Project

Embroidered Christmas Tree Ornament

Shatterproof and soft to the touch, this handmade token can be gifted in two ways: as a gift topper or a hanging ornament.

Photography: Anne Weil

Source: Martha Stewart

Introduction

This idea comes from our contributor Anne Weil. "I love this sweet, embroidered Christmas tree ornament. It makes a gorgeous handmade present topper to make that gift you're giving extra special, but it can also be reused and loved every season as a favorite ornament," she says. "Use the same stitching pattern and technique to make a lovely stocking, glass ball, or wreath ornament. The instructions and materials make two trees, which is ideal — one for me, and one for you!"

materials

Christmas Tree template

7-inch embroidery hoop (Pictured: Caydo 4 Pieces Embroidery Hoop Set Bamboo Circle Cross Stitch Hoop Ring, $11 for set of 4, amazon.com)

8-by-12-inch sheet of wool felt

1 skein of 6-strand embroidery floss (Pictured: DMC Six-strand embroidery floss in #353 Peach, $.73, dmc.com)

1 skein of metallic copper embroidery floss

Sewing thread in coordinating color

Stuffing

Embroidery needle

Scissors

Ruler

Air-soluble marking pen

steps

Download and print template, scaling as desired. (Note: The pictured template is 4 inches.)
Cut an 8-by-8-inch square of felt. Fold and crease your felt at the corner for a starting line. Beginning at the corner of your felt, and using your ruler, mark a dot at every centimeter down the crease. Perpendicular to your centerline, mark across the felt in 1-centimeter intervals. Move to the next dot on your centerline and repeat marking until your felt is covered by a 1-centimeter grid.
Place your marked felt into an embroidery hoop. With the non-metallic thread, using two strands of a six-stranded thread, backstitch in lines from dot to dot across the felt.
Turn the embroidery hoop 90 degrees, and backstitch from dot to dot in long stitches perpendicular to the lines just made.
Using two strands of the copper embroidery thread, and working in lines, make a running stitch over each dot or the intersection of your grid.
Rotate the embroidery hoop 90 degrees, and make running stitches across the small copper stitches, making a cross at each intersection.
Using template, trace and cut out two backs from wool felt.
Pin backs to the right side of embroidery, aligning tree shape so that copper threads run up and down and straight across the piece. Using needle and sewing thread, take tiny stitches around tree shape, leaving the top open to turn inside out, stuff and add the hanger.
Turn the tree shape right side out, poking out branches. Stuff tree with polyester filling.
Create a hanging loop by braiding three 7-inch lengths of the main embroidery thread, knotting both ends. Insert knotted ends into the top of the tree. Fold in edges of felt, and pin into place. Use the ladder stitch to close the top of the tree and secure the hanger.