Greetings friends - thank you for stopping by for a visit on this very special day....and to those celebrating in the United States, happy Thanksgiving. Today is my 2024 Cross Stitch Christmas Ornament unveiling and release day! Thanksgiving Day seemed like the perfect time to share my yearly complimentary cross stitch ornament design, as I am extremely grateful to be a part of your stitching journey. Yes, if you are here, then you must be a part of the stitching community that I love so dearly. Since I stood up for my artistry in 