Winter Woods Biscornu with The Blue Flower

Take a peek into the hidden life of the winter woods – with a group of forest creatures in a large-format biscornu design. The sides are anchored by snow-capped mountains and each corner of the biscornu features trees stretching into the center. Birds and squirrels roam the branches looking for winter berries. And the kit includes a large finishing button hand cut from Vermont wood.

You can stitch it up before class and do the finishing with me, or you can just follow along with me (and my lovely assistant Robert) on the day. Then, if you’d like to take more time, you’ll have 30 days to access the video after the Jingle Ball. I’ll also send out detailed finishing instructions after the Jingle Ball so you can use them for reference.

If you’ve never finished a biscornu before this is a great opportunity to explore this versatile technique and I hope you’ll learn to love it as much as I do.

Note on schedule – I will be traveling from October 16-20 so kits will be shipping starting October 21.

SKILLS REQUIRED: cross stitches, straight stitches, French knots and hand sewing.

CLASS OPTIONS: pdf and kit.

Option 1 - PDF only ($35) Available Worldwide – you will receive the pdf chart and a supplies list. You’ll be able to stitch your piece and bring it to class so we can go through the finishing. There probably won’t be enough time to complete the finishing during class, since it takes a while to stitch around the perimeter of the biscornu, but I’ll go through the whole process so you can see it.

This class calls for the following supplies:

• A 12 x 25 piece of 32/16 fabric. (If you’d like a different count of fabric, this will change the amount you need.) The design is two squares, each 122 stitches wide x 122 stitches high, and you won’t need much more than an inch or two of extra fabric around the sides.

• Threads – a full list is included in the pdf chart you will receive, along with a list of (approximate) DMC substitutions.

• Interfacing (and an iron or whatever is required for application depending on the interfacing you are using)

• Fill material of your choice. I use a mix of walnut shells and lavender, and sometimes add a bit of polyfill at the top.

• A chopstick or pencil to pack your fill material

• A small craft funnel (if using walnut shells)

• An ornament for the top – the model uses a wood button but you can use anything your heart desires.

• A long needle – a doll needle, or beading needle is a good option, as long as it’s at least 2-3” long.

• Fabric and thread scissors

Option 2 – Full Kit ($90) US shipping only – you will receive a printed chart and the supplies needed to stitch both biscornu halves, and to finish them together in class. These kits will be ready to ship starting October 21, so you’ll have time to stitch the design before class if you’d like to.

Included in your kit:

• 32 count “Pistachio” linen from Fiber On A Whim

• DMC threads – 300, 355, 367, 829, 945, 3011, 3371, 3820

• Cottage Garden Threads Silver Birch, Nimbus, Sleepy Cat

• Roxy Floss Co threads – Asparagus, Crème Brulee, Demerara, Frangelico, Roses Are Gold, Yes Ya’am

• Interfacing

• Decorative wood button

In addition, you’ll need the following supplies:

• Fill material of your choice. I use a mix of walnut shells and lavender, and sometimes add a bit of polyfill at the top.

• A chopstick or pencil to pack your fill material

• A small craft funnel (if using walnut shells)

• A long needle – a doll needle, or beading needle is a good option, as long as it’s at least 2-3” long.

• Fabric and thread scissors

• Iron (for interfacing application)