Winter Robin Ornament

A side-facing robin with a warm breast perches on a berry branch.

44 × 44squares

759full crosses

6colors

Design size

3.14 × 3.14 in

Cut at least 9.25 × 9.25 in of Aida

The project bundle includes the complete symbol chart, DMC thread list, stitch order and illustrated finishing plan. See the finishing steps.

Stitch mode

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Your colors & materials

Estimate includes 20% extra. Tension and thread travel can change usage.

Symbol & color	Stitches	Single-strand length	Skein equivalent	Buy if needed
A DMC 433 - Medium Brown	424	10.83 m	0.226	1 skein
B DMC 3830 - Terra Cotta	199	5.14 m	0.107	1 skein
C DMC 712 - Cream	66	1.77 m	0.037	1 skein
D DMC 336 - Navy Blue	31	0.84 m	0.018	1 skein
E DMC 367 - Dark Pistachio Green	27	0.76 m	0.016	1 skein
F DMC 326 - Very Dark Rose	12	0.44 m	0.009	1 skein

A six-strand 8 m skein supplies 48 m of single strands. Use matching colors from your stash, or buy at least one skein per color. Screen colors are a guide.

Use the listed DMC Article 117 six-strand cotton numbers for this palette. Names and numbers were checked against the manufacturer list; screen swatches are illustrations, not calibrated thread colors. Compare real skeins before stitching. These projects have not been physically sample-stitched.

DMC Article 117 number and name list · 6 selected thread colors; sewing thread is separate.

Also gather a blunt tapestry needle, a hoop and scissors. Estimated stitching time: 4.8–8.4 hours at 90–160 stitches/hour. This estimate has not been timed by a stitcher.

From first stitch to finish

Body

Work the brown body around the center, leaving the breast and belly cells for their own colors.
Head and tail

Continue into the brown head, then count left to the pointed tail; check the tail top separately from the back.
Breast and belly

Fill the red-brown breast and narrow ivory belly, following their curved shared edge.
Face and feet

Add the navy beak, small eye and two legs. Count the eye from the head edge before securing its short tail.
Branch

Work the branch below the feet, the two green leaves and red berry; restart across any unstitched gap.
Check the perch

Check that the feet meet the branch and the beak stays distinct. Secure tails and use the rectangular ornament finish around the full chart.

This design includes 2 intentional single stitches in details or stepped edges. End and restart the thread when a gap is longer than five squares.

From stitches to a finished piece

Winter Robin Ornament · 14 count Aida

A flat hanging ornament

Fold a stitched front onto felt, secure a ribbon loop inside and sew the edges into a flat decoration.

Whole chart: 3.14 × 3.14 inIncludes the empty chart squares.
Working cloth: 9.25 × 9.25 inStart with this larger piece while stitching.
Finishing trim: 4.39 × 4.39 inCut this only after stitching and all fit checks.
Finished size: 3.64 × 3.64 inThe visible finished object.
Backing: 3.64 × 3.64 inDry fit before attaching.

The entered dimensions fit. Measure your supplies before cutting.

There is room to sew both ribbon ends securely to the felt.
The 9.25 × 9.25 in working cloth contains the entire finishing trim line.

Visible border on every side: 0.25 inBlank cloth between the chart and folded edge.
Fold allowance on every side: 0.38 inThis allowance turns to the back; it is not extra visible border.
Hanging ribbon: 6.00 in longFold in half and overlap each end 0.75 in inside. Approximate free loop length: 2.25 in.

Finishing supplies

Completed Aida and felt backing
Narrow ribbon, matching sewing thread and a sharp hand-sewing needle
Ruler, scissors, removable marker and clips

These are measured-layout plans and original assembly diagrams. Fabric stretch, bulk, tape adhesion and the finished object have not been physically sample-tested. Make a paper dry fit and measure your actual supplies before cutting.

Diagrams are not full-size templates. Use the written dimensions and check any printer scale before tracing.

1. Mark the finished outline
Keep the full chart and 0.25 in of visible blank cloth on every side. Mark a finished rectangle 3.64 × 3.64 in. Add 0.38 in outside each edge for the fold allowance.
Check: The smaller rectangle is the finished edge; the outer rectangle is the cut line.
Mark the finished outline · schematic, not to scale
2. Cut front and backing separately
After securing tails, cut the Aida to 4.39 × 4.39 in and felt to 3.64 × 3.64 in. Leave the Aida corners intact. The felt uses the finished dimensions, without the Aida fold allowance.
Check: Both pieces are square; the Aida is larger than the felt.
Cut front and backing separately · schematic, not to scale
3. Fold the Aida edges inward
Place the stitched face down. Fold long edges to the back by 0.38 in, then short edges by the same amount. Clip instead of gluing so the folds can be adjusted.
Check: The visible border stays on the front and all raw Aida edges turn inside.
Fold the Aida edges inward · schematic, not to scale
4. Anchor the hanging loop
Fold a 6.00 in ribbon in half. Put both ends 0.75 in onto the inner face of the felt at the top centre. Sew through each end and felt several times, keeping the loop untwisted.
Check: Tug gently on the loop before adding the front. Reseat loose stitches; the outer edge seam alone should not hold the ribbon.
Anchor the hanging loop · schematic, not to scale
5. Sandwich the ribbon ends
Place the folded Aida front over the inner felt face, with the stitched face out. The ribbon ends and raw folds sit between the two layers; only the loop projects above the top. Clip the edges level.
Check: Check both faces and the top centre before stitching the seam.
Sandwich the ribbon ends · schematic, not to scale
6. Whip stitch the flat edge
Hide a knot between the layers. Pass the needle through the felt edge and folded Aida, around the edge and through both again about 3–4 mm ahead. Sew all four edges without stuffing. Add extra passes at the ribbon ends and bury the tail inside.
Check: Thread holds the layers together without curling the edge. Any open corner gets another small stitch.
Whip stitch the flat edge · schematic, not to scale
7. Inspect and hang the decoration
Gently test the loop and examine every seam on both sides. Ease and resew any puckered area. Hang indoors from a secure hook, away from heat and moisture. The ribbon loop is for a light decoration, not a load-bearing strap.
Check: Front and back lie flat, anchors remain covered and the loop cannot pull out.
Inspect and hang the decoration · schematic, not to scale