Cardinal Bird Outline Embroidery Design, Songbird Machine Embroidery Pattern, Instant Download

Worked up this cardinal outline for the bird lovers and nature illustrstion crowd, the ones who want something that looks like it came out of a field guide and not a clip art pack. The bird is perched on a branch with a couple of leaves, wings folded tight, crest up, and the feather detail is all there in the line work. You can read the wing coverts, the tail structure, the barbs running across the breast. No fill, no colour, just black running and satin stitches tracing the whole bird in a single pass.

I digitised this through my software, and the plumage sequencing follows the natural feather direction rather than going back and forth mechanically. Thats what keeps the bird reading as a bird and not a stack of horizontal satin bars. Density sits at 234 stitches per square inch. Five sizes from 3.51 x 2.78 inches up to 7.51 x 5.95 inches, stitches from 5,935 to 10,449. Use light tearaway on most wovens and youre done. Skip topping on smooth linen and plain cotton, it isnt needed.

I get a lot of birding enthusiasts buying this for napkin sets and tea towel gifts. A customer recieved her order last spring, ran the large hoop on a white linen napkin in scarlet thread instead of black, and texted the photo. It looked like a proper botanical print. Pick whatever thread colour suits your fabric, the outline adapts easily. Stitch in deep burgundy for a winter table, try navy on natural linen for a coastal look, or run classic black on white for something timeless. Pair it with a light stabiliser on woven cloth. Add a soft topping only if youre working on textured terry or fleece.

Works well alongside other bird outline designs if youre building a matching set. Dm me if you need a custom size outside the five included.