Materials:
Stitched piece
Thread to match fabric - 1 strand of DMC will suffice
Perle cotton No 12
Needle
Pins
Basting thread
Stuffing
Ribbon
Usual needleroll finishing instructions will now tell you to finish with rights sides together and then turn inside out. Please note these instructions are different - all finishing is done with the right side out!
Working on the back of your stitching:
Count up 26 fabric threads from the top of the stitching and remove the next 4 horizontal fabric threads. This space is for your ribbon.
Count up a further 26 fabric threads and remove the next 3 fabric threads. This space will be for your hem-stitching.
Count up a further 12 fabric threads and remove the 13th thread. This is a fold line.
Count up a further 11 fabric threads and remove the 12th thread. This is a fold line.
Count up a further 9 fabric threads and remove the 10th thread. This will be your cutting line.
Turn your stitching upside down and repeat the above.
Your piece should look like this at both top and bottom of your linen.
Do NOT cut anything yet!
On the front side of your stitching, in the space marked 'Space for back-stitching', back-stitch over 4 vertical threads with No 12 Perle cotton pulling the stitch fairly taut.
Once the back-stitching is done on both top and bottom you can cut across the cutting lines and begin to fold - firstly on the fold line and then on the back-stitch line so the 'picots' lie at the top of the 'Space for hem-stitching'
Firstly pin and then baste the hem in place with basting thread and remove the pins. Do not try to miss out any of these steps as it is far easier to hem-stitch with a basted hem than a pinned hem. Can you see the back-stitching standing proud on the top of the hem?
Now for the hem-stitching picking up 3 threads using the thread to match your fabric. If you are using DMC use 1 strand.
Your piece should now look like this:
Once you have completed the hem-stitching on the top and bottom of the needleroll you now count out 11 threads from the side of the stitching and back-stitch over four threads in the next line of 'holes' again with perle cotton number 12 but this time do NOT pull tight. Count out a further 20 threads and remove the 21st thread. This is your cutting line. Repeat this on the other side of the stitching.
Cut away the excess fabric on both cutting lines. It should now look like this. Seems a shame to cut off some of the beautiful hem-stitching doesn't it?
Overlock/serge the cut edge and then finger press along the back-stitching on both sides
Bring the two sets of back-stitching together and catching these stitches only to join the sides together. The cut/overlocked edges will now be on the inside of the roll. Tuck in any threads from your overlocking/serging.
Mark the centres both top and bottom of the design
Thread your ribbon over and under two threads working your way back to where you started. Do not pull yet but repeat on both top and bottom. Once your ribbon is threaded pull the bottom ribbon tight and tie but leave the ends hanging.
Now stuff your needle roll firmly and once you are satisfied the roll in the right shape - roll it between your hands. Pull tight and tie the top ribbon and then tie both lots of ribbons into bows.
You now have a finished needleroll which can be displayed with your pillows or other other needlerolls in a bowl or a basket. You can also add a 'hanger' by threading a piece of ribbon or cord through a card 'button' (draw around a small coin and make two holes - or use a real button if you wish). Tie the ends of the ribbon together and place the 'button' inside the top of the needle roll before you pull the top ribbon tight. The 'button' will keep the ribbon inside the roll. This is ideal for you to hang the Christmas needleroll on your tree.
I also stitched the same design 1 over 1 on 40ct linen and finished as a matching pillow. The needle roll is for my great grand-daughter Primrose and the matching pillow is for her parents.
This chart for this design - Christmas Needleroll 2018 - can be found *here*
All these pictures can be enlarged for a closeup view of each step by clicking on them
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