch as you return along the row beneath. 

Left Bird Wing—Byzantine #2 stitch:

This is an easy stitch of parallel pairs of stitches, over two intersections, stepped down on the diagonal. Compensate with shorter stitches as you go to fill the area.

Left Bird Body (Grey)—T-Stitch:

T-stitch looks a little like Skip Tent, it's just an equally pretty variation! You can start on the left or the right.

 

 

All the other stitches are Tent stitches.

Surface Embroidery:

The surface embroidery is optional. We used 2 plies of the 6-ply black cotton floss and a Back stitch to add the detail to the birds. You can thicken the thread if you prefer, or use a Wrapped Back stitch for a naturally thicker line.

We also did some surface embroidery using a back stitch and the grey thread (this is not split, use it as a single strand).

Surface embroidery is free-stitched over the underlying stitches, so use your imagination and the stitched model as a guide.

Frame this beauty in one of our 7" x 5" frames, or source one of your own. Make sure you measure before you cut in case you have to add additional rows. Framebridge.com is a convenient and relatively affordable option for custom framing.

Purchase the Mid-Century Bluebirds needlepoint kit.