How to finish your embroidery as an ornament, coaster, or pincushion

You can finish a small embroidery or cross stitch design as a pincushion, ornament, or coaster. With a little lining fabric, some stuffing, and an optional braided cord made from leftover floss, you’ll have a terrific little embroidered goody to enjoy or share as a gift! The design shown here is the Aegean Ornaments Red kit. The kit is also available in Blue.

Step 1 Trim your embroidery

After finishing your embroidery, mark a line ¾” away from each side of the embroidery for your seam allowance. Cut along this line. Each motif will now be 5x5”.

Step 2 Prepare your lining

Cut the lining fabric included in the kit in half and then in half again so you have four pieces, each piece 5x5”. Note: the lining in the kit is 10x10”

Step 3 Sew embroidery and lining together

Place one piece of lining fabric on one embroidered motif, right sides together. Sew around perimeter with ½” seam allowance, leaving a 2” opening on one side.

Note: if you are making an ornament with a braided cord loop, take your leftover floss and make a little piece of braid 5” long. Fold braid in half, center along one side of the ornament and pin in place. When sewing around perimeter of embroidery, secure loop with several extra stitches.

Trim corners to reduce bulk. Turn embroidery right side out and press lightly.

Step 4 Choose your finishing

At this point, you can make a stuffed ornament, a flat ornament, a coaster, or a pincushion with your embroidery.

For a stuffed ornament: fill the ornament with batting, using a chopstick to push the batting into each corner. Work with small pieces of batting and use the chopstick to get the desired thickness of batting.

For a flat ornament or coaster: Cut a piece of Pellon Peltex 70 (or similar heavyweight, fusible interfacing) 3-7/8” x 3-7/8” and insert into ornament. Press to set Peltex.

For a pincushion: fill with crushed walnut shells.

Step 5 Blindstitch opening closed

For all methods above, finish by hand sewing 2” opening closed with blind stitch. Give your finished project a light pressing to help set the seams.

 

Additional ideas:

--You can use a necklace stand to display an ornament on a side table along with a plant or other decorations.

--If you’re giving a coaster as a gift, place it in a basket or gift bag with a box of tea, some coffee, a pretty mug, or some chocolate-covered espresso beans.

--If you’re giving a pincushion as a gift, place it in a little tray or gift bag with some pins, buttons, embroidery hoop and other sewing notions.

--Coasters, pincushions, and ornaments are a great way to use up small pieces of fabric and floss in your stash. Have fun coming up with your own unique designs!