Folded Diamond Christmas Ornament

Judy Harper ornament, photo copyright Napa Needlepoint

For a Christmas needlepoint ornament, I love diamond-shaped ones. Not only is their shape unusual, but they are so easy to finish, using threads in your stash.

The result is a slightly puffy diamond, sometimes called a hollow balloon.

The pictured ornament is a free design from Judy Harper. The one pictured here is one of two I stitched and about which I blogged.

Make a square around the diamond and cut it out about five canvas threads beyond it.

fold the edges under & the corners to meet, copyright Napa Needlepoint

Fold that margin and then fold the corners of the square to the back so that they meet in the center, above.

partially folded ornament from the front, copyright Napa Needlepoint

You can insert your hanger at one of the points or do it at the end. Use a length of thread about 6″. Pull it through the unstitched margin at one point, leaving a long tail. Bring it back through the unstitched margin at the other side of the point.

Once that’s done, tie the ends together and pull out the loop, making a hanger.

back of finished ornament, copyright Napa Needlepoint

Sew the edges of the canvas together on the back. Begin at one of the points and sew, making sure each stitch goes through the folded edge on both sides of the seam. You can also add your hanger now, following the same method, but putting it through the canvas on the back.

Once you come to the center, go out to another point, then start again at the third point and repeat.

Glue on a pretty piece of Ultrasude to cover the unstitched canvas.

This finish can be used with any Christmas needlepoint ornament with a central medallion or which is diamond-shaped.

Happy stitching!