Holiday Time Ornaments

Designer: Roseann Meehan Kermes

Additional fabrics and materials are included in the instructions that follow for each ornament.

• 5" square backing fabric
• 5x10" piece thin cotton batting
• 5" square lightweight cardboard
• 4-1⁄4"-diameter wooden embroidery hoop
• Basting glue, such as Roxanne's Glue-Baste-It
• Glue stick
• Lightweight fusible web
• Freezer paper
• Water-soluble marker
• Hand embroidery needle: size 9
• Wire ornament hanger

For patterns A and B, make templates by tracing patterns onto template plastic with a permanent marker and cutting out on drawn lines. Use a pencil or water-soluble marker to trace around templates on wrong sides of fabrics indicated in cutting instructions, then cut out on drawn lines.

To use fusible web when preparing cotton appliqués, complete the following steps.

1. Lay fusible web, paper side up, over patterns. Use a pencil to trace each pattern the number of times indicated in cutting instructions, leaving 1⁄2" between tracings. Cut out fusible-web shapes roughly 1⁄4" outside traced lines.

2. Following manufacturer's instructions, press fusible-web shapes onto wrong sides of fabrics indicated in cutting instructions; let cool. Cut out fabric shapes on drawn lines; peel off paper backings.

To use freezer paper when preparing felted wool appliqués, complete the following steps.

1. Lay freezer paper, shiny side down, over patterns. Use a pencil to trace patterns the number of times indicated in cutting instructions, leaving 1⁄2" between tracings. Cut out freezer-paper shapes roughly 1⁄4" outside drawn lines.

2. Using a hot dry iron, press freezer-paper shapes, shiny side down, onto designated wools. Let cool. Cut out wool shapes on drawn lines. Peel off freezer paper and discard.

1. Center fabric B circle over small hoop. Place larger hoop on top and tighten screw. Adjust fabric as needed so it is evenly taut.

2. Referring to instructions for each ornament, arrange appliqués on right side of hooped B circle. Pin or baste in place with fabric glue.

3. On wrong side of hooped B circle, apply glue stick; adhere a batting A circle.

4. Hand-stitch and embellish hooped B circle according to instructions for each ornament, stitching through both fabric and batting, to make ornament top.

5. Remove ornament top from hoop and press flat. Paint outer hoop, if desired, and let dry. Re-hoop, being sure screw is centered at top of ornament.

6. Place hooped ornament top right side down on your work surface. Working with a small section at a time, apply glue stick along inside of small hoop. Fold excess fabric evenly to back and finger-press, pleating as necessary.

7. Apply glue stick to cardboard A circle; finger-press a batting A circle on top. Place backing fabric B circle right side down on work surface and apply glue stick to wrong side. Center cardboard A circle, batting side down, on B circle. Wrap fabric evenly to back of cardboard circle, clipping into fabric edge as needed to make it lie flat, and glue to cardboard to make ornament backing.

8. Glue ornament backing to wrong side of hooped ornament top.

9. Attach wire hanger to screw at top of hoop.

• Basic supplies
• 6" square each of white print and green print (appliqué foundation)
• Scraps of red and green felted wool (appliqués, tie at top of ornament)
• 1⁄8"- or 3⁄16"-diameter paper punch (optional)
• Acrylic paint: dark green
• Embroidery floss: red, green

Patterns on in printable PDF above.

TIP: Use a paper punch to cut out the small circles on the C scallop, or substitute large beads for the holes.

From backing fabric, cut:

• 1 of Pattern B

From batting, cut:

• 2 of Pattern A

From lightweight cardboard, cut:

• 1 of Pattern A

From white print, cut:

• 1 of Pattern C

From green print, cut:

• 1 of Pattern B

From red wool, cut:

• 1 each of letters N, O, E, and L
• 1 of Pattern D

From green wool, cut:

• 2 of Pattern E
• 1--3⁄8x6" strip

For stitch instructions, see printable PDF above.

1. Referring to Noel Appliqué Placement Diagram, position white print C appliqué atop green print B circle; fuse in place to make appliqué foundation. Hoop appliqué foundation according to Basic Assembly, Step 1.

2. Arrange red wool D heart and letters and green wool E leaves on right side of hooped B circle. Pin or glue-baste in place. Add batting A circle according to Basic Assembly, Step 3.

3. Whipstitch around red wool shapes with one strand of red floss.

4. Stitch through center of each leaf with two strands of green floss and a running stitch. Pull up slightly to gather.

5. Blanket-stitch around white print scalloped edge with two strands of red floss to make ornament top.

6. Remove ornament top from hoop, paint outer hoop dark green, and let dry. Re-hoop, being sure screw is centered at top of ornament. Complete ornament according to Basic Assembly, steps 6–9. Tie green wool 3⁄8x6" strip to screw mechanism.

• Basic supplies
• 8" square light blue print (appliqué foundation, appliqué)
• 4-1⁄2" square cream felted wool (appliqué)
• 15" of 3⁄8"-wide rickrack: light blue
• Acrylic paint: white
• Metallic thread: silver
• Embroidery floss: cream
• 31 small seed beads: cream
• Scraps of ribbon and yarn
• Beading needle

Patterns are in printable PDF above.

