A sustainable and reusable embroidered Christmas tree with Maison Sajou
The current trend is towards reducing consumption, and this also applies to the holiday season.
Every year, millions of Christmas trees are cut down only to serve for a few days before being abandoned on the streets.
We have therefore come up with a solution that is both aesthetically pleasing and sustainable:
an embroidered Christmas tree that can be kept and reused year after year.
A simple and quick embroidery project
With macramé cord and simple couching stitches, this embroidered Christmas tree is a quick project to complete.
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced embroiderer, this pattern is accessible to all.
Thanks to clear instructions, videos, and a clean design, you will be able to create a unique tree, ready to be reused every year.
Two tree sizes to suit your needs
The pattern is available for download in two sizes: one model measuring 50 cm in height, and the other much larger, reaching 1.15 meters.
This allows you to choose the one that best suits your space and preferences, as these embroidered trees adapt to any configuration.
The materials used, made in France, are durable, ensuring that your tree retains its lustre year after year.
DIY Christmas decorations
To complete your embroidered tree, we give you ideas for creating your own Christmas decorations in another blog post.
These handmade ornaments add a personal and creative touch to your tree, while also aligning with an ecological and responsible approach.
The decorations can be updated or added to each year, offering a unique experience every Christmas.
See the article on Christmas decorations
What you will need
The supplies are the same for both the small and large version, only the quantities differ:
For the embroidery:
- A FriXion pen;
- Macramé cord;
- A Retors du Nord embroidery thread card, we used 2014, Grass colour;
- A round-tipped embroidery needle;
- 12-count linen for embroidery: a 50 x 70 cm piece for the small tree, we used Frog Green.
A 1.50 m piece for the large tree, available in the packs we offer, in Off-White.
For the sewing:
- Wadding: 50 x 70 cm for the small tree, 120 x 150 cm for the large tree;
- Backing fabric: a 50 x 70 cm piece for the small tree, and 1.50 m of fabric for the large tree.
See all the supply packs for creating our Christmas trees.
Embroidering the Christmas tree
Downloading and cutting the pattern
Download the pattern of your choice, either small or large, assemble and cut it out.
Transfer it onto the linen with a FriXion pen:
- for the small model, the pattern should be centred on the fabric,
- for the large model, the top of the tree should be positioned 29 cm from the top of the fabric.
Download the Christmas tree pattern
Making the embroidery
The embroidery technique is very simple: following the traced outlines, you will attach the macramé cord using couching stitch, forming crosses on straight lines and double straight stitches at the angles.
- Fold the cord in half: begin at the top of the tree. Then, work your way down one side to the middle of the trunk, and repeat on the other side, joining the cord at the bottom, in the middle of the trunk.
- Take a long thread of three strands of Retors du Nord and tie a small knot at the end. Bring the needle up a few millimetres from the traced tip of the tree and secure the cord with two tightly pulled straight stitches.
- Next, follow the tree's outline downwards, attaching the cord with cross stitches, as shown in the video. Each cross should be spaced about 1.5 cm apart.
- When you reach the end of a branch, simply make a straight stitch as you did at the beginning, then double it and continue.
- Feel free to pull the cord occasionally to keep it taut. Since the cord's twist is quite loose, don’t hesitate to twist it back into shape now and then.
- Work your way down to the middle of the trunk’s base and leave the thread for later.
- Do the second side in the same way.
Finishing touches
- Once you reach the bottom, trim the ends of the cord diagonally, twist them if necessary.
- Overlap them and finish with closely spaced crosses. Secure the thread and make a final stitch with the needle left in reserve earlier.
All done!
Stitching the Christmas tree
The two diagrams below provide guidelines for cutting and stitching. The green corresponds to the small model, and the beige to the large tree.
On the back of the embroidery, use a FriXion pen to mark two sets of guidelines:
- The purple lines that will be used for stitching,
- The white lines for trimming the fabric to the correct size. But do not cut right away.
You can click on each of the images to enlarge them.
- Place the materials in order on the table: the wadding, the backing fabric with the right side facing you, and the embroidery with the wrong side facing you. Pin them together to keep everything in place.
- Cut the three layers along the outer guidelines (white lines on the diagrams).
- On one vertical side, mark two guidelines about 20cm apart: these will indicate the opening for turning the tree inside out.
- Stitch along the sewing guidelines (purple lines), except between the two marks for the opening.
- Remove the pins.
- On the side with the opening, fold the excess linen inside along the embroidery. On the wadding side, fold the backing fabric and the wadding over the wadding.
- On the other three sides, fold all three layers together over the wadding.
- Slip your hand inside, push out the corners as shown in the video, then turn the project inside out.
- Place the seams with your fingers and press, avoiding the embroidery.
- Close the opening with small invisible stitches.
We recommend sewing half-circle metal rings on the back of the tree to make hanging easier.
These rings are included in the supply packs we offer. Visit the supply packs section.
The large tree leaves fabric scraps on both sides: use them to make decorations for your tree.
See our article on Christmas decorations.
