• My Account
  • Lost Password
  • About
  • Wholesale
  • Store Locator
  • Classes
  • Events
  • OOPSIE

Hands On Design

Needlework and Cross Stitch Designs by Cathy Habermann

  • Shop
  • Tutorials
  • Floss Tube
  • Blog
  • Contact
  •  

A Flat Finish It Friday!

March 21, 2014 By Cathy Habermann 8 Comments

I’m going to walk you through the basic steps of a flat finished ornament. This is Joyeux Noel – the 1st in my Family Tree Series – it was designed for the French branch of my family. This original set was shipped off to them and I managed to take some photos during the finishing process of the 2nd set that I had stitched. Lots of pics!

A-Flat-Finish-It-Friday_Blog-Image_1

I gathered my supplies: cleaned & pressed stitched pieces, backing fabric, ribbons, cotton batting, mat board, acid free double sided tape, and lacing thread along with the other basics (needle, scissors, & whatnot)

A-Flat-Finish-It-Friday_Blog-Image_2

I trim my stitched piece to a more manageable size. Here I was going to show 1/4″ all around the ornament plus include 1″ for turning & lacing. You may need to trim a bit more off later but it’s better to be a little conservative…hard to add that fabric back later! I like to use my quilting ruler on my quilting mat with a rotary cutter – nice clean edges!

A-Flat-Finish-It-Friday_Blog-Image_3

I cut mat boards to the desired size for the front & back of the ornament. I place a small bit of double sided acid free tape on the boards & attach cotton batting. The tape helps to stabilize the batting – it won’t move around when you are centering your fabrics.

I like to place 2 layers of thin batting on the front side (under the stitching) & 1 layer on the back side (under cotton fabric).

A-Flat-Finish-It-Friday_Blog-Image_4

I used to lace the back fabric but have recently switched to holding it in place with the acid free double sided tape. I am not patient enough for glue although that would work too. Tape opposite sides – be sure to adjust fabric that has patterns or straight lines. Tape remaining sides & attach fabric – (you may have to trim out your corners a bit in case you have a thicker or stiff cotton)

A-Flat-Finish-It-Friday_Blog-Image_5

Now to lace your stitching. I do a side to side scooping motion with a heavy duty cotton/poly thread. After you lace the 1st two sides, be sure to check the front & make necessary adjustments to stitching. Once you turn & lace the other direction – you are locked into place. Again, I usually trim out my corners a bit -they get pretty packed!

A word about the side to side scooping motion: the needle goes through the linen – in & out on the same side running parallel to the edge. This way you won’t get stretching marks on the front where you really pull your stitches tight. (even our needlework can get stretch marks!!!)

A-Flat-Finish-It-Friday_Blog-Image_6

Now that front & back are taped or laced you want to attach them together. First, I opted to include a little ribbon for my hanger. That is being held in place with the double sided tape again. You don’t have to use ribbon – you may wish to use your cording for the hanger.

You will notice that I stretched my cotton & linen in 2 different directions – this also helps the “bulk” factor when stitching them together – you won’t get fat corners. (This means I folded vertical sides on one first & horizontal sides on the other first)

A-Flat-Finish-It-Friday_Blog-Image_7

I lace the front to the back using a color coordinating thread. After that…it is down to the fun part! trim, cording, buttons, bells, and all the doodads! I chose a simple black cording & a fun bow for the bottom. (attaching the cording will be a lesson for another day!)

A-Flat-Finish-It-Friday_Blog-Image_8

You may have already received the May issue of Cross Stitch & Needlework magazine. The 3rd installment of my series is in it & once again, I am giving you some DMC alternatives. Yours won’t look exactly like mine, but pretty darn close.

Thanks for all of the great feedback on this series. I was a little nervous when the editors approached me about doing such a long series but it has been a lot of fun! As I write this, I have turned in all but the last 2 – October & November. I know it sounds kind of weird, but I will be a little emotional when they are all complete!

April: blanc, 519, 703, 741, 319, 3746, 3832
May: 554, 369, 367, 3802, 3713, 961, 722, 433, 437

A-Flat-Finish-It-Friday_Blog-Image_9

Have an awesome weekend! I will be painting my son’s room. His was the 1st room we did when we moved in 10 years ago & now we are updating a bit in hopes to sell and maybe build after the college years!

Cathy

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Like this Post? Subscribe to My Newsletter!

Winner Winner!
Where did April go?

Comments

  1. cucki says

    March 21, 2014 at 2:53 pm

    Very pretty stitching and such a sweet way to finish it..I will try this method too..thank you
    Huge hugs x

    Reply
  2. Natasha says

    March 22, 2014 at 7:45 am

    Thank you for the tutorial, I have always used glue but think I will switch to the dbl sided tape seems much easier and less messy 🙂 I have never laced anything, I guess I will try it on my next ornamnet finish

    Reply
  3. Faye says

    March 22, 2014 at 10:25 am

    Thanks for sharing this technique. It's such a great way to do a finish. Love your blog.

