Twelve Days of Christmas

Embroidery Kit

Embroidery kit with various colored threads, an embroidery hoop, a needle with a piece of fabric, and a Christmas-themed embroidery pattern, all arranged on a white surface with festive greenery.

Welcome!

12 Days of Christmas Kit Overview

Embroidery embroidered on white fabric in a wooden hoop features various colorful characters and animals celebrating Christmas, including dancers, birds, a soldier, a drummer, a swan, a goose, and the phrase 'Best Wishes of Christmas' at the bottom.

Kit Contents Include:

  • Box to hold materials

  • Instructional brochure

  • Fabric with design printed on it

  • 6-inch beechwood hoop

  • 3 embroidery needles

  • 7 DMC embroidery floss colors:

    • Medium Blue - DMC 322

    • Pewter Gray - DMC 413

    • Copper - DMC 920

    • Gold - DMC 783

    • Light Red - DMC 351

    • White - DMC 712

    • Green - DMC 470

  • Bonus gold sparkly thread ✨

Line art illustration of holiday-themed figures including a ballerina, acrobat, soldier, and musicians, surrounded by birds and swans, with the caption '12 Days of Christmas' at the bottom.

Getting Started

  • Separate the two hoops. Center the fabric design on top of the smaller hoop, then secure it taught with the larger hoop on top. Tighten the fastener at the top, pulling the canvas tight at the same time to create a smooth, even surface to work with.

  • Each piece of floss is composed of 6 individual strands. You can separate these out to create thinner and thicker lines when embroidering.

  • Cut about an arm’s length of embroidery floss at a time and separate out your desired number of strands. Tie both ends in a double knot to keep the thread in place in the back as you begin.

  • As you stitch, be sure to keep tension in the thread — but don’t stitch so tight that it puckers.

  • And if you make a mistake or don’t like the look of something, cut it out and start that section again!

Types of Stitches in This Pattern

  • Black and white illustration of embroidery split stitch instructions.

    Split Stitch

    Good for outlines and text. You could also use split back stitch or back stitch to achieve these outlines.

    Begin with a straight line. Pierce this stitch from the bottom (1) and go back down a stitch away (2). Repeat (3).

    WATCH TUTORIAL
  • Black and white illustration of embroidery satin stitch instructions.

    Satin Stitch

    Good for filling in larger spaces.

    Begin with a straight line (1,2). Come back up from the same side as 1 to maintain stitch direction (3). Repeat to fill shape.

    WATCH TUTORIAL
  • Black and white illustration of embroidery french knot instructions.

    French Knot

    Makes small knot-shaped circles. A colonial knot stitch would also work here.

    Wrap thread around the needle and place the needle tip back near the exit point (2). Pull the thread taught while pulling the needle smoothly through to create a knot.

    WATCH TUTORIAL
  • Black and white illustration of embroidery chain stitch instructions.

    Chain Stitch

    Good for lettering and filling in space with texture. Looks like lines of loops connected to each other.

    Bring needle up and down in the same hole (1), but don’t pull it all the way through — leave a loop. Then bring the needle up through the middle of the loop (2) and pull slowly to tighten the thread. Bring needle back down through 2 and repeat.

    WATCH TUTORIAL
  • Black and white illustration of embroidery seed stitch instructions.

    Seed Stich

    Results in scattered stitches in random directions. Can be all separate or overlapped.

    WATCH TUTORIAL

How to Stitch the Design

There is no wrong way to fill out this piece! But I recommend tacking one “Day of Christmas” design each day, beginning with — you guessed it — a partridge. Below, you’ll find instructions for a suggested way to complete each these designs, along with a close up photo to see the details, but feel free to change things up and get creative! Use different colors, stitch styles, and lines.

Jump to: First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth

hand embroidered partridge in a pear tree

First Day of Christmas

A Partridge in a Pear Tree

  • Use 1-2 strands of 920 to outline the brown parts of the bird using split stitch. Then, fill in the brown sections using satin stitch and lines. Outline the pear stem as well.

