The cardinal sits inside the holly circle looking kinda like a vintage christmas card illustration. Bright red bird on a grey winter branch, the wreath around him built from dark branches with spiky green holly leaves and clusters of red berries dotted throughout. The orange beak is just a tiny satin fill but it really kinda just anchors the birds face.
5 colours total: dark green, black, grey, red and orange. Four colour changes across the run. Sizes go from 3.49 inches wide at the smallest up to 7.49 inches for the large version. Stitch counts run from 13,574 at the small end up to 29,848 for the largest, so its genuinely dense digitising throughout, not a simple outline job.
I get messages every christmas asking for cardinal designs because its one of those species people have real feelings about. One customer wrote me saying she stitches a cardinal piece every year for a friend who lost someone close. The red bird has that kind of meaning for alot of people and this wreath framing really works for that.
Stitch on cream, white or ivory cotton for the cleanest result. The grey branch fill needs a light background to read properly. Use cutaway stabiliser on any stretch fabric, a firm tearaway works on cotton canvas or linen.
Reach out if the file gives you any trouble loading and ill get it fixed up same day.
What people are using this design for
A starting point. The design works for plenty more than just this list, this is what folks have stitched it onto most.
- Christmas wall hoop art on white linenThe 6 inch version hooped in a 7 inch wooden hoop on white linen makes a wall piece you can hang every christmas.
- Holiday throw pillow covers in cream cottonCentred on an ivory cotton pillow cover the cardinal wreath works as understated holiday bedroom decor.
- Womens christmas sweatshirts and hoodiesOn the chest of a cream or burgundy womens sweatshirt it reads as a proper seasonal piece rather than a novelty.
- Seasonal tote bags for nature loversA medium cardinal on a fabric tote front is a subtle nod to christmas that works for people who prefer nature themes.
- Framed embroidery as a sympathy or memorial giftStitched on white cotton and framed it becomes a meaningful condolence gift for anyone who lost a loved one.
- Christmas table runner panels on natural linenthe 4-in mid repeated across a linen runner creates a nature-themed christmas table setting that isnt kitschy.
Dimensions
5 sizes included. Stitch counts shown for the largest colorway.
| Size (in) | Stitches |
|---|---|
| 3.49 × 3.38 in | 13,574 |
| 4.49 × 4.35 in | 17,259 |
| 5.49 × 5.32 in | 21,161 |
| 6.49 × 6.30 in | 25,349 |
| 7.49 × 7.25 in | 29,848 |
Files & Formats
Eight machine formats included in one zip. Whichever your machine reads, its in the pack.
Plus a color chart for thread matching. See full format guide.
Reviews
No reviews yet for this design. Be the first to share your make once you have stitched it. Tag us on Instagram and we will feature your work.
You may also like
Other designs from this collection you might love
Blue Flower Fairy Embroidery Design, Instant Do...
Cherry Blossom Branch Embroidery Design, Spring...
Frog Love Embroidery Design, Cute Valentine Fro...
Your Opinion Is Not Part of the Recipe Embroide...
Fustergluck Kitchen Rooster Embroidery Design, ...
Spring Floral Gnome Embroidery Design, Machine ...
Bee Farm Raw Honey Embroidery Design, Machine E...
Coastal Lighthouse Embroidery Design, Machine E...
Red Tulip Embroidery Design, Machine Embroidery...
Raven on Tree Embroidery Design, Machine Embroi...
Celestial Alpaca Embroidery Design, Machine Emb...
Dog High Five Embroidery Design, Machine Embroi...
Browse by category
Pick a theme, find the perfect design for your next project
About the artist
Reyazul Masud Riham, hand-drawing every design on this site
Every design on Re Embroidery is hand-digitized by one person. Each file gets sketched, color-matched, and stitch-tested on real fabric before it earns a place in the shop. No team. No auto-conversion from images. Just slow, deliberate work, sometimes three or four days per design.
That's the joy I work for.
The hard part is finding my designs re-uploaded and resold elsewhere. So when you buy from Re Embroidery, you're paying one real person for the file you're about to download. That matters.
