Ornaments Finishing Techniques Updated September 27, 2002 |
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I was wondering what people use to turn stitching into Christmas tree ornaments. I have several small designs (including some of MLI's angels which I *love*) that I would like to turn into ornaments for Christmas gifts. Problem: I'm not sure what the best way to make the actual "ornament" part! I know I could get some small hoops and do it that way but I was hoping for a more "polished" look to convince DH that homemade gifts *are* nicer than store bought ones! (He actually had the nerve to suggest that some people wouldn't like cross-stitched gifts! Go figure!)
What advice does this great cross-stitch collective have to offer me (besides how to train DH better!)?
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From: Sheri I finish my ornaments by buying fabric and turning them into stuffed ornaments. I edge them with fancy cording (either purchased or handmade by me to match). They turn out wonderfully!
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From: Anita S. There are several ways to turn xstitch into ornaments.
1. Wrap the finished aida-or whatever cloth you are using around a small styrofoam ball. (One big enough to show off the stitching without gathering up the design so it is not distinguishable. Then gather the top edges and tie them off with ribbon. You can insert a ribbon loop into the top of the opening and glue or pin it to the styrofoam ball before closing the top.
2. Cut out a small piece of cardboard into a shape that will show off your stitching. (round, or oval) Then glue some batting-not too thick (3oz. is what I use) to the cardboard-trimming off the excess around the edges. Put your stitching on the padded cardboard and either glue (can be hot glue) the edges to the back stretching you stitching to even it out. You can then glue a piece felt or Christmas fabric to the back to hide the glued edges. You can trim the outside border with braided cording, gold or silver braid, or whatever you like leaving a loop for hanging the ornament on the tree.
3. Fray the edges and sew a piece of ribbon on the top for a loop for hanging-this is not as special an effect, but it too works.
4. Leave it in the small hoop. Hot glue the edges to the outside of the inside hoop and trim the excess. Then you can add a ribbon bow around the screw. Glue Christmas braid or ribbon to the outside of the hoop or lace so that it sticks out behind the hoop. Also try this in reverse-having the fabric on the hoop with the screw part in the back and the inside piece on the top of the fabric. (gives a shadow-box effect)
5.Take a piece of Christmas fabric and cut out a shape. Glue your finished stitching in the middle-mini bell pull type effect. Add some ribbon, lace or whatever to decorate.
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From: Susan Carlson I looked up a little article I had put together when I had this as a topic for a cross stitch chat back in 1996:
FINISHING DIRECTIONS FROM YOUR HOST
A) Foam Mounting Board and Glue
B) Cinnamon Stick Hanger (Or us a twig)
C) Beaded Edging
D) Frayed Edging*
From Leisure Arts' Best 250 Christmas Quickies
TASSELS, TASSELS, TASSELS (From DMC free leaflet)
Step 1:
Step 2:
Step 3:
Step 4:
Notes:
*To make thicker tassels, use two or more skeins of floss, using the instructions above. For a more elegant look, use DMC metallic thread to wrap your tassels, or create braided hanging cords.
**To make tassels using other DMC products, like Perle Cotton or Metallic threads, cut a piece of cardboard to 1/2" longer than the desired tassel length. Cut 6 1/2" hanging cord. Wrap thread around cardboard to desired thickness and insert hanging cord under wrapped thread at top of cardboard. Carefully slit wound thread off cardboard. Repeat steps 3 & 4, above.
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From: Uli Ross I have a pattern somewhere for Christmas ornaments that are very pretty. They use a styrofoam ball as the centre. Then two little designs are stitched (two sqaures to go on opposit sides of the ball). Then, the edges (the rest of the ball) are covered with pinned Christmas fabric.
Oh, it's so hard to explain but what you end up with is a ball shaped ornament with a small stitched design on opposing sides and fabric in star shape pinned around the design. Usually, you take some lace and ribbon to tidy it up and to hang it. Now, the pattern I have has designs already but I'm sure they could be adapted. There's no sewing involved. Everything is pinned to the styrofoam and the fabric is folded and pinned. The pins aren't visible when everything is said and done.
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From: Diantha Lane I finish mine in a couple of ways. I have done mini bell pulls, mini stockings, pillow type, backed them with felt and fringed the edges, have corded some of the pillow types, have gotten little frames to put them in. How ever you like to see finished ornaments. On my tree anything goes :)
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From: Lesa When the stitching's done, I spread the fabric out and spray with fabric stiffener, several good coats. Then I cut out around the stitching. Since the ornament is now very stiff, you can cut right to the stitching line without having everything unravel. Thread a needle and make a hanging loop with floss, clear filament, whatever, and you have a nice flat stitched ornament.