  • Use 1-2 strands of 783 to outline the belly using split stitch, and the pear leaves using satin stitch.

  • Use 1-2 strands of 351 to outline the legs using split stitch, and the beak using satin stitch.

  • Us 1-2 strands of 413 to fill in the eye area using satin stitch. Use 1 strand to make the eye shape with split stitch, and 1 strands to make the pupil using french knot.

  • Use 2-3 strands of 470 to fill in the branch and pear using satin stitch.

hand embroidered two turtle doves

Second Day of Christmas

Two Turtle Doves

  • Use 1-2 strands of 322 to outline the birds using split stitch. If you want, you can use french knot to add in some detail to the body.

  • Use 1-2 strands of 783 to fill in the feet and beaks using satin stitch.

  • Use 2-3 strands of 920 to outline the branch using straight lines.

  • Use 1 strand of 413 to make the eye shapes with split stitch, and 1 strand to make the pupils using french knot.

hand embroidered french hen

Third Day of Christmas

French Hens

  • Use 1-2 strands of 413 to outline the body using split stitch. Use 1 strand to make the eye shapes with split stitch, and 1 strand to make the pupils using french knot.

  • Use 2-3 strands of 712 to fill out the inner body detail using split stitch. If you like, add french knots by its foot as pictured.

  • Use 1-2 strands of 351 to fill in the hen’s red head details as pictured using satin stitch

  • Use 1-2 strands of 782 to fill in the beak using satin stitch, and the feet using split stitch.

hand embroidered calling bird

Fourth Day of Christmas

Calling Birds

  • Use 1-2 strands of 920 to outline the wing, including the detail, using split stitch.

  • Use 1-2 strands of 351 to outline the remainder of the bird and its tail using split stitch and straight lines.

  • Use 1-2 strands of 783 to fill in the beak using satin stitch.

  • Use 1 strand of 413 to make the eye shape with split stitch, and 1 strand to make the pupil using french knot. Make the music notes with single lines and satin stitch.

hand embroidered gold ring

Fifth Day of Christmas

Gold Rings

  • Use 3-4 strands of 783 to make the circular ring using chain stitch.

  • Use 3-4 strands of 351 to make the bow using split stitch for the loops, straight lines for the parts hanging down, and french knot for the center.

hand embroidered goose a-laying

Sixth Day of Christmas

Geese A-Laying

  • Use 1-2 strands of 322 to outline the goose as well as its wing detail using split stitch.

  • Use 1 strand of 413 to make the eye shape with split stitch, and 1 strand to make the pupil using french knot. Use 1-2 strands to fill in the beak using satin stitch.

  • Use 2-3 strands of 920 and 783 to create the nest using seed stitch. These randomized stitches should overlap to fill in the shape.

Embroidery of a swan with a white yarn body, orange beak, and black eye on fabric, with pencil sketches of clouds and other elements in background.

Seventh Day of Christmas

Swans A-Swimming

  • Use 3-4 strands of 712 to outline the body and its detail using split stitch.

  • Use 1-2 strands of 783 to fill in the beak using satin stitch.

  • Use 1 strand of 413 to make the eye shape with split stitch, and 1 strand to make the pupil using french knot.

Embroidery of a woman dressed as a sailor, holding a hat over her head, with a swan nearby, on fabric held in a wooden hoop.

Eighth Day of Christmas

Maids A-Milking

  • Use 2-3 strands of 322 to fill in the dress. bodice and skirt using satin stitch.

  • Use 1-2 strands of 783 to fill in the hair using satin stitch.

  • Use 2-3 strands of 413 to outline the pail handle using chain stitch. Using 1-2 strands, outline the remainder of the pail, the hands, and the face and mouth and eyes using split stitch.

  • Use 2-3 strands of 712 to fill in the milk in the pail using split stitch.

Embroidery of a ballerina in a red tutu with black hair, accompanied by two embroidered swans on white fabric.

