A Kiwi Christmas Decoration Freebie...

It is already the 1st of November in New Zealand and the countdown to Christmas has definitely begun! Today is the day I've been planning to release my 2013 Kiwi Christmas decoration design and - in the spirit of Christmas - I am sharing the pattern with you all as a GIFT :o) 

'joy' Christmas Ornament
by home♥stitch♥ness

'joy' Christmas Ornament by home♥stitch♥ness 

Here it is photographed on our blue spruce tree - if you follow home♥stitch♥ness on Facebook you may remember that just over a week ago, this little tree was covered in SNOW! Thankfully it all melted away pretty quickly so I was able to hang the ornament on a branch for my husband to take some pics last weekend :o)

JOY is one of my most favourite words ever and describes everything that Christmas means to me and my family. To give this design a uniquely NZ flavour, it features a bright red pohutukawa flower in full bloom. I couldn't decide which shade of green I liked better for the lettering, so in the end decided to go with both :o)

It was a really quick and easy design to stitch and finish into a little ornament and is perfect for both beginners and experienced stitchers alike. All you'll need is a small piece of aida or linen, a few skeins of floss and you're ready to go! The beads are optional but if you can find them in your local craft store, they definitely add some sparkle and a festive look to the pohutukawa flower! 

Deciding how to finish the ornament...

In my stash I found some pohutukawa fabric that I'd had for AGES (the colours matched perfectly!) and some pretty red ribbon to use. My finishing skills are not as fancy as some of my stitching friends, but I hand sewed it into a little pillow that hangs on the tree by a bow. I was pleased with how it turned out - I even popped a couple of little jingle bells into the stuffing to make it extra 'Christmassy' :o) If that sounds too complicated, you could always display it in a small embroidery hoop or a 4 x 6 frame.

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Whether you are participating in an ornament swap this year, wanting to stitch something for your own tree or make a gift for a loved one, I hope this free pattern will encourage you to spend some quiet time being creative amidst the busy pre-Christmas rush! You are welcome to share this link as much as you like and most importantly - ENJOY :o)

Jenny x