I’m not off my needlepoint kick yet. Last year during the holidays I suggested making a little needlepoint kit for a crafty friend. To see that post, click here. This year I still like that idea and recently showed another idea here. It’s hard to think of any other season when we’re smack dab in the middle of the biggest holiday gift giving season of them all. So I see nothing wrong with giving a little Christmas kit for someone to work on throughout the year. By this time next year they’ll have it stitched, sewn and ready for the tree or turned into a pillow. If you’re the crafty one you can include a little coupon for the finished project, or even the fabric that inspired your design.
Both of these would be great for a beginning needlepointer. For the one on the left I used the grid of the canvas to “weave” my design and for the other I used the fabric as my inspiration. Fabric stores carry the needlepoint canvas and for such a small project you only need 1/3 of a yard. The canvas is wide so you’ll get many 12 X 12” squares to turn into gifts. Craft or needlepoint stores offer lots of yarn choices to include with the canvas. I love giving handmade gifts but I also love encouraging people to pick up a craft and give it a try. Needlepoint is pretty easy. All the stitches go the same direction and you’re just filling up the canvas with yarn, making a soft usable fabric out of what once was a stiff canvas.
The little stocking turned into a pillow. Ruffles of the printed fabric were one option but I decided I wanted a more tailored look. It still needed something so a strip of fabric across the green tied it altogether. Of course I used the print for the back of the pillow. I’m still considering added embellishments but there’s no rush; when I find just the right detail I’ll stitch it on. In the meantime I like the off-set look of having the design to one side.
The tree is finished and I’m deciding whether I need another pillow (!) or not. The two would make a nice set. I probably need to stop keeping them and move them over to my Etsy shop. Then again, maybe I’ll use it tied to the ribbon on top of a gift. Stay tuned!
