Cutting Instructions:
Note: As many as four layers of wool can be cut at one time with the AccuCut machine. Place piece of scrap paper over wool before cutting to prevent sticking to roller.
1. Cut 25 two-inch antique black wool circles.
2. Use pattern block circle die to cut six gold wool circles, eight red wool circles, eleven red plaid wool circles and eight green plaid wool circles.
3. Cut six green and six plaid wool holly leaves.
4. Cut five large and five small red plaid wool poinsettia petals. Cut five large and five small red wool petals.
5. Apply fusible interfacing to wrong side of flannel per manufacturer’s instructions. Cut 25 2" flannel circles.
6. Use rotary cutter to cut 8" x 16" pieces of antique black wool and fused flannel. Round corners.
Stitching Instructions:
Note: Stitch all designs with three strands of floss.
1. To create pennies: Pin 1" circle in center of 2" circle. With black floss, blanket stitch edges of smaller circles, attaching to two-inch circles. Mix up colors, allowing for five gold wool, five red wool and seven red plaid wool circles for pennies. With wrong sides together, pin flannel circle to back of wool circle and blanket stitch together using green floss. Set aside when finished.
2. Place 1" gold circle in center of background piece. Arrange five large red plaid petals equally around circle, overlapping slightly. Arrange five large red petals in remaining spaces, adjusting so they look even. Pin in place with appliqué pins. With red floss, stitch down center of petals using running stitch. Edges will remain unstitched. Arrange next layer of small red plaid and red petals equally over large petals. Pin and stitch down as before. Using six strands of gold floss and large-eyed tapestry needle, fill center of poinsettia with French knots.
3. To make holly berries: With one strand of black floss, run gathering stitch around remaining 1" red wool and red plaid wool circles, close to edge. Pull up as tightly as possible and knot. Set aside.
4. With chalk pencil or soapstone, draw large “S”, using poinsettia as center of letter. (It should appear as long, graceful curve.) At each end of “S”, pin holly leaf and berry. Flatten holly berries and place on rug with stitched side down. Farther up curve, pin two leaves and two or three berries. When satisfied with arrangement, stitch leaves down using green floss and running stitch. Using red floss, stitch through centers of berries, making cross-stitch. Then stitch randomly around sides, just enough to hold berries in place. It might help to stitch several berries together.
5. Using green floss and stem stitch, stitch S-shaped vine connecting poinsettia and holly.
6. Pin completed center to backing flannel with wrong sides together. Blanket stitch edges with green floss.
7. Arrange pennies around circumference of rug. Using black floss, whipstitch pennies to rug, and also to adjacent pennies. Try not to let stitches show in front.
8. Press back of penny rug with steam iron. Turn rug over. Using pressing cloth and lots of steam, press flat. Avoid pressing down holly, poinsettia and berries, allowing them to pop up for three-dimensional look.
