Now that Remembrance Day is past, it's time to start thinking about Christmas preparations. I start gradually getting out decorations anytime after Nov. 11, and begin working ( if I haven't already started) on stitching ornaments and making gifts. A number of years ago I picked up some Mill Hill kits for cross-stitched and beaded old fashioned Santas. I have made probably beteween 60 and 70 of these over the last 8 years or so, and given every single one away! So - this year I have promised myself, no one gets one until I have one of each design for my own tree. So I'm sharing the first one with you today - and each Friday for the next few weeks, I'll show you another. 
This first one is my favourite to do; I think I could almost stitch it without the pattern! He is called Saint Nick. He is 4.5" tall, and 2" wide at the widest part of his beard. Each Santa face is stitched on perforated paper, then beaded. I finish them by ironing a light or medium weight fusible interfacing to the back - this covers all the little thread ends, and just makes for a neater back. Then I trim away the excess paper, glue the hat to the head with a hot glue gun and add a thread hanger. Each one takes roughly 8 - 9 hours total. I'd hate to add up the hours I have spent on these over the years! It would scare me, I'm sure, but I enjoy working on something when I sit down in the evenings to "watch" TV. Plus I love giving special friends something I have made myself...
These kits may still be found in some needlework shops- or at least they could be ordered. The series is called "Charmed Santa Face" (1999) and there are 6 in this particular series. Saint Nick is # MHCSF18. Next Friday I'll show you Father Christmas.
Piece,
Linda
Family is the best part of Christmas.
This first one is my favourite to do; I think I could almost stitch it without the pattern! He is called Saint Nick. He is 4.5" tall, and 2" wide at the widest part of his beard. Each Santa face is stitched on perforated paper, then beaded. I finish them by ironing a light or medium weight fusible interfacing to the back - this covers all the little thread ends, and just makes for a neater back. Then I trim away the excess paper, glue the hat to the head with a hot glue gun and add a thread hanger. Each one takes roughly 8 - 9 hours total. I'd hate to add up the hours I have spent on these over the years! It would scare me, I'm sure, but I enjoy working on something when I sit down in the evenings to "watch" TV. Plus I love giving special friends something I have made myself...
These kits may still be found in some needlework shops- or at least they could be ordered. The series is called "Charmed Santa Face" (1999) and there are 6 in this particular series. Saint Nick is # MHCSF18. Next Friday I'll show you Father Christmas.
Piece,
Linda
Family is the best part of Christmas.
4 comments:
So do you draw the pattern on the perfed paper yourself. I've never seen this done before, but I did see the paper and wondered what it was. Neat.
No, nothing is drawn on. You follow a pattern just the same as for any counted cross-stitch.
I have done this same Santa myself. Lots of fun to stitch, but it is a bit of work too. But how delightful to be given as a gift! Mine hangs on my own tree, but I have given dozens of hand-made stitched ornaments over the years. Looking forward to Father Christmas next week. LB
Would love to see those in person. Too bad they weren't one of your special ornaments last night. Linda
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