I can’t believe it’s almost Christmas. This year has just flown by! I’ve been in the Christmas spirit for ages (I’m one of those people who get in the festive mood on the first colder days in September), and finally, the holidays are pretty much here. So naturally, I’ve been enjoying Christmas themed crafts lately. This time, I completed yet another cross stitch kit, with the perfect design for this time of year. I thoroughly enjoyed cross stitching this small gingerbread man holding a candy cane!
Contents of the kit
Let’s start with the contents of the kit, shall we? I usually buy cross stitch sets in TkMaxx, but this one came from The Works. However, the contents of the box were pretty much the same as most of assorted cross stitch sets.
The kit included a small plastic embroidery hoop, a blank aida, a needle, a leaflet with the pattern, and yarn in assorted colours. It cost me £2, which is great for a full DIY project.
Starting off
By the way, I wrote a post with a comprehensive guide to cross stitching. It includes everything I wish I had known when I first started cross stitching. Check it out if you’re planning to start cross stitching yourself!
I decided to start cross stitching with one of the main colours – red. Usually when I cross stitch, I like to sew the colours one by one. I completed all of the red squares and had the design mapped out on the aida. I still had loads of red yarn left, too. Sometimes assorted cross stitch kits can be a bit stingy, but this specific one was very generous with the thread. It’s always reassuring to see!
Adding more colours
With the red hat, scarf and candy cane already sewn, I decided to add the black and white details. I gave the gingerbread man a cute face, and added the white parts of the hat, scarf, and candy cane. I also added the icing details on his arm and legs, although you can’t see it well on the white aida.
Adding the highlights and shadows
Next, I decided to add the highlights and shadows of the cookie. At this point, you could clearly see the outline of the design. The gingerbread man was coming to life! I had to adjust the aida slightly, to have the whole design in frame.
Final block of colour
Finally, it was time to cross stitch the main colour – the orangey-brown body of the gingerbread man. I really, really love how it turned out! I’ve completed some Christmas cross stitch projects before, but this one is definitely my favourite so far.
Final thoughts
I’m really happy with this cross stitch design. What’s best, the set came with a generous amount of yarn. I’m pretty sure I could cross stitch a whole second gingerbread man with the leftovers. For comparison, last year, I completed a Christmas cross stitch set which lacked sufficient yarn… in most colours!
Also, a quick reminder: if you’re still looking for Christmas gifts, assorted craft sets are a great gift idea for a crafty friend! They’re usually very affordable, so you can even buy them as stocking fillers. This cross stitch set, with all of the supplies, cost just £2.
Also see:
Alphe's Corner 