Christmas Cardinal

A little Christmas cheer, one stitch at a time! Christmas Cardinal by Screen Door Needleworks features a bright red cardinal surrounded by evergreen branches, a poinsettia, and classic Quaker motifs. Rich reds, greens, and dark accents give this design a traditional holiday feel.

Stitch it for your own Christmas display or create a thoughtful handmade gift for someone who loves cardinals.

Pattern details

• Designer: Screen Door Needleworks
• Design: Christmas Cardinal
• Type: Cross stitch pattern
• Release: Needlework Marketplace 2026

Stitching details

• Stitch count: 123 stitches wide × 100 stitches high
• Model fabric: 40-count Navy Bean linen by Lakeside Linen
• Model stitching: One strand of Soie d’Alger silk over two linen threads
• Design size on the model fabric: Approximately 6.15″ wide × 5″ high, before finishing allowances

Threads and DMC conversions

The model uses Soie d’Alger silk. The chart also provides these DMC alternatives:

Optional specialty stitches

The model uses Smyrna crosses for the poinsettia centers and Algerian eyelets for the darker red stitches in the cardinal’s wing. Both areas are charted as full cross stitches, so you can choose either approach. The berry-bowl leaves are backstitched with Soie d’Alger 2146 (DMC conversion: 936).

The photograph shows the finished design as an example.

Need help choosing fabric and threads? We’re happy to help you plan your next project!