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Finishing

 

 

 

 

Your Cross Stitch Wish Come True!

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Ornament Instructions From Start To Finish

Photos and Instructions By Rosemary Gibeau

 

 

 


1. Cut two pieces of acid free mat board to the required size.

2. Cut 2 pieces of thin batting same size as mat board.

3. Cut one piece of backing fabric the size of the mat board plus an extra 1" on all sides.

4. Cut stitched piece same size as backing fabric (mat board size plus an extra 1" on all sides)

5. Glue batting to one side of each piece of mat board- I use Aleens Tacky Glue. It dries clear, dries quite quickly, but not so fast that you can't move things around a bit if you need to. I also keep a damp cloth nearby, as I always seem to wind up with some on my fingers.

6. Center stitched piece on padded side of board. Pin all 4 sides to the sides of the mat board temporarily. Turn over and glue around edges on the back. Gently pull the top edge of the stitched piece over the board and onto the glued area. Adjust accordingly to make sure it is straight. Repeat with the bottom piece, and then the sides. Keep adjusting until the fabric lines are straight - nothing worse than a crooked design:).. then fold over the corners and glue into place. When they are dry I cut off the excess at an angle (like a miter) Some people like to miter the corners to start with, but I could not get a nice sharp corner doing it like that.

7.Repeat the same procedure with the backing fabric.

NOTE: If I am going to add a tassel, I center it and tape it to the inside of the back piece before I sandwich them together. Alternatively, you can sew one on to the  cording at the end if desired.  Depending on what type of hanger you want to use, you may want to position and glue it also at this point, especially if you are using a flat ribbon hanger.  If you are making a loop hanger from the one length of cording, that will be incorporated into the step when the cording is attached.
 
8. When both pieces are completely dry, glue around the outside edges of backing piece, and across the center. Place the stitched piece on top like a sandwich and let dry. I usually put it under a phone book with something heavy on top or use the snack bag clips or clothes pins around the edges. If you do that though be sure to put a piece of cardboard under each side of the clip, or you will get compression marks.

9. When everything is dry run a thin bead of glue around the edges and attached cording as desired -don't forget to add enough for the hanger (I've done that before, too).
 
On "Spring" - I attached small pieces of lace on each corner and pinned them in place, turning the edges under and gluing them, before I made my sandwich.

Same thing on the April Showers - I sandwiched the lace between the front and back, then glued them together. You can always position lace, etc., with tape to hold it .

I also put a piece of clear tape around my cording where I am going to cut it, then cut through the center of the tape. Stops the ends from fraying and gives a nice neat finish. Always try to start and stop your cording in an inconspicuous  place- i.e. behind a tassel or where your bow is going to go. That way the join is not seen.
 
Hope this helps - it's really up to you what you do to dress things up - you are limited only by your own imagination.


See Rosemary's Other Finishes

 

 

Twisted Cord Tutorial

Photos and Instructions By Jill Robinson of Illinois

 

 

 

"The secret is to have something heavy to weight your floss as it does the final twist. Here's how I do it, using a cup hook and an eye bolt.  I use a cup hook placed in the end of my cordless drill in place of a bit.


For one color cording, cut the floss six times the length of  the desired cording, making sure to include any length you  need for a hanging loop. Fold in half and tie a knot in the end.


Slip one end of the floss loop over the cup hook, hold the other end in your hand. Add a weight over the floss (I use an eye bolt  that has been opened slightly so I can slip it off the twisted floss). Holding the floss tightly, turn on the drill and twist. Continue until floss is tightly twisted and about to twist onto itself.


Holding the weight, bring the two ends together and remove from the drill. The cording will now twist together again. Let it twist until it stops on its own. Tie a knot in the loose end.


Voila! Whip stitch to your ornament for the best results".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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