Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Apple Tree Free Pattern

I adore apples and not just apples but apple orchards as well. Growing up in Upstate New York I have the utmost appreciation for the beauty of apple trees year round. Even in Winter the bare branches are beautiful covered in snow. The bark is almost black and the trees have such a striking shape contrasted against the snow. When I was younger they would bring to mind the writhing limbs of a tortured soul, but I was a morose teenager. Now they look to me as if they are dancing.

In Spring the blossoms can boast the most lovely shade of pink I have ever seen. I have such fond memories of the Apple Blossom Festival every year in the town I grew up in. And of course in Autumn they bear such a wonderful fruit even as the leaves on the branches begin to change.

Where we live in Maryland there are no apple orchards and though cherry trees can be quite beautiful they do not (to my mind) hold a candle to apple trees. I do miss my hometown, apple trees being just one of many reasons. In their honor and in honor of the town I grew up in, here is this month's free pattern. It was originally meant to be part of a larger sampler but in the end I opted for a tree with a slightly different shape. The two apples depicted here are Macintosh and Red Delicious, two of my favorites stitched using Gentle Arts Mulberry and Gentle Arts Limited Edition Plum Pudding. The tree is stitched with Weeks Dye Works Bark and the leaves are Gentle Arts Endive. If you would like to stitch this pattern for yourself you can find it on my Free Patterns page. I hope you enjoy this pattern and just in time for the start of apple picking season.

xoxo

Jennie Lynn

11 comments:

Patty C. said...

I absolutely love it - The colors you chose are perfect !!! Thank you

Cindy said...

Love it! and your apple tree story. i have very similar memories of the area i grew up in! thank you for sharing.

Dora said...

Thank you, Jennie. It has a shaker style look which I just love!!

cucki said...

thank you dear jennie..i love it so much..really very sweet and colors are so beautiful too..
big hugs xx

Shirlee said...

Thank you for the pattern ... I like it very much! I also grew up near an apple orchard & we had apple trees in our yard. They bring back good memories : ) Blessings, Shirlee

Nan ~ Threadwork Primitives said...

Thanks Jennie for the freebie. It's really a cute design.
~Nan

Brenda said...

Thanks so much for the pattern, I love it!

Brenda

Lois said...

What a lovely freebie! Thank you!

Susan At Glen Oaks Primitives said...

Hi, Jennie, thank you. I always enjoy your patterns. This apple design will go well with my shaker furniture in the dining room. I'll be posting this on my blog to
share with more stitchers.
Warm Regards,
Susan

mdgtjulie said...

Grats on finishing your little freebie, and I'm sorry you're missing home. It sucks to be homesick...

Mindi said...

What a cute pattern, and the colors you chose are fantastic. maybe I'll have to stitch this up tomorrow while I'm making some applesauce.