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From: Kathy Finishing Holiday cards
In New Stitches and their companion Cross Stitch Gallery there are instructions. From Gallery:
Place the embroidery face up on a clean surface. Test the position of the card over it. Trim excess fabric. Open up the card and run a trail of craft glue about 1/4 inch in on the inside of the card. Be careful not to take the glue too near the edge of the cut out area. Turn the card over, check that it is the right way up and gently lower it into
position on the embroidery.
With dark colored cards and light colored fabric you may find that you need to stick a piece of paper behind the embroidery so that the color of the card does not show through. On the wrong side of the card run a trail of glue around the edge of the card, and fold this flap in behind the embroidery. Ensure the edges stick well."
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From: Suzanne Just wanted to share something new I tried for finishing the backs of ornaments. I dread that part every year. This year I stitched about 25 Santa's on plastic 14 ct. I don't like to leave the backs open but don't like the way I work with fabric or felt, since I didn't know what else to do I was off to Michael's to buy felt as a last resort when I saw some glitter in a spray can - had never worked with it so didn't know what to expect but bought one can (green) and tried it on one ornament last night - I really like the way it came out. Added a whole other dimension to the
back side -it's not bulky - I don't have to cut it out (I failed scissors class), it seals the floss and it was pretty easy! Can't wait to do the rest.
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From: Joanie I like to stitch on the aida band and use it to wrap around thread spools and make Christmas ornaments. They turn out very pretty and are quick and easy to make.
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From: KMC528 I plan to Stitch Witchery the ornaments to a glittered backing fabric and use the matching Kreinik for hanger loops.
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From: Cappykw Join the two pieces together with that glittery fabric glue [and use] gold lame' for the backing.
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From: Meredith I just made a pillow with corded edges! First, you want to make the actual pillow: measure your backing fabric, and sew the two sides together, making sure you round the edges. By that I mean, starting at about 1 - 1 1/2 inches before the corner, begin to turn your fabric so you have a rounded corner instead of a straight one, it looks much better when you're all finished. I usually stitch around the whole thing twice, just to make sure it doesn't come undone. Oh, and don't forget to leave a whole at the bottom of the pillow to stuff the pillow form in. Once you have the pillow stuffed, then stitch up the bottom whole by hand, but leave a space big enough to stuff the ends of the cord thru. Okay, now sew the cord around the edge by hand, starting and ending at the hole you left. You stuff the ends of the cord into the hole, stitch it up, and presto!!! a corded pillow!
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From: Diana For finishing perforated paper ornaments backs without glue:
Use a second piece of perforated paper, lining up the holes, and overcast or buttonhole the edges. Fabric can also be used and sewn on in the same method.
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From: Anne Reintges For finishing perforated paper ornaments backs without glue:
You can stitch the design twice and sew the two designs back-to-back. Another idea is to stitch my initials and the year instead of the design. It's much faster and a record of when the ornament was done. If it's a gift you could stitch "To" and "From" and the year.
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From: Lynn Schamberger For finishing perforated paper ornaments backs without glue:
You can backstitch around the ornament and through the felt to attach the paper to the felt. I usually cut the felt with pinking shears to give an interesting edge around the ornament. Or you could make a second ornament a mirror image of the shape of the first and back stitch them together to make it reversible. You could use one of the reversible stitching techniques to make the ornament and not have to "finish" it at all.
If your problem is that you don't like the flatness of it, you could reverse appliqué the ornament to a piece of cloth and finish it in your favorite way for fabric ornaments. For fabric ornaments, I like making a little pillow by bringing each of the four corners to the center and stuffing it a little just before I stitch the last quarter. You could place it in a little craft frame, if you can locate one the right size, but here you are probably faced with glue again.
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Ideas from: Crafttalk newsletter by Herrschner's
For two-sided ornaments, stitch a design for two ornaments and frame them in the small "gold tone" plastic frames that come in various sized and shapes. Then glue the frames back-to-back. You can either stitch the same motif twice, or stitch a motif on one side and a name and date on for the other side. If you don't want to stitch the name and date, you can hand-print it or make it computer-generated.
Remember to add a hanging loop to your ornament. Just glue a ribbon or satin cording loop to one center back and allow it to dry. Then glue the other ornament to the first, back-to-back.
If you want to add lace to the edge of your ornament, glue it around the back of one ornament and let it dry. Then add a cardboard "spacer" between the two frames to create a small gap between them to accomodate the thickness of the lace.
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Websites
Marth Beth Lewis has two nice articles on her website. The first is entitled Quickie Christmas Ornaments that is worth reading. The second is entitled How to Finish Quickie Christmas Ornaments.
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Magazine Articles
Arctic Santa & Friends Ornament Finishing
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