Sharon's Original 1997 Christmas Ornament

FREE Christmas Ornament Pattern designed by me. (Copyright 1997)
You are welcome to print and stitch this design for your own personal use.

Stitched Piece

Design Size: 76w X 76h
25 Count = 3" X 3"

	Colors:
	I used the new DMC Rayon floss - Red & Green I used Gold Sulky Thread - 2 strands to do the inside pulled thread and the stitches coming from the red "bow."
	After I stitched the design - I went up 12 threads and outlined with backstitching in gray thread all around the design. I found going under 2 threads and over 2 threads was sufficient. This helps when you put the ornament together.
	Supplies:
	Hand Mixer Cardboard Glue Gun or Tacky Glue Batting (gives a padded effect) 6" square of coordinating fabric for back 1 skein of Green DMC Cotton Floss 1 skein of Red DMC Cotton Floss #24 Needle Hair Comb I tried using DMC rayon for the cording but it didn't give a twisted effect. You can use one color for the cording - it takes 2 skeins.
	How to make twisted cording with a self-attached tassel:

		Take one of your skeins of floss and carefully unwrap.
		Fold in half and put one end through the hand mixer and backup until the floss is straight.
		Take the other skein of floss and carefully unwrap.
		Fold in half and put one end through the hand mixed and backup until the floss is straight.
		Make sure the floss is even with no tangles.
		Step back until the floss is taut.
		Turn on your mixer - low speed for approximately 30 seconds.
		Work out any kinks by taking your forefinger and thumb to smooth out the floss.
		At the midpoint area, grab the floss in one hand and the hand-mixer in the other.
		When you reach the end that is attached to the drawer handle, hold the end attached to the mixer.
		Make sure the floss is even with no tangles.
		Step back until the floss is taut.
		Turn on your mixer - low speed for approximately 30 seconds.
		Work out any kinks by taking your forefinger and thumb to smooth out the floss.
		At the midpoint area, grab the floss in one hand and the hand-mixer in the other.
		When you reach the end that is attached to the drawer handle, hold the end attached to the mixer.
		Cut floss off of mixer blade.
		Cut floss off the drawer handle and add it to the end that was on the mixer blade.
		Tie a knot at the end that isn't folded. Let go of the floss that is on the folded end.
		Gently smooth out the kinks until you have a twist that is even and smooth.

	I suggest you try to make twisted cording once before you give up in frustration. My first attempt was quite an experience. Always buy extra skeins for the cording - just in case. Most of time it turns out great. Sometimes it doesn't. Also, I tend to get glue gun happy when attaching the twisted floss to my ornament and have to pull it off before it sets.
	So buy extra! :)

		Take your stitched design and trim off excess. Leave about 1 inch to 1 1/2 inches around all sides.
		Cut a background piece the same size as your stitched piece.
		Cut two (2) pieces of cardboard a little bit smaller than the outline gray thread.
		Cut two (2) pieces of batting the same size as your cardboard.
		With your glue gun, attach the batting pieces to each of the cardboard pieces.
		Take your background fabric and lay it good side down.
		Lay your batting/cardboard piece with the batting side down.
		Carefully glue two sides of the ornament.
		Turn the ornament around and do the other two sides.
		Trim the excess corners a bit.
		Glue them down.
		Set aside.
		Do the same with the stitching piece.
		Glue the two pieces together.
		Take your twisted cording and allow extra for the tassel.
		Little by little, glue it to the ornament covering up the sides.
		Working around the ornament, continue to glue until you come up to the top of the ornament.
		Make a "loop." See picture above.
		Continue to glue around the other side of the ornament.
		When you reach the bottom, make your tassel.
		Take your needle with some extra floss and tie a small knot.
		Come through the back side of the ornament until the knot doesn't show.
		Twist your floss around the cording several times - pulling tightly.
		On the backside of the ornament, come through the top center of the tassel.
		End off your thread leaving at least the same length as your tassel.
		Using a hair comb, untwist and smooth out the tassel.
		Trim your tassel the desired length.

	Finishing Tips:
	Now that you have the ornament stitched and the cording made, let's go finish your ornament.