A bright red cardinal against the white winter snow is breathtaking, bringing color to an often gray season. Make a simple punch needle bird to dress up your tree. After the holidays, hang him in a window and enjoy him all winter long.
Finished size: 3 1/2" x 5" Ornament
Skill: 1 Time: 1 Cost: 1
You will need:
• 6-strand embroidery floss*: 744 (yellow), 816 (red), black
• 7" square of lightweight muslin fabric
• Punch needle with single thread needle
• 5" screw-type embroidery hoop
• Embroidery scissors
• Transparent thread and needle
• One black seed bead
• Two 4" cinnamon sticks
• Small piece black felt
• Small amount of fiber fill or polyester batting
• Three faux berries
• Faux pine sprig
• Fabric glue*
• Optional: Red metallic thread
Black fine tip marker, chip clip or spring-type clothespin, knitting needle or small pencil, scissors, toothpick
*The following products were used for this project: Beacon Adhesives Fabri-Tac glue • DMC embroidery floss, scissors.
Note: For product information, see end of article.
• Print and cut out pattern: 
• Follow manufacturer's directions for punch needle use.
• See photo for details and placement.
STEP 1: Preparation. Trace bird pattern onto center of muslin. Place muslin on embroidery hoop. Use screw-on hoop to keep taut.
STEP 2: Outline bird. Thread punch needle with a single strand of black embroidery floss. Outline bird three times. Fill in wing, tail, and beak details as well as outlining each three times. Clip thread close to stitching.
STEP 3: Fill in bird. Change to a single strand of red floss and fill in entire bird, replenishing thread as needed. Keep turning work over to see other side and fill in any spaces. Optional: To add sparkle, thread needle with a strand of red metallic thread and punch randomly onto body. For beak, change to a single strand of yellow floss and fill in. To keep threads from raveling, use finger to spread glue onto work side and let dry.
STEP 4: Mount bird on felt. Use fine tip embroidery scissors to cut around cardinal. Apply glue to inside edge of bird, leaving a 1" section at base of body unglued. Press cardinal onto black felt and let dry for several hours. Use scissors to cut around bird and felt. Trim any long threads from front of bird.
STEP 5: Stuff ornament. Use a knitting needle or thin pencil to gently push a tiny bit of fiber fill into opening. Glue opening closed and use a chip clip or clothespin to hold in place until dry.
STEP 6: Add details. Use permanent black tip marker to color in any white fabric edges around bird. For eye, use toothpick to glue on small seed bead.
STEP 7: Finish. Criss-cross two cinnamon sticks and glue together. When dry, glue on faux pine sprig and berries as shown. Glue on cardinal when dry. For hanger, use a sewing needle to attach a transparent thread to top of bird head and tie ends in overhand knot.
Sources:
Beacon Adhesives
beaconcreates.com
DMC Corp.
dmc-usa.com