Easy Embroidered Holiday Table Runner

• Purchased table runner
• 4mm red embroidery ribbon
• Chenille or tapestry needle
• Water-soluble marker

1. Because the fabric is light-colored, special attention should be paid to concealing the stitch transitions on the back of the fabric by weaving the ribbon back through previous stitches. For stitching progression, follow the step-by-step photo, which illustrates how the design is worked with the shortest possible transitions between stitches.
2. Enlarge the snowflake pattern using a photocopier. Tape the enlarged pattern to a window or place on a light box. Place the table runner over the pattern and trace the design onto the fabric using a water-soluble marker.
3. To stitch, bring the needle to the front of the fabric at 1 and make a straight stitch. Work a backstitch, bringing the needle up at 2 and taking it through the fabric at the end of the stitch 1. Continue working back stitches, bringing the needle up at 3 and taking it through the fabric at the intersection of stitches 1 and 2, then bringing the needle up at 4 and back down through the fabric at the end of stitch 3.
4. Continue embroidering with backstitches, following the numbered sequence and the direction of the arrows, making French knots at dots on the pattern. This completes one half of the snowflake.
5. To finish the snowflake, turn the design around 180 degrees. The last stitch on the first half of the snowflake (stitch 26) now becomes stitch 1 on Diagram A. Stitch the second half of the snowflake, following the numbered sequence on Diagrams A-I.

Bring the needle to the front of the fabric and loosely wrap the ribbon one to two times around the needle, depending on the desired size of the knot. Hold the ribbon off to one side and push the needle through to the back directly next to the original entry point. Gently pull the needle through the wraps to form a complete knot.