{"id":439,"date":"2011-09-19T19:44:48","date_gmt":"2011-09-19T19:44:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/designneedlepointkits.com\/?p=439"},"modified":"2011-09-19T19:44:48","modified_gmt":"2011-09-19T19:44:48","slug":"christmas-ornaments-using-quick-stitches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.needlepaint.com\/blog\/2011\/09\/19\/christmas-ornaments-using-quick-stitches\/","title":{"rendered":"Needlepoint Christmas Ornaments Using Quick Stitches"},"content":{"rendered":"

With December rapidly approaching, I realized that I was going to have to speed up if my goal of 12 personalized needlepoint<\/a> ornaments for Christmas gifts was to be met. I have now completed 5 and my needle is flying.<\/p>\n

The key to speed \u2013 quick backgrounds! \u00a0Three fast background stitches came from The Needlepoint Book<\/strong> by Joe Ippolito Christensen.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>On the Penguin Needlepoint Ornament<\/a>, I used a variation on the Four-way Bargello for the sky, and n0t so quick was the diagonal mosaic for the ice bergs and snow. Still faster than the traditional continental stitch!<\/p>\n


\n<\/a><\/p>\n

The background for the angel ornament is\u00a0 the Victorian Step which was even quicker.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>But, the ultimate speed came with the open work on the Santa ornament. This is a modification of the Four-Sided Over Three stitch from A Pageant of Pattern for Needlepoint Canvas<\/strong> by Sherlee Lantz. It does not cover the canvas but lets the printed background show through.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Four-Sided Over Three Stitch<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>I also came up with some other ideas to dress them up quickly:<\/p>\n