Christmas Carousel Reindeer
This Christmas machine embroidery design looks like a figure from a vintage carousel: a reindeer in a red harness and green saddle blanket, mounted on a twisted, gold-colored pole. A large red bow ties together evergreen branches, holly leaves, and red berries above the reindeer. Center the scene on a pillow cover or fabric panel, place it below a gift bag’s drawstring, or stitch it on a Christmas stocking with the greenery showing below the cuff.
The download includes five ready-to-stitch sizes of the same motif. This is a digital product for an embroidery machine; fabric, thread, and finished items are not included.
Design sizes and hoop requirements
Size 1
Size: 128.0x117.4 mm (5.04x4.62 "), Stitches: 19100
Hoop: 130x180 mm (5x7").
Size 2
Size: 140.8x129.2 mm (5.54x5.09 "), Stitches: 21200
Hoop: 140x200 mm (5.5x7.9"), with a 90° rotation if the hoop is shown in portrait orientation.
Size 3
Size: 150.5x138.2 mm (5.93x5.44 "), Stitches: 22500
Hoop: 140x200 mm (5.5x7.9"), with a 90° rotation if the hoop is shown in portrait orientation.
Size 4
Size: 161.5x148.2 mm (6.36x5.83 "), Stitches: 24400
Hoop: 160x260 mm (6.25x10.25"), with a 90° rotation if the hoop is shown in portrait orientation.
Size 5
Size: 183.2x168.2 mm (7.21x6.62 "), Stitches: 28100
Hoop: 200x200 mm (7.9x7.9").
Align the longer side of the design with the longer side of a rectangular hoop’s embroidery field. In a 140x200 mm field, the third size has only 1.8 mm of total clearance across the short side. Run the machine’s boundary trace before stitching.
Formats: .dat, .dst, .exp, .hus, .jef, .jef+, .pec, .pes, .sew, .shv, .tap, .vip, .vp3, .vp4, .xxx
Companion designs
Stitch the nutcracker on a matching pillow cover, use the holly bow and sprigs on napkins, and finish the ends of a table runner with a pine cone border.
 Nutcracker with Ribbon |
 Christmas Bow with Holly |
 Napkin Corner and Fir Sprigs |
 Pine Cone and Bow Border |
Madeira Classic thread colors
All five sizes use the same 11 Madeira Classic shades. The squares show Madeira’s digital swatches. Pantone references are shown only where Madeira lists a match. Order by Madeira thread number, since colors can look different on screen.
| Color | Madeira | Stitched area | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1170 Pantone 370 C |
Evergreen needles, holly leaves, and the green saddle blanket | |
|
1135 Pantone 1205 C |
Twisted carousel pole, fine lines on the bow, and light saddle blanket details | |
|
1146 Pantone 485 C |
Berries and red details on the bridle and saddle | |
|
1159 Pantone 117 C |
Antlers, gold-colored sprigs, and harness trim | |
|
1147 Pantone 1795 C |
Main shade of the bows and red chest strap | |
|
1035 Pantone 505 C |
Dark outline on the bow, reindeer nose and eye | |
|
1113 | Pink detail inside the ear | |
|
1255 | Beige areas of the reindeer’s coat | |
|
1149 Pantone 9202 C |
Light areas of the coat on the neck, belly, and legs | |
|
1329 Pantone 7614 C |
Hooves | |
|
1006 | Fine outline of the reindeer and carousel pole |
Stitching questions
How do I position the design on a Christmas stocking?
Mark the seam lines and the bottom of the cuff. Place a full-size template printed at 100%, with page fitting turned off. The tips of the evergreen branches, not the reindeer, determine the full width. Line up the carousel pole with the vertical axis of the stocking leg, leaving the bow below the cuff. Embroider the outer piece before assembly so you don’t catch the lining.
How can I prevent puckering around the bow and keep the outline aligned?
For a pillow cover in tightly woven cotton or canvas, start with a medium-weight cutaway stabilizer. It is especially helpful on loosely woven linen, which can shift between the reindeer’s fill and the dark outline. Hoop the fabric flat without stretching it, and support any excess fabric so it doesn’t pull on the hoop. On your test stitch-out, check the outlines near the antlers and hooves after unhooping.
Can I embroider this design on velvet?
Yes, if the velvet behaves well in a test stitch-out. To avoid a hoop mark, hoop medium-weight cutaway stabilizer on its own and secure the velvet on top with temporary embroidery adhesive. Apply the adhesive away from the machine. Use a thin water-soluble topping to keep the bow lines and the small ear detail from sinking into the pile. First, test on a scrap to make sure the water used to remove the topping doesn’t leave a mark.
Do I need metallic thread for the gold-colored details?
No. The chart uses Madeira Classic: lighter 1135 for the twisted pole and the lines on the bow, and darker 1159 for the antlers and gold-colored harness details. Keep the two shades distinct. A test stitch-out will show whether the fine trim stands out on your fabric.
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