Hens with chicks

Step 2

Start in the middle of the width of the ribbon and thread the needle through the back outer layer of the needlepoint canvas in the direction towards the edge of the ribbon. Make sure you sew through at a place thta is in the centre of the future embroidered body. Create a loop of embroidery thread at the height of the third hole from the edge around and above the thread from the needlepoint canvas. Thread it through twice with the needle and tighten it.

Step 4

Sew through the holes of the neighbouring crosses using the shortest "path". The sewn-through neighbouring crosses should lie next to one another. Think out the embroidery "path" in advance. If the crosses are more distant from one another, guide the embroidery thread along the back by sewing through the needlepoint canvas thread (similarly to in Step 2).

Step 4

Step 4

The hen

Start at the left-hand leg in the upper left-hand corner. Create a cross from R1. Pass to the 2^nd row and create both crosses using R1. Create a cross of R1 for the right-hand leg. Occasionally pass the needle through the thread of the needlepoint canvas to the right-hand cross of the 3^rd row. Create five crosses from the R1 in the 3^rd row. Create seven crosses from R1 in the 4^th row. Create the tail out of R1 from the 1^st to the 8^th cross. Occasionally sew through the needlepoint canvas on the back. Create four crosses from R1 in the 5^th row. In the 6^th row, sew three crosses from R1. Continue with the 7^th, 8^th and 9^th rows, always sew two crosses from R1. In the 10^th row, sew through the needlepoint canvas to the back to the outer cross of the beak. Sew two crosses from R2. Sew on 1x R3. Sew one cross from R1. Complete the hen by sewing through the two R1 crosses in the 11^th row.

Step 4

The chick

Start at the left-hand leg in the lower left-hand corner. Create an R4 cross. Pass the needle through the back of the needlepoint canvas in the direction towards the second leg. Create a cross of R4. Create a cross of R4 in the 2^nd row. Sew three R4 crosses in the 3^rd row. Sew five crosses from R4 in the 4^th row. In the 5^th row, sew through the initial 2x R4 at the outer right-hand cross. Create the tail from one R4 cross. Return to the outer cross in the 5^th row and complete it. Sew a total of six crosses in the 5^th row. Create the tail from R2 crosses in the 6^th row. Sew on the eye from 1x R5. Sew a cross of R4. Complete the chick by sewing two crosses from R4 in the 7^th row.