Hello, friends! I’m so excited to share my October Christmas ornament, as it’s time to produce the next piece for the monthly advent calendar. I decided to continue with the wonderful beaded border concept, which I’ve been enjoying immensely. This month’s project was a lovely exploration of combining two techniques: the classic backstab stitch and delicate beadwork.

My October Creation

I’m quite pleased with how this oval ornament turned out! My goal was to create a piece that felt traditional yet had a festive sparkle.

• The Border: I used a continuous backstab stitch to create a strong line around the edge.
• The Beading: I incorporated little beads on either side of the backstitching to give it that festive sparkle. I used a two-bead technique for the edging to make it really pop.
• Embellishments: I included three little hearts on the interior and added a small jewel on the top piece for a bit of extra shine.
• The Finish: To make it look a little more polished and complete, I cut out a piece of felt and covered the back of the ornament.

Getting Started: Materials & Setup

For this particular ornament, I started with an oval embroidery hoop.

1. Fabric Prep: I pulled my plain white pillowcase fabric really nice and tight over the hoop.
2. Marking the Line: Using a ruler and a heat-proof pen (so I can iron it out later!), I measured and marked about a half an inch all the way around the inside of the hoop. This line served as my guide for the stitching.

Educational Section: Stitching the Border with the Backstab Method

The backstab stitch (or backstitch) is a fundamental embroidery stitch that creates a solid, clean line. It’s quite simple, and I’ll walk you through the steps:

1. Starting Out: Bring your floss up through your fabric.
2. The First Stitch: Pull your floss to the edge of your last stitch, and stitch back down into the fabric.
3. Moving Forward: Put your needle a little further forward and bring your floss up again.
4. Stitching Back: Now, stitch back down into your fabric right next to the previous stitch.

This process gives you that classic “ladder effect” of the backstab stitching, which is the foundation for the beaded border.

Educational Section: Beading Tutorial

After my backstab line was complete, I began adding the beads! I demonstrated this with a festive green and red combination, which creates a wonderful Christmas motif effect. The trick is to use the existing backstitch line as your anchor:

1. Load the Needle: Once your floss is up, incorporate your first bead, and then load your second bead onto the needle.
2. Anchor the First Side: Turn the back end of your needle, and pull the floss through the next stitch in your line. This places a bead on the first side of the backstitch.
3. Anchor the Second Side: Load your next bead (e.g., a green bead) onto the needle. Pull the needle through the next stitch up from the back side.

What you’re left with is your ladder effect of backstitching, with a red bead on one side and a green bead on the other! It’s very simple and incredibly effective, and didn’t take a tremendous amount of time.

Final Thoughts

I love how the different border techniques can change the look of a piece. For example, I also worked on a small piece that uses a satin front, felt on the back, and a piece of heat-and-bond in the middle for stability. On that, I simply went around with a blanket stitch and beads.

I highly encourage you to carry on and try all kinds of different methods! Don’t be afraid to spend time on YouTube or Facebook looking for different border edges—it’s lots of fun! We only have two more ornaments left to go for the year, and I can’t wait to see what you all create.

Thanks for watching, and happy stitching!