10 Christmas Cross Stitch Finishing Ideas

There are so many ways to finish your cross stitch pieces into some really great gifts and designs -- especially at Christmas. Hundreds of winter-themed and Christmas cross stitch patterns available from many different designers, and each has its own special appeal. From modern to old-fashioned to folk-art, the options are endless, so why not try a few unique finishing projects.

Below are a few ideas for finishing your cross stitch pieces into truly unique gifts you can make and cherish during the holiday season.

If you’re looking for something extra special to make that will last for years to come, consider making an Advent calendar. All you will need to do is make 25 small cross stitch pillows having a number 1-25 on the front side and a varying pattern on the back side. Each pillow will have a ribbon hanger that can easily be tacked to a fabric-covered memo board. As you inch closer to Christmas day-by-day, flip your coordinating pillow over to reveal a different pattern of your choice. Your countdown to Christmas will never look so good!

Cross stitch ornaments make quick and easy gifts because they can easily be customized to fit anyone’s style and/or personality. Ornaments can be created simply by sewing together the opposite ends of any completed cross stitch to the fabric of your choice, turning inside out, filling with polyfill stuffing and stitching up the ends. Sew a ribbon to the edges to create a loop for hanging and within no time at all you will have beautiful gifts your friends and family will cherish forever.

Stitching up some some Christmas and/or winter-themed designs to add to your own handmade greeting cards is a quick and easy way to jazz up some really great Christmas cards.

These cards won’t take much time to stitch, considering the size of your card, but they can really make some gorgeous Christmas cards. They can also be framed by the recipient if they choose.

Now that you’ve made your Christmas greeting cards, consider using a smaller version of your pattern to whip up gift tags for your gifts and create a complete ensemble for your recipient. Gift tags take even less time to stitch than greeting cards themselves, but can really make a great holiday ensemble when coupled with your hand-stitched Christmas cards.

Finishing your cross stitch pieces into hanging signs is another great option for Christmas decorating. Hanging signs can be created simply by mounting your finished cross stitch pieces to mounting board or wood, adding some trim all-around and attaching a ribbon. They can be hung from walls, Christmas trees, or even doorknobs throughout the house.

There are wonderful books and patterns filled with patterns for making stockings. If you are good with a sewing machine, you will be able to whip these stockings up quickly, but even if you’re a novice, there are some beautiful no-sew stocking kits available. Stockings can be personalized with names, dates and themes of your choice and finished into any size.

If you’re hosting Christmas dinner this year, or you would like to make a gift for someone who entertains, making cross stitched napkin rings is a great option. As the stitching size is so small, you can whip up 8-10 napkin rings in half the time it takes to cross stitch an entire larger-sized pattern. Once you have stiched your design, you can easily make napkin rings from creating a 2-3” loop and sewing together edges.

Jar wrappers can be made to jazz up your basic candy dishes, apothecary jars and even your favorite holiday season candles. Jar wrappers are finished the same way you would finish napkin rings -- by sewing the edges to create a loop -- and can be placed around the jar of your choice.

When in doubt, mat and frame your cross stitch. Though not the most unique idea, a Christmas scene or sampler can be a wonderful gift idea or home décor option. Framing a cross stitched piece doesn’t always have to be boring though. If you feel that your frame is a little too basic, spruce it up with some paint, buttons, chipboard, or other embellishments.

If you’re good with a sewing machine, cross stitch pillows are right up your alley. Depending on the size of the pillow you choose, the stitching will more than likely take a little longer than if you were making smaller-sized finishes, but the result is totally worth the time. To make a cross stich pillow you will need your finished cross stitch piece, coordinating basic fabric, a sewing machine, interior batting, and some cording or trim to place around the edges.