These DIY Embroidery Hoop Christmas Ornaments are super fun and easy to make. Using these mini embroidery hoops you can create the cutest ornaments for your Christmas tree. Use the full tutorial below to learn how to create your own or watch the video on how I make these in less than 5 minutes.

I love DIY ornaments. In fact, they are some of my most favorite ones to hang on my tree. So when I made these DIY Embroidery Hoop Christmas Ornaments, you can say I probably went a little crazy.

I put together a quick 5-minute video showing you exactly step by step how I made these ornaments. Plus, I created the SVG cut files for you to download from the Resource Library so that you can create your own.

How to make Embroidery Hoop Ornaments:

Once you have all the supplies you will need to set up an area to create your ornaments. The dining room table or your craft table is a great place. I like to use the table from my Scrapbox Workbox craft storage cabinet. I love this cabinet very much!

My video above shows me creating these within my Scrapbox Workbox craft storage cabinet.

Materials Needed:

You will need to gather up about 5X5 inches pieces of fabric. You will need one fabric square for every one ornament you create.

You will also need the miniature-sized embroidery hoops. I like to get these and they come very quick!

Next, you will need heat transfer vinyl, you can use scraps, or if you are making 10-12 ornaments you might be able to get all 12 designs onto one sheet of heat transfer or iron-on vinyl.

Lastly, you will need some greenery and berries for embellishment. I like to use boxwood greenery wire. It’s very inexpensive, and you get a lot for the money. You can also use tiny poms such as these for the berries.

Once you have everything, simply press the design onto the fabric, and remove the plastic protective layer. Then, put the fabric square into the hoop. Fold over and hot-gue the remaining fabric edges on to the back of the hoop to secure it in place.

Using about 6 inches of boxwood twine, fold in the outer edges, and hot glue in place at the top center of the wreath. Then, glue 3-5 red poms on the greenery to create the berry look.

Add twine to the screw piece at the top of the embroidery hoop so that you can hang it from your tree. You’re all set! Hang from your tree and create as many as you like.

What do you think? These DIY Embroidery Hoop Christmas Ornaments would also be great to go along with gift tags on gifts or presents.

Source: Crafty Life Mom

By Sarah E. White

Knitting a sweater is one of the pinnacles of the hobby, and it’s one that stops some new knitters in their tracks. A sweater seems like such a big project that will take a lot of time and skill, so often knitters are too intimidated to take on the challenge.

It certainly can be all those things, but there are sweater patterns out there that newer knitters can do and that don’t include a huge time commitment. Here are the basic skills you need, some good patterns to try, and details to get you started.

Essential Skills for Knitting a Sweater

Before you knit a sweater, there are a few knitting skills you should have under your belt. You should be comfortable with casting on and binding off, as well as forming the knit stitch.

Purling comes in handy, too, if you’re knitting your sweater flat or if it has ribbing or a textured stitch pattern. Depending on whether your sweater is knit top-down or bottom-up, you’ll need to know the basics of increasing and decreasing.

You should be comfortable with reading a basic knitting pattern and deciphering knitting abbreviations. Though skill level is relative, understanding the skill level listed on a pattern can be helpful when choosing a first sweater pattern.

Easy Sweaters for Beginners

If you’re a little nervous about knitting an adult-sized sweater, you can always start by knitting for a baby or child. Little sweaters contain all the same skills as bigger ones, but they’ll finish faster, giving you more confidence in a shorter period of time.

This basic baby sweater, for example, is a great first sweater because it’s all Garter Stitch and there’s hardly any shaping at all. It’ll knit up in no time, and if you don’t know a baby, it’s a great charity knitting project.

This child’s cat sweater is super cute, too, and you don’t have to put the cat on the front if you want a plain, straightforward knit to practice on.

If you’re looking elsewhere for sweater knitting patterns, look for projects in garter stitch, Stockinette, or other easy stitch patterns. You can choose a circularly knit project if you’re comfortable working in the round; then you won’t have to worry about finishing. Heavier weight yarns make a project go faster and the stitches are easier to count and see, so they are a good choice for beginners.

Don’t choose a project you don’t like just because it’s easy. You want to be able to wear and enjoy your first sweater!

There are many great books and courses to help people knit their first sweaters, such as “My First Cardigan Workbook,”by Georgia Druen, and “The 30 Day Sweater Book,” by Lacie Lynnae.

Be Honest About Gauge

When you knit your first sweater, it may be the first time you really have to take gauge seriously. When knitting pieces that are designed to fit a body, you need to get accurate gauge so they’ll come out the size the designer intended.

Take the time to swatch, wash your swatch as you will wash your sweater, and measure your swatch honestly. Reknit on different needles if you need to. Even though you’re excited to get started and these steps take extra time, making sure you have the correct gauge is worth it as you’ll end up with a sweater that fits.

Finishing Matters

Once you’ve taken all the time needed to get gauge and knit all the pieces your sweater requires, take a little more time to sew your seams properly. Mattress stitch is essential for sewing side seams, while a horizontal seam works to join bound off stitches together, such as shoulder seams. The right finishing can make all the difference in having a sweater you’re proud to wear versus one that lives in the back of the closet.

Source: The Spruce Crafts