December 31, 2016

Cross Stitch Initials Ornaments

One of my favorite traditions at Christmas time is to make an ornament for each of my children.  Originally we purchased ornaments each year, but over the last couple of years I’ve switched to giving them handmade ornaments, and I don’t think I’ll ever go back.  I love the idea of these little bits of love moving on with my children when they move out and establish homes of their own.

This year I decided to make cross stitch initials.

Side note: Yes, as it happens, all of our children’s names start with E. We did not plan this, and if you’re familiar with our adoption story you’ll know that it came about completely unprovoked.  The short version is that we named our firstborn (biological) Ellie.  After struggling with infertility and becoming a foster family, we were blessed to adopt Ethan as an infant. When we adopted our second boy as a newborn we felt like he couldn’t be the only black kid in our family and not have a name that started with an E like his siblings, so we named him Elijah. We thought our family was done growing at that point, but when our surprise baby came along, we decided to keep up with the E pattern and named her Edith after my great-grandma who had a huge influence on my life.  So that’s why I’ve made 4 ornaments with Es on them. 🙂

It’s a simple project with a beautiful effect.

Supplies:

Needle
Print out of letter to correct size (for tracing) {optional}
Yarn for hanging

Instructions:

First, cut the cross stitch fabric to size.   
Trace (or freehand) the initial of your loved one onto the fabric, so it’s centered in the hoop.
Start stitching around the initial, leaving the letter blank.  I used half cross stitches both because I had so many ornaments to make and because I liked the look it created.  You can do arrows and chevrons and other patterns with half stitches like I did on a couple of the ornaments, or just have every stitch face the same direction like I did with the other two.
Keep stitching until the hoop is filled.
Paint a harmonious color around the outside ring of the embroidery hoop, or leave it plain.  Which ever you prefer or have time for :).
Rinse off the water soluble marker and let the cross stitch dry.
Return stitching to the hoop.
Tie yarn or twine or string around the clasp of the hoop and you’re done!
Heidi Hillman
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