Poinsettia flower

Where do you start on a poinsettia?

At the gold center. The middle of the chart lands right inside it, so you can fold the fabric in four and begin with DMC 19 at the crease. The center is small, only 81 stitches, and every petal grows out of it, which saves a lot of counting later.

Pick up red 347 next and work the four bright petals at the top, bottom and sides. The four dark petals in garnet 816 fill the spaces between them. Green 910 comes last, because the leaves only peek out at the corners and the petals have already drawn most of their outline by then. The flower is close to symmetrical, so the first finished quarter shows how the other three will go.

What can trip you up on this chart?

Full crosses and large solid areas keep this an easy Christmas cross stitch pattern, about 16 hours of work. The two reds need the most attention. Threads 347 and 816 sit side by side all over the flower and are easy to confuse under an evening lamp, so keep the skeins labeled and do the changeovers in good light.

The green leaves narrow to a thin strip around the dark petals. All four are separated by petals, and carrying the thread from one to the next is a bad idea, since dark green shows through pale fabric. Finish off and start again at each leaf.

Which fabric suits it, and how can you finish it?

The background stays unstitched. White Aida keeps both reds crisp, and cream gives the flower a warmer look. On red fabric the petals melt into the background, and on a dark cloth the garnet and the green disappear.

The square format fits a square card, or a round hoop that stays on as the frame. Backed with felt and given a ribbon loop, it hangs on the tree as an ornament. Stitched several times along an edge or in the corners, the motif can also dress a tablecloth or a napkin for the holiday table.