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“Yule Log Tote” by Betty Stokoe Hardanger House

originally published in A Needle Pulling Thread© Magazine Issue 48

A Needle Pulling Thread Magazine is published quarterly and offers a wonderful variety of seasonal projects including , , , rug hooking, cross-stitch, beading, , creative sewing, fibre art, and much more…all created by talented and unique Canadian designers. For complete information and to subscribe please visit: www.aneedlepullingthread.com. This document is for personal non-commercial use only and is protected by copyright. All designs, patterns, information, and photographs contained in this document are copyrighted material owned by their respective creators or owners. Except for your own personal non-commercial use, reproduction or distribution in full or in part is prohibited without the written consent of A Needle Pulling Thread Magazine. ©A Needle Pulling Thread

©A NEEDLE PULLING THREAD ● issue 48 1 Christmas evokes nostalgic memories for many of us. This Yule Log Tote ornament may serve as a reminder of cold winter nights, sitting by the fireplace and ‘putting another log on the fire’ as the embers died down. YuleYule LogLog ToteTote – Betty

skill level Intermediate finished measurements 2½” x 4½” [6 x 11cm] materials fabric • 3½” x 10” [9 x 26cm] Zweigart 25-count Lugana fabric – antique white

threads • DMC Pearl Cotton #5 – 699 for tree kloster blocks • DMC Pearl Cotton #12 – 699 and 666 for nun stitch edging • Kreinik #8 Fine Braid – 238 for diagonal cable, eyelets, and woven bars needle • tapestry needle size 22 other • embroidery with sharp point and fine blades • 3 or 4 cinnamon sticks in 4” – 5” lengths • 2” skewer to stabilize casing stitches used kloster blocks diagonal cable eyelets woven bars nun stitch edging chart each grid line = 1 fabric thread

1. Fold the fabric in half, end to end, and 4. Cut and withdraw the fabric threads finishing mark the fold line. Stitch the design so indicated on the chart. Weave the 1. Bring the short ends together and the base of the tree is approximately remaining bars using the Kreinik machine stitch a casing at the top. 1½” above the fold line. metallic thread. Make a twisted cord using 25” lengths 2. Find the vertical center by folding 5. Count 8 fabric threads beyond the of the Kreinik metallic thread and the fabric in half lengthwise. With size widest part of the tree and, using 2 red and green pearl cotton. the 5 green pearl cotton work the satin strands of #12 pearl cotton (1 each of cord through the casing for hanging. stitch kloster blocks. red and green), work the nun stitch A skewer may also be slipped in the 3. Using the Kreinik metallic thread stitch over 2 fabric threads on each of the casing to stabilize it. the diagonal cable and eyelets. long edges of the fabric. Trim away 2. Place the cinnamon stick ‘logs’ in the Note: The star at the top of the tree is an the excess fabric outside the nun tote, securing them by tying them irregular eyelet. Work it as an eyelet, noting stitch edge. together with lengths of red and the length and placement of each stitch. green thread. Pull the ends through the bottom of the tote and tie to form a tassel. ©A NEEDLE PULLING THREAD ● issue 48 Instructions 2 hardanger

CHARTS Yule Log Tote

nun stitch

Chart Legend Each line of the chart = 1 fabric thread Green 699 size 5 pearl cotton Red Kreinik #8 fine braid 238 nun stitch 1. Bring the needle up at 1 and down at 2. Being a third-generation stitcher of Norwegian descent, I grew up with my 2. Repeat in the same holes. mother’s and grandmother’s handwork gracing almost every piece of furniture in 3. Then come up at 3 and down at 2. the house. It wasn’t until I was in my 20s however that I developed an interest in Repeat. needlework and, after learning a variety of techniques, fell in love with hardanger 4. Next come up at 4 and down at 3. This embroidery. My hobby turned into a business, and Hardanger House was born. creates a diagonal stitch from 2 to 4 After selling hardanger embroidery supplies for over thirty years, I recently across the back of your work. Repeat. transitioned into focusing exclusively on designing. My line of patterns and kits 5. Continue this sequence down the can be viewed on theneedleworkpages.com as well as on my Etsy shop. length of the fabric strip. Betty Stokoe Hardanger House [email protected] Instruction photo by Betty Stokoe etsy.com/shop/HardangerHouse

©A NEEDLE PULLING THREAD ● issue 48 3