How to make Christmas cross stitch ornaments

So you're stitching a super cute Christmas cross stitch pattern eh? Show it off in style with our guide to how to turn your Christmas cross stitch into a padded hanging ornament

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Heather Nugent

Published: September 2, 2019 at 2:14 pm

In this free cross stitch tutorial we'll show you how to make a very cute gingerbread hanging (you can find the pattern we have used in issue 273 of The World of Cross Stitching), but these instructions can be used to make any padded hanging from your stitched designs, plus we've included ideas for customisation!

You will need

  • A cross stitched Christmas motif - sewn on aida, even weave or linen
  • A piece of backing fabric to measure the same size as your cross stitch design plus a ½in border
  • A small piece of wadding, batting or toy stuffing
  • Twine or ribbon
  • Needle and thread

Step 1

Trim your stitched piece, leaving a border measuring 1.5cm (½in). Cut a piece of backing fabric to match.

Step 2

Cut a piece of bakers twine or narrow ribbon to the required length and fold in half to create a loop. Tack in place to the right side of your stitched piece, along the top edge, with the raw ends of the twine/ribbon facing outwards.

Step 3

Place your stitched piece and backing fabric together, right sides facing, with the twine/ribbon sandwiched between them. Hand-sew a 1cm (¼in) seam all the way around, leaving a small gap to turn through.

Step 4

Turn through and fill the hanging with wadding, then stitch the gap closed.

Ideas for customisation

To customise your padded hanging there are a few easy changes that you can make to bring you own style to your decoration.

  • Instead of using ribbon for your hanging loop, why not try thin cord or bakers twine.
  • To make a scented hanging simply add potpourri, dried lavender or scented beads in with your stuffing.
  • To make a scissor fob simply follow this same process but extend the length of your ribbon to make it easier to attach to the handle of your scissors.
  • Try adding an edging of mini pom-poms by sewing pom-pom trim into your seam.

Heather Nugent

Technical Editor on Love Embroidery

Heather is a designer and technical expert with over eight years of experience in craft publishing, and is the Technical Editor for Love Embroidery magazine. She first started sewing with her mum when she was five years old and has been hooked on all things stitched ever since. She's designed projects for Your Home, Today’s Quilter, Craftseller, Your Handmade Home, RSPB wild explorer, bbcgoodfood.com, Cross Stitch Crazy, The World of Cross Stitching and Lakeside needlecraft cross stitch books. Find her on instagram @heathers.handmade.hub
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