Holiday Embroidery Gifts

I started making these fun Christmas Tree embroidery hoops last Christmas and loved them. I gave away the ones I made last year, but started making more to share with co-workers this year. I also decided to break it up a little bit with some snowflakes.

With my ankle surgery this fall, I haven’t been as mobile this holiday season to do a lot of sewing and quilting, but I’m really enjoying the slow stitching with embroidery.

The snowflakes!

Last year I made my co-workers drawstring bags with cookies inside. When I saw this snowflake in Issue 19 of Love Embroidery Magazine by Hello Hooray, I decided that I would to the same thing this year, but with an embroidered bag. Later I decided to not do the bag and cookies, but to mix in some snowflakes with the trees.

The first one I made I stuck with the colors from the magazine, because I love them!

The next one, I went with a more monotone color scheme. I really liked this one too.

And the last one, I went way off! I love how the variegated thread worked with this design!

I’m hooked on these snowflakes, too! They are a quick make and totally cute!

Next up, the Bitty Brush Trees! The Bitty Brush Tree pattern is by tinkerellen and is so cute and so easy to do while you are watching holiday baking shows on TV! Like I mentioned, I started making these last holiday season and planned on working on them all year, but didn’t. I did pick them back up again this year.

The fun thing about this pattern is all the things you can do with the trees! On Cheri’s (tinkerellen) IG page she has a SAL where she added the cute little letter beads on her trees. I’ve had fun adding different beads to the tree as ornaments. But every now and then, just a plain tree is lovely too!

I finished each of these hoops with a felt back sewn down with a blanket stitch.

The trees make a great ornament or wall hanging for friends, neighbors or co-workers. They are also a great relaxation tool for after a long day at work!

Happy Holidays!!!

SMQG Needle Case Holiday Exchange

A needle case project! This is the perfect storm of a project! Every year at our SMQG Holiday party there is a gift exchange. It’s always different. Sometimes everyone makes the same thing using whatever pattern they want, others we all make the same thing using the same pattern (like our 1 hour basket exchange) and then sometimes we make totally random things. This time the only rule was to make a needle case and to wrap it. Sometimes we play the white elephant game, sometimes we are given a specific member to sew for, but this time we played Left Right Center. I had never played it before, but it was hilarious! The game went along with a story about Santa and his elves losing the list. Every time the story says left, you pass to the left, etc.

I had been eyeing Stitchy Pie pattern from Charm About You. I have this problem of saying to myself, I can make that… But then I feel guilty knowing the right thing to do is to support the maker and buy their pattern and make the thing rather than just stealing the idea. Right? I’ve been needing a needle case, so I finally bought the pattern to make myself a needle case so I could stop leaving needles in the sides of every project bag have!

Right about the same time I purchased the pattern, Fabricworm posted that they had my favorite Charley Harper fabric (I had previously only seen it in vinyl) and I had to buy it!!! This would be perfect for my needlecase!

Then the guild announced the swap. I knew I was in!

I started by embroidering the Cardinal. It was the only animal I embroidered. When I got the fabric, I knew I wanted to embellish the fabric with embroidery. I didn’t use an interfacing, but I did need end up adding a fusible interfacing per the pattern.

Before cutting the pattern, I made sure the cardinal fit just right in one of the folds of the needle case.

And the inside. This pattern does call for Fusible Fleece, so it makes the needle case a little bit thicker than I anticipated. but I like it!

And this is the needle case that I received. OK, there were probably 30 or so people participating in the swap. Of all those gifts, I get a needle case with the same design idea. They both fold over into kind of a triangle shape and then open flat into a circle shape. I was so excited, obviously! I loved the stitchy pie pattern that open and folds flat just like this one!

I’d say this exchange was a success! I hope the person who got mine, enjoys it! I know I will enjoy the one I received! And I really love the one I made and will have to make one for myself to keep in another on the go project bag!