Redwork apple with a star core hand embroidery pattern

Easy · 1 color · 4 kinds of stitch

Redwork apple with a star core: preview of the stitched design

This is a redwork apple with the star of its core showing. Inside the apple outline a second line, the cut edge, follows it all the way round. A stalk stands at the top with a leaf on each side. The core is a star of five pointed cells, one pointing straight up, with a seed in each. The apple outline, the cut edge, the core, the stalk and the leaves are stem stitch, the seeds are lazy daisy stitch, the leaf veins are back stitch and the center of the core is a French knot. It is all one red thread, with no filled shapes.

Size and details

Easy. Simple stitches in one color.

1 color of floss and 4 kinds of stitch:

The stitched size, by hoop
Hoop	Inches	Centimeters
3 in (8 cm)	1.4 × 1.7 in	3.6 × 4.3 cm
4 in (10 cm)	2.1 × 2.5 in	5.3 × 6.4 cm
5 in (13 cm)	2.7 × 3.3 in	6.9 × 8.4 cm
6 in (15 cm)	3.4 × 4.2 in	8.6 × 10.7 cm
8 in (20 cm)	4.8 × 5.8 in	12.2 × 14.7 cm

In a 3 inch hoop the French knot is drawn smaller than about 2 mm (a little over 1/16 in). Use one strand of floss for it there, or choose a larger hoop.

The pattern is drawn inside a circle about half an inch (1.3 cm) smaller all around than the hoop.

What you need

DMC 304 Medium RedApple outline, cut edge, core, seeds, center of the core, stalk, leaves and leaf veins

The floss is six-strand cotton; the stitch guide says how many strands to use. You also need a hoop, an embroidery needle (a size 7 to 9 suits two or three strands) and plain cotton or linen fabric. To frame the piece in its hoop, cut a square 3 inches (8 cm) wider than the hoop: a 9 inch (23 cm) square for a 6 inch hoop.

Stitch guide

Stem stitch 2 or 3 strandsApple outline, cut edge, core, stalk, leaves
Lazy daisy stitch 2 strandsSeeds
French knot 2 strands, two wrapsCenter of the core
Back stitch 2 strandsLeaf veins

Getting it onto your fabric

The PDF holds the pattern twice at actual size: once as drawn, and once mirrored for an iron-on transfer pen. Print it at 100% with scaling off and check the one-inch square (25.4 mm) with a ruler before you trace. How to transfer a pattern explains tracing, carbon paper and the other ways. The files are under Downloads.