Cross Stitch: Christmas All the Trimmings SAL by Fat Quarter Shop plus FREE pattern changes

Hello!

Long time, no blog! Life has been full of all sort of surprises and challenges lately. Can I get an "amen"? 

In 2018, I tip-toed back into cross stitching and last year, I dived right in the deep end. I've completed a handful of adorable projects and have met so many amazing new friends on Instagram. Come visit me over there!

So last month I jumped right into the free, mystery stitch-along from Fat Quarter Shop titled All the Trimmings. You can see the gorgeous, full pattern HERE on their blog. So adorable and fun. The original calls for black aida and since I stitch mostly in the evening, my eyes weren't happy about that!

Well I wanted to start with everyone but needed to use stash that I had on hand. Early in the summer I randomly went to a garage sale and snagged 2 huge bins of cross stitch stuff (patterns, floss, fabric, hoops) for $20!!!! I dug through the fabric and there was a brand new piece of pink aida. Could I make it work? The pattern was traditional red and greens with turquoise. Hmmm.... maybe if I change the red to dark pink? And put it on the pink fabric?

Why not give it a try?

Sweet people on the Instagram seemed to like the pink and FQS even shared one of my posts!

DMC color numbers

The DMC colors I selected were 603, 906, 907, 964, 169, 168, and B5200 white. 

 

I made made a gingham stocking

I made a few changes on the stockings, but when I got to the rows of bows and trees, I knew I needed to put the bows on the trees just like my mom did. She was the best bow maker! I added "Joy to the World" in the middle because we desperately need it right now. The font I used to design that is from Lord Libidan and his font collection found HERE. So many good ones there.

Joy to the World

A sweet, new friend and I tried guessing what the design would be each week and she thought there might be a row of ornaments. Well I HAD to add those. After a few evenings of pencil and graph paper, I came up with a design and stitched it up. I think it turned out cute! 

old school graph paper

Here it is if you want to try! (Free, but still copyrighted by Ann Dreyer Designs please.) 

 

CLICK HERE for PDF link for ball ornament garland.

And lastly, I tried my hand at making snowflakes. Haha! One day, I'll learn to not complicate things and leave well enough alone. 

 

CLICK HERE for PDF link for snowflake pattern.

 

Let me know if you try them! Now to figure out how to fully finish this one!!!

:) Ann