{"id":2458,"date":"2026-10-11T21:07:04","date_gmt":"2026-10-11T21:07:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.xstitchpattern.com\/?p=2458"},"modified":"2026-10-12T21:40:23","modified_gmt":"2026-10-12T21:40:23","slug":"how-to-make-cross-stitch-christmas-ornaments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.xstitchpattern.com\/ar\/how-to-make-cross-stitch-christmas-ornaments\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Make Cross Stitch Christmas Ornaments From Small Charts"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"xsp-journal\">\n<p class=\"xsp-intro\">A tiny stitched tree, snowflake or star makes a thoughtful Christmas ornament, but the finish matters as much as the motif. Before you stitch, decide whether the ornament will be padded, flat or displayed in a mini hoop. That choice determines how much fabric you need and how the chart should be positioned.<\/p>\n<nav class=\"xsp-toc\" aria-label=\"Table of contents\"><strong>In this guide<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#section-1\">Choose a chart with a clear shape<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#section-2\">Plan size, fabric and finishing allowance<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#section-3\">Prepare the stitched front<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#section-4\">Option A: Make a soft padded ornament<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#section-5\">Option B: Make a flat felt-backed ornament<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#section-6\">Finishing, care and gifting<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<figure class=\"xsp-journal-figure\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.xstitchpattern.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Red-and-white-embroidery-textile.jpg\" alt=\"Handmade red and white textile as a seasonal needlework example\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"\"><figcaption>Editorial needlework inspiration. Photo: Netelin B \/ Unsplash.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 id=\"section-1\">Choose a chart with a clear shape<\/h2>\n<p>Simple ornaments work best with a recognisable outline from a distance: a tree, stocking, winter bird, little house or geometric snowflake. A 35 \u00d7 35-stitch chart on 14-count Aida creates roughly 2.5 inches of stitched area, before edge allowance. A highly shaded design with dozens of colours may overwhelm such a small finish.<\/p>\n<p>If your goal is a batch of five gifts, pick a shared palette of red, forest green, cream and one accent. Repeating a few colours helps keep the ornaments visually consistent and reduces the time you spend changing thread.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"section-2\">Plan size, fabric and finishing allowance<\/h2>\n<p>Divide stitch count by fabric count to estimate the stitched size in inches. For example, a 42-stitch motif on 14-count Aida is three inches wide. Add an allowance for turning the edges or gathering at the back; the finished ornament will be larger than the stitched motif itself.<\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;re making a shaped ornament, trace the finished outline on paper before cutting your fabric. Check that sharp corners and tiny protruding sections will be possible to turn neatly once a backing is added. See our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.xstitchpattern.com\/14-16-or-18-count-aida-a-cross-stitch-fabric-size-guide\/\">Aida sizing reference<\/a> for other fabric counts.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"section-3\">Prepare the stitched front<\/h2>\n<p>Work the design while keeping all top diagonals in the same direction. If metallic floss or beads are part of the motif, add them after finishing the main cotton crosses, following the relevant materials&#8217; care instructions. Avoid long loose thread carries behind an open area; they can show through pale fabric or snag during assembly.<\/p>\n<p>When the stitching is complete, tidy the reverse and press carefully if the fabric and threads allow it. Press from the back on a soft towel instead of flattening the stitches from the front. Let the fabric cool and dry completely before adding a backing.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"xsp-editorial-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1254\" height=\"1254\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.xstitchpattern.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/xsp-category-christmas-v2.png\" alt=\"Illustrative Christmas cross stitch embroidery category artwork\" title=\"\"><figcaption>Small, bold Christmas motifs translate well to padded or felt-backed hanging decorations.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 id=\"section-4\">Option A: Make a soft padded ornament<\/h2>\n<p>Place the stitched front and a coordinating backing fabric right sides together. Mark the outline with a generous seam allowance and a small opening for turning. Sew around the shape using a neat small stitch, clip bulky corners if the material requires it, then turn carefully. Add just enough polyester or cotton stuffing to hold the form without stretching the cross stitch out of square.<\/p>\n<p>Close the opening with ladder stitches. Sew a ribbon loop securely into the upper seam or through a reinforced point. For very small ornaments, a cardboard or felt insert can give a flatter, more structured look than stuffing.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"section-5\">Option B: Make a flat felt-backed ornament<\/h2>\n<p>For a fast finish, cut a felt back slightly wider than the stitched motif, turn the front fabric margins under and stitch the two layers together. A decorative blanket stitch can form a tidy edge. If the outline is a circle or square, you can also add a thin piece of archival-quality mount board, wrapped in fabric, to make a flatter hanging decoration.<\/p>\n<p>A flat ornament packs and stores more easily than a stuffed one. Keep cardboard away from damp environments, and use thread or ribbon strong enough to support the weight of your materials.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"section-6\">Finishing, care and gifting<\/h2>\n<p>Measure the finished item and test the hanging loop before packing it. Include a short note telling the recipient to dust gently, avoid prolonged sunlight and store flat or in tissue away from moisture. If you attach a metal charm, ensure it has no rough edge that could snag the stitches.<\/p>\n<p>For a modern gift, label each ornament with the year on a separate gift tag rather than crowding a very small motif with extra text. And if you&#8217;re gifting the pattern PDF as well, respect the pattern designer&#8217;s licence: a purchased chart is not automatically licensed for redistribution.<\/p>\n<h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<h3>What fabric count is best for a beginner ornament?<\/h3>\n<p>14-count Aida is easy to count and produces reasonably large stitches. A finer count makes the same chart smaller.<\/p>\n<h3>How do I hang a flat cross stitch ornament?<\/h3>\n<p>Sew a secure ribbon loop between the stitched front and backing, or anchor it through a reinforced upper edge.<\/p>\n<h2>Sources and next steps<\/h2>\n<p>For basic tools and techniques, consult <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dmc.com\/US\/en\/explore-cross-stitch\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">DMC&#8217;s cross stitch guide<\/a>. Find more <a href=\"https:\/\/www.xstitchpattern.com\/free-tools-guides\/\">resources for counted cross stitch<\/a> on XStitchPattern.<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Make cross stitch Christmas ornaments with small charts, fabric margins, felt backing and hanging loops. Includes sizing examples and finishing options.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2517,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1,79,80],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2458","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-digital-patterns","category-mini-patterns","category-seasonal-holiday-patterns"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.xstitchpattern.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Holiday-decorations-on-tabletop.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.xstitchpattern.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2458","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.xstitchpattern.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.xstitchpattern.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.xstitchpattern.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.xstitchpattern.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2458"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.xstitchpattern.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2458\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2597,"href":"https:\/\/www.xstitchpattern.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2458\/revisions\/2597"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.xstitchpattern.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2517"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.xstitchpattern.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2458"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.xstitchpattern.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2458"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.xstitchpattern.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2458"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}