From backing fabric, cut:

• 1 of Pattern B

From batting, cut:

• 2 of Pattern A

From lightweight cardboard, cut:

• 1 of Pattern A

From light blue print, cut:

• 1 each of patterns B and G

From cream wool, cut:

• 1 of Pattern F

For stitch instructions, see printable PDF above.

1. Hoop light blue print B circle according to Basic Assembly, Step 1.

2. Referring to Snowflake Appliqué Placement Diagram, fuse light blue print G circle atop cream wool F snowflake. Center snowflake on right side of hooped B circle. Pin or glue-baste in place. Add batting A circle according to Basic Assembly, Step 3.

3. Whipstitch around cream wool snowflake with one strand of cream floss.

4. Blanket-stitch around light blue print center circle with silver thread.

5. Referring to Snowflake Appliqué Placement Diagram, stitch details--one long straight stitch and two short straight stitches at ends--on center circle and snowflake with silver thread.

6. With beading needle and silver thread, sew beads to center of circle and snowflake to make ornament top.

To stitch beads, bring up needle in center of bead, stitch across bead, and push needle back into fabric. Bring needle up in center of bead again, then stitch across opposite side of bead so that it lies flat.

7. Remove ornament top from hoop, paint outer hoop with one or more coats of white paint, and let dry. Re-hoop, being sure screw is centered at top of ornament. Complete ornament according to Basic Assembly, steps 6–9. Glue light blue rickrack to outer edge of larger hoop. Tie ribbon and yarn scraps to screw mechanism.

• Basic supplies
• 6" square green print (appliqué foundation)
• Scraps of red, green, and cream felted wool (appliqués)
• 20" of 1⁄4"-wide velvet ribbon: red
• Acrylic paint: brown
• Embroidery floss: red, green
• Water- or heat-soluble marking pen, such as Frixion disappearing ink marker
• 3 small seed beads: gold
• Beading needle

Patterns are in printable PDF above.

From backing fabric, cut:

• 1 of Pattern B

From batting, cut:

• 2 of Pattern A

From lightweight cardboard, cut:

• 1 of Pattern A

From green print, cut:

• 1 of Pattern B

From red wool, cut:

• 1 of Pattern H

From green wool, cut:

• 2 of Pattern I

From cream wool, cut:

• 3 of Pattern J

For stitch instructions, see printable PDF above.

1. Tape the word joy from printable PDF onto a light box or sunny window. Place green print B circle atop word and trace with pencil or water- or heat-soluble marker.

2. Hoop marked B circle according to Basic Assembly, Step 1.

3. Referring to Joy Appliqué Placement Diagram, arrange red wool H heart, green wool I leaves, and cream wool J flowers on right side of hooped B circle. Pin or glue-baste in place. Add batting A circle according to Basic Assembly, Step 3.

4. Whipstitch around heart with one strand of red floss.

5. Stitch through center of each leaf with one strand of green floss and a running stitch. Pull up slightly to gather.

6. Backstitch joy with two strands of red floss. Make a French knot at top of J.

7. Referring to Snowflake Ornament Assembly, Step 6, use two strands of red floss to sew a gold bead to center of each cream wool flower to make ornament top.

8. Remove ornament top from hoop, paint outer hoop brown, and let dry. Re-hoop, being sure screw is centered at top of ornament. Complete ornament according to Basic Assembly, steps 6–9. Glue red velvet ribbon to outer edge of larger hoop and tie leftover ribbon to screw mechanism.

• Basic supplies
• 6" square light green print (foundation)
• Scraps of ribbon and yarn
• Embroidery floss or 12-weight cotton thread: red
• Acrylic paint: white
• Water- or heat-soluble marking pen, such as Frixion disappearing ink marker

Patterns are in printable PDF above.

From backing fabric, cut:

• 1 of Pattern B

From batting, cut:

• 2 of Pattern A

From lightweight cardboard, cut:

• 1 of Pattern A

From light green print, cut:

• 1 of Pattern B

For stitch instructions, see printable PDF above.

1. Tape Candle Ornament Embroidery Pattern from printable PDF onto a light box or sunny window. Center light green print B circle atop pattern and trace with pencil or water- or heat-soluble marking pen. TIP: Don't trace small details such as French knots or Xs. They can be added freehand later by looking at the pattern.

2. Hoop marked B circle according to Basic Assembly, Step 1. Add batting A circle according to Basic Assembly, Step 3.

3. Using two strands of red floss or one length of 12-weight thread, make French knot berries and flame accents, straight-stitch evergreen needles, make cross-stitches, and backstitch remaining drawn lines to make ornament top.

4. Remove ornament top from hoop, paint outer hoop white, and let dry. Re-hoop, being sure screw is centered at top of ornament. Complete ornament according to Basic Assembly, steps 6–9. Tie ribbon and yarn scraps to screw mechanism.