Cardinal needlepoint patterns

Most show a cardinal in profile, perched on a short branch in several styles or on a wooden sled in two; one design shows a pair facing each other.

The bird has a pointed crest, a dark mask around a short thick beak, and a long tail. The sled has red runners that curl up at the front and stands on snow under falling snow; on one the cardinal wears a green and white striped scarf. All are four inches square on 18 mesh. Shades of red can look alike in the hand, so lay the threads side by side before you start. A four-inch square can be finished as an ornament; if yours is for the Christmas tree, begin early: finishing takes time on top of the stitching.