    Reply
  4. wilma b says

    March 22, 2014 at 5:15 pm

    Great finishes! Your tutorial is super… I often do this type of finish. But instead of lacing the back and front together, I often glue them. Might have to try lacing one day.

    Reply
  5. Miss LindaLee says

    March 23, 2014 at 9:58 am

    What a great post with beautiful finishes. Very pretty and thank you for walking us through the process. You have a wonderful week.

    Reply
  6. Carol says

    March 25, 2014 at 6:05 pm

    What lovely finishes and I really appreciate your tutorial. Even though I've done this type of finish before I picked up several tips to try in the future to improve my ornament finishing 🙂 Thanks so much!

    Reply
  7. Stitchinowl says

    March 31, 2014 at 8:33 am

    I love this series. I just ran, well drove (!), to my LNS on Saturday to buy the May CS&N issue. Trying to decide whether to stitch all of them together, or as individual ornies.
    Carolyn

    Reply
  8. Linda J says

    May 13, 2014 at 11:12 pm

    I just found your series the other day in the may issue but haven't been able to track down the first (January) issue – where can I find it so I have the complete set?
    So excited to stitch these – so cute!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Shop By Category

Newsletter Subscription

Search

New in the Shop

  • MAD FOR PLAID
  • SNOW ON THE GROUND
  • THE WINTER BASKET
  • PENGUIN.PLAY $7.00

Hands On Design Instagoodness …

Come take a walk with me…a picture walk through Come take a walk with me…a picture walk through the finishing process of ‘love you too’. The tour starts on today's blog post on my website. 

This year’s Anniversary Token chart can be found on the blog posted a few days ago. 

#handsondesign #loveyoutoo #anniversary #anniversarygift #tokenoflove #valentinestitching #valentine #simplestitches #finishingtouch #moderncrossstitch #needlework #flosstube #beoriginal #maker #stitchsomehappy
‘love you too’ - this year’s Anniversary Tok ‘love you too’ - this year’s Anniversary Token 

You will find this chart in the newsletter that was sent out this morning. (ps…check the current blogpost on the website)

Thank you for your anniversary well wishes and we extend the same to you 🪡❤️

#handsondesign #loveyoutoo #anniversary #anniversarygift #tokenoflove #crossstitchsmalls #crossstitchfromtheheart #mrhod #moderncrossstitch #modernmaker #complimentarydesign #happyanniversary #stitchsomehappy
Just a little Wednesday Wave from a Walrus 😉 S Just a little Wednesday Wave from a Walrus 😉

Say that 10x fast

#handsondesign #wednesday #wave #polarplunge #sneakpeek #classiccolorworks #fabricsbystephanie #flosstube #moderncrossstitch #needlework #stitchywednesdays #stitchsomehappy
A new FlossTube is up for your viewing! #77 (somed A new FlossTube is up for your viewing! #77 (someday we’ll hit 100)

We are back in the kitchen getting ready to make nachos! (They were delish). 

Join us for some laughs (go ahead and laugh at us…we do all the time 😁) - no edits, no frills and umm, umm, umm…New Release details!

https://youtu.be/1RXKCJzjzRw

#handsondesign #flosstube #flosstubersofinstagram #mrhod #newreleases #crossstitch #needlework #pincushion #fabricsbystephanie #dmc #cosmofloss #woolfelt #chantelles141 #simplestitchesfabricshop #finishingtutorial #141designcompany 
#141madforplaidsal #moderncrossstitch #finishitfun #tripleplaypillows #madforplaid #plaidallyear #stitchsomehappy
Each one tells a story. 11 years ago I found mys Each one tells a story. 

11 years ago I found myself in need of an anniversary gift. A gift that I shared with stitchers. 

I see our journey through these annual designs - like pages of a journal- ‘yes, that was the year we…’

Previous years can be found scattered through my blog on the website. 

Next week I will update and gather all of the links together in one post. 

We are approaching our 35th anniversary and soon I will share this year’s token ❤️

#handsondesign #anniversary #anniversarygift #complimentarydesign #stitchavalentine #mrhod #journeyofstitches #february #crossstitch #flosstube #stitchesoflove #stitchsomehappy
It’s almost our Anniversary ❤️ Have you sti It’s almost our Anniversary ❤️

Have you stitched any of the previous year’s tokens that I design for Mr. HOD & gift to you? 

More details soon 

#handsondesign #anniversary #complimentarydesign #mrhod #anniversarygift #februarywedding #xstitch #stitch #flosstube #maker #designer #finisher #beoriginal #betrue #betruetoyourself #stitchsomehappy
Join Me on Instagram

Helpful Links

  • My Account
  • Lost Password
  • About
  • Wholesale
  • Store Locator
  • Classes
  • Events
  • OOPSIE

FOLLOW US ON:

Facebook-Logo_For-Website Instagram-Logo_For-Website

Get My Newsletter

And be the first to know about new products, events, tutorials and more!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram

Copyright © 2023 · Hands On Design

A Habermann Company · cathy@handsondesign.biz