Advent Calendar

Advent Calendar 2023 – Nativity Scene
Stick of the first Shepherd

The stick should be embroidered with Couching (coton à broder No. 16). To do this, an embroidery thread (from the hand to the tip of the stick) is stretched over one side of the outline and held in position with the needle. With a second embroidery thread, the stretched thread is secured to the groud fabric with small tacking (or couching) stitches spaced at short intervals.
(Find further information about couching in my book Early Schwalm Whitework)

The last Couching stitch at the tip holds the tension thread so that it can now be stretched back to the hand. Again, it is fastened by Couching stitches.

The inside of the stick is also filled with Couching stitches according to the shape.

The pommel of the stick is embroidered in a similar way.

The dress that peeks out from under the coat remains unembroidered. The shoes also do not receive any further filling. This completes the first figure, Shepherd 1.

Advent Calendar 2016
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Advent Calendar 2018
Advent Calendar 2019
Advent Calendar 2023 – Outline Designs
Advent Calendar 2023 – Prep Work
Advent Calendar 2023 – Hairstyles and Facial Features of Wise Men
Advent Calendar 2023 – Hands
Advent Calendar 2023 – Vessels for the Gifts
Advent Calendar 2023 – Headwear
Advent Calendar 2023 – Sheep
Advent Calendar 2023 – Footwear
Advent Calendar 2023 – Robe of the first Shepherd

Advent Calendar 2023 – Nativity Scene
Robe of the first Shepherd

The outlines of the clothing are usually worked with Coral Knot stitches (coton à broder No. 16), sometimes also with Stem stitches. The internal contour lines are not always embroidered in order to simplify thread withdrawing and working the filling patterns.

This is also the case with the first shepherd, whose stick is to be embroidered later.

All parts of the coat from the first shepherd should receive the same filling pattern.

To make the sleeve stand out a little, the thread withdrawing is slightly offset both lengthwise and crosswise.

After withdrawing the marking threads, the Chain stitches are embroidered (coton à broder No. 25) and then the threads are withdrawn (leave 3, cut 1) over the entire area.

Filling pattern 543 is worked with coton à broder No. 20.

Advent Calendar 2016
Advent Calendar 2017
Advent Calendar 2018
Advent Calendar 2019
Advent Calendar 2023 – Outline Designs
Advent Calendar 2023 – Prep Work
Advent Calendar 2023 – Hairstyles and Facial Features of Wise Men
Advent Calendar 2023 – Hands
Advent Calendar 2023 – Vessels for the Gifts
Advent Calendar 2023 – Headwear
Advent Calendar 2023 – Sheep
Advent Calendar 2023 – Footwear

Advent Calendar 2023 – Nativity Scene
Footwear

The first shepherd´s shoes are worked with wrapped Back stitches (coton à broder No. 20),

that of the third shepherd initially only with Back stitches (coton à broder No. 16).

I don’t like that, so I ended up wrapping the stitches around.

Maria’s foot is also worked with wrapped Back stitches, but using coton à broder No. 20.

Josef’s boots are embroidered with wrapped chain stitches (coton à broder No. 20).

To add some variety, The first Wise Man’s shoes are embroidered using Blanket stitches (coton à broder No. 20).

The boots of the second Wise Man are embroidered with wide Stem stitches, the soles with Satin stitches (coton à broder No. 16).

The footwear of the third Wise Man are worked with wrapped chain stitches (coton à broder No. 20). The scarf has fringes made from Coral Knot stitches (coton à broder No. 16)

Advent Calendar 2016
Advent Calendar 2017
Advent Calendar 2018
Advent Calendar 2019
Advent Calendar 2023 – Outline Designs
Advent Calendar 2023 – Prep Work
Advent Calendar 2023 – Hairstyles and Facial Features of Wise Men
Advent Calendar 2023 – Hands
Advent Calendar 2023 – Vessels for the Gifts
Advent Calendar 2023 – Headwear
Advent Calendar 2023 – Sheep

Advent Calendar 2023 – Nativity Scene
Sheep

The sheep skins are first depicted with Coral Knot stitches (coton à broder No. 16), all other parts of the sheep with coton à broder No. 20.

Advent Calendar 2016
Advent Calendar 2017
Advent Calendar 2018
Advent Calendar 2019
Advent Calendar 2023 – Outline Designs
Advent Calendar 2023 – Prep Work
Advent Calendar 2023 – Hairstyles and Facial Features of Wise Men
Advent Calendar 2023 – Hands
Advent Calendar 2023 – Vessels for the Gifts
Advent Calendar 2023 – Headwear

Advent Calendar 2023 – Nativity Scene
Headwear

The first Wise Man receives a crown of Stem stitches, decorated with Satin stitch triangles (coton à broder No. 16). In the same way the border of the coat was made.

The third Wise Man receives a crown with wrapped Back stitches, Chain stitches and Blanket stitch eyelets (all coton à broder No. 20).

In the end, the turban of the second Wise Man seems a bit too empty to me. Staggered Running stitches (coton à broder No. 16) create a subtle pattern for the rather small areas.

For Josef, the underside of the hat brim is first embroidered with wide stem stitches (coton à broder No. 16), because the threads for the hair and face can be sewn in or continued under the stitches in the back.
The hair, facial outlines and hands are worked with coton à broder No. 20. Coton à broder No. 16 is chosen for the Coral Knot stitches.

The child’s head is embroidered with wrapped Back stitches (coton à broder No. 20).

The halo is worked with wrapped Chain stitches (coton à broder No. 16).

Maria’s face and hands are embroidered with coton à broder No. 25.

The third shepherd gets a hat made of Chain stitches (coton à broder No. 16) with a brim made of Stem stitches (coton à broder No. 20).

His hair is embroidered with wrapped Chain stitches (coton à broder No. 20), face (coton à broder No. 20) and hands with wrapped Back stitches (coton à broder No. 25). Coton à broder No. 16 is chosen for the Coral Knot stitches.

The second shepherd gets a hat brim made from Stem stitches (coton à broder No. 20),

which is later filled with Satin stitches (coton à broder No. 16). The face (coton à broder No. 20) and hands (coton à broder No. 25) are worked with wrapped Back stitches, the hair with wrapped Chain stitches (coton à broder No. 16).

First shepherd´s hair is worked with wide Stem stitches (coton à broder No. 16), the face with coton à broder No. 20 and the hands with coton à broder No. 25.

Advent Calendar 2016
Advent Calendar 2017
Advent Calendar 2018
Advent Calendar 2019
Advent Calendar 2023 – Outline Designs
Advent Calendar 2023 – Prep Work
Advent Calendar 2023 – Hairstyles and Facial Features of Wise Men
Advent Calendar 2023 – Hands
Advent Calendar 2023 – Vessels for the Gifts