Ninth Day of Christmas

Ladies Dancing

  • Use 2-3 strands of 351 to fill in the tutu using satin stitch. Then, outline the leotard bodice using split stitch. Fill in and outline the shoes and their ribbons as well.

  • Use 1-2 strands of 413 to outline the legs, arms, and face using split stitch. Fill in the bun and hair using satin stitch.

Close-up of embroidery showing a dancing fairy with red hair, green wings, black pants, and orange shoes, stitched on white fabric.

Tenth Day of Christmas

Lords A-Leaping

  • Use 2-3 strands of 470 to outline the jacket with split stitch, and fill it in with french knots.

  • Use 2-3 strands of 413 to fill in the pants using satin stitch. Use 1 strand to outline the hands and face.

  • Use 2-3 strands of 783 to fill in the boots using satin stitch

  • Use 2-3 strands of 712 to fill in the ascot using satin stitch.

  • Use 2-3 strands of 920 to fill in the hair using satin stitch.

Embroidery of a woman playing a flute, dressed in colorful traditional attire with a green skirt, orange leggings, and a yellow headscarf, on fabric with other embroidered figures.

Eleventh Day of Christmas

Pipers Piping

  • Begin with 1-2 strands of 920 to fill in the torso using satin stitch.

  • Use 2-3 strands of 470 to fill in the skirt and arms using satin stitch, and the puffy sleeves using split stitch. Fill in the feed using split stitch and satin stitch, as well as the middle portion of the hat using satin stitch.

  • Use 2-3 strands of 738 to fill in the legs, instrument, and lower portion of the hat all using satin stitch. Fill in the feather using split stitch.

  • Use 1-2 strands of 413 to outline the face and its features, as well as the hands.

Close-up of colorful embroidery depicting a man in traditional military uniform with tall hat, and a woman dressed in a green and orange outfit, on a white fabric background.

Twelfth Day of Christmas

Drummers Drumming

  • Use 1-2 strands of 351 to fill in the shirt and hat using satin stitch.

  • Use 1-2 strands of 470 to fill in the legs using satin stitch.

  • Use 1-2 strands of 920 to outline the drum using split stitch, and add in detail using seed stitch.

  • Use 1-2 strands of 413 to outline the face, hands, and feet using split stitch. Use 2-3 strands to create the hair using french knot.

  • Use 2-3 strands of 783 to add the suspenders and the brim of the hat using straight stitches and/or split stitch. Finish by adding in the drumsticks around the hand shapes.

Final Touches…

If you haven’t already, fill out the “12 Days of Christmas” text at the bottom with 920 using chain stitch. And finally(!), be sure to use the bonus golden thread to make the stars throughout the piece, and use it to add in any other small details you like, such as hints of gold in the text at the bottom. It’s recommended to fold it over a few times to create a thicker strand, but it’s not necessary.

Finishing the Hoop

There are a number of ways to finish the back of the hoop once you’re done. One method:

  • Thread a needle with more than enough thread to go all the way around the circle – whatever you have leftover.

  • Then, using large running stitches, working about ¼ inch from the fabric edge, sew the excess cloth around the circle.

  • When you reach the beginning, pull both ends of thread to gather the fabric tightly and secure with a double knot.

  • Here’s a video for how to do this. Or if you have felt at home, consider giving this method a try!

And if you have hot glue at home, another method is to cut the excess fabric, leaving about a ¼ inch around the edge of the hoop. Then, hot glue the cut edges down along the inside hoop at the back.

Embroidery hoop with colorful holiday-themed embroidery of dancers, animals, and the phrase 'Merry Christmas' on a wooden surface with pine branches.
Colorful embroidered elements depicting the 12 Days of Christmas on fabric, including a ballerina, a piper, a lord, a drummer, a maid, a swan, a goose, and more with text that reads '12 Days of Christmas'.
A Christmas-themed embroidery hoop with various holiday characters and symbols, surrounded by pine branches and colored thread on a white surface.

Once you’re done, post a photo of your finished piece, tag @needleandspruce, and use the hashtag #needleandspruce! We love to see your creations! 🌲

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