Once you've finally put that last stitch into your fabric, you're probably itching to figure out how to finish cross stitch ornaments so they can actually hang on your tree or be gifted to friends. It's a bit of a weird feeling, right? You spend weeks, maybe even months, obsessing over tiny little X's, and then suddenly you're done with the needle and thread, but the project just looks like a lonely scrap of Aida cloth. Turning that scrap into a polished, professional-looking ornament is honestly half the fun, even if it feels a little intimidating the first time you try it.
There's no single "right" way to do this, which is the best part. Depending on your style and how much time you want to spend "faffing about" with glue and cardboard, you can go for something super sleek and flat or something soft and squishy. Let's walk through some of the most popular methods that don't require a master's degree in upholstery.
The Classic Flat-Back Method
If you want your ornaments to look like those high-end ones you see in boutique shops, the flat-back method (often using mount board) is your best bet. It gives the ornament a nice weight and a very clean, crisp edge.
To do this, you'll need some acid-free mounting board or even just a sturdy piece of cardboard from a cereal box if you're in a pinch (though the fancy stuff lasts longer). You cut two identical shapes—circles, squares, or even stars if you're feeling brave. One piece is for your cross stitch, and the other is for your backing fabric.
Before you start assembly, iron your work. I can't stress this enough. Any tiny wrinkle you see now will look like a massive crater once it's stretched over a board. Lay your stitched piece face down on a soft towel and press it from the back. This keeps the stitches from getting flattened out and losing their texture.
Once it's pressed, you center your stitching over one board and "lace" it across the back with some strong sewing thread. It's kind of like lacing up a corset. You pull the fabric tight so the front is smooth and even. Do the same with a coordinating fabric for the back board, then literally just glue or sew the two boards together with a hanging loop sandwiched in the middle. It sounds complicated, but once you do one, you'll be hooked.
Making a Tiny Pillow
If you prefer something a bit more "shabby chic" or cozy, the pillow method is the way to go. This is essentially just making a tiny, tiny cushion. It's great because it doesn't require any stiff boards, making it a "softer" addition to a Christmas tree filled with glass and plastic.
You'll take your finished stitching and a piece of backing fabric of the same size. Put them "right sides" together—meaning the pretty sides are touching each other—and sew around the edges, leaving a small gap. Clip your corners so they turn out neatly, then flip the whole thing right-side out through that little hole.
Stuff it with a bit of polyester fiberfill (or even some dried lavender if you want it to smell nice!), and then hand-stitch the opening closed. It's quick, it's cute, and it's very tactile. This is also a great method if your cross stitch design is a bit irregular in shape because a pillow is more forgiving than a hard board.
Using Mini Hoops
Lately, I've seen so many people using those tiny wooden embroidery hoops to finish cross stitch ornaments, and honestly, it's a genius move. They're incredibly easy to use and give the project a finished, framed look without any actual framing.
You just pop your fabric into the mini hoop, tighten the screw, and trim the excess fabric from the back. Some people like to glue a circle of felt over the back to hide the messy threads (we all have them, don't worry), and then you just tie a ribbon through the top screw.
The only downside here is that you're stuck with a circular shape. If your design is a long rectangle or a weird star shape, it might not sit right in a hoop. But for little snowflakes or monogrammed initials? It's a total game-changer.
The "No-Sew" Felt Approach
Let's be real: sometimes you're finishing these ornaments at 11:00 PM on December 23rd, and you do not have the patience for lacing boards or sewing tiny pillows. This is where felt becomes your best friend.
Felt is amazing because the edges don't fray. You can simply trim your cross stitch fabric close to the design (maybe leave a quarter-inch border) and use fabric glue or a hot glue gun to stick it onto a slightly larger piece of colorful felt.
If you want to get fancy, you can use pinking shears to give the felt a zig-zag edge. It looks intentional, crafty, and very "handmade with love" rather than "I ran out of time." Add a little loop of twine, and you're done in five minutes flat.
Choosing the Right Backing Fabric
When you're deciding how to finish cross stitch ornaments, the backing fabric is just as important as the stitching itself. It's like the frame on a painting; it can really pull the whole thing together.
I usually look for small-scale prints. Since ornaments are tiny, a huge floral print will just look like a random blob of color on the back. Look for: * Tiny polka dots * Small ginghams or checks * Solid linens with a nice texture * Festive sparkles or metallic solids
Don't be afraid to go bold! If your stitching is mostly blue and white, a bright red backing fabric can make the whole ornament pop.
The Power of Embellishments
An ornament isn't really finished until you've added the "fluff." This is the stuff that takes it from a craft project to a professional-looking decoration.
Twisted cord is a classic choice. You can buy it, but it's actually really fun to make yourself using leftover embroidery floss. You just twist it until it kinks, fold it in half, and let it twist back on itself. Gluing this around the edge of a flat-backed ornament hides the seam where the two boards meet and looks incredibly posh.
Then there are tassels and pom-poms. A tiny tassel hanging from the bottom of a diamond-shaped ornament adds movement and flair. Or, if you're doing the pillow method, sewing tiny pom-poms around the edge can make it look whimsical and fun.
Preparing Your Work for the Final Step
Before you commit to any of these methods, you have to make sure your stitching is ready for its big debut. Beyond just ironing, check for any "traveling" threads. If you jumped from one area to another with a dark thread and it's showing through the white Aida fabric, now is the time to carefully snip it or tuck it behind a denser area of stitching.
Also, consider if you want to add any "bling" now. Seed beads or metallic threads are much easier to add while the fabric is still loose than after it's been glued to a board or stuffed into a pillow. A few strategically placed beads can look like falling snow or twinkling lights and really elevate the whole design.
Storing Your Ornaments
Since you've put so much work into figuring out how to finish cross stitch ornaments, you want them to last more than one season. Fabric can be finicky. It can yellow over time or attract dust.
When the holidays are over, don't just throw them in a plastic bin with the heavy outdoor lights. Wrap them individually in acid-free tissue paper. This keeps the colors from bleeding into each other and prevents the "squish factor" where the ornaments on the bottom of the pile get flattened. If you used glue in your finishing process, keeping them in a cool, dry place is essential so the adhesive doesn't get tacky or brittle.
Wrapping it Up
Finishing your work is really where the personality of the stitcher shines through. Some people love the precision of the board method, while others like the rustic charm of felt and pinking shears. There's no wrong answer as long as you're happy with how it looks hanging on the branch.
The more you experiment with how to finish cross stitch ornaments, the more you'll develop your own signature style. Maybe all of yours will have gold trim, or maybe you'll become the master of the mini-hoop. Whatever you choose, just remember to take a second to appreciate what you've made. You took a plain piece of fabric and some string and turned it into a little piece of art. That's pretty cool, if you ask me. Happy finishing!