It's the middle of the summer and sweltering here. More heat and humidity than I would like. So, you're probably wondering why I'm showing you two Christmas cross-stitch ornaments I just finished. Well, when I'm making ornaments for the Christmas holiday season I like to start early. They are a pair of 3" by 3" stocking ornaments by Mill Hill - Sticks line.
I just love to cross-stitch small ornaments with the word "joy" in them because my mother's name was Joy and when I look at them I think of her.
The "Joy" ornament kit contained the presorted thread, 14 count perforated paper, needles (stitching and beading), beads and instructions. The pattern uses full counted cross-stitch and outline stitching for emphasis and depth.
The pattern came with starting, stitching and 2 different back finishing instructions as well as samples of the various stitches required, beading instructions and color code chart (with code #'s, color names, and cross-stitch symbols) and a black and white chart with black and white coded symbols. The colors and symbols on the keys and chart were easy to read and follow.
I had no problem cross-stitching the stocking ornaments and then cutting the perforated paper close to the sides of the stocking figures. This kit did come with 2 different options for finishing the back of the ornaments. The first was finishing them back to back. The other was creating two ornaments and finishing the back with felt or card stock. I opted to create two ornaments and finish mine with green felt which I glued to the back with an Avery disappearing color glue stick. I wanted to finish the edges by whip stitching around the edges of the perforated paper with 4 strands of the green floss so I trimmed the edges and left enough of the felt and perforated paper to stitch around the edges.
Instead of adding a floss hanger according to the instructions I opted to sew two strands of floss to the top of the ornament, securing the edge of the ornament with an additional stitch and then tying the ends at the top in a large knot. They're going to look great on my pencil Christmas tree.
I was very happy with the way my "Joy" stocking ornaments turned out and hope you like it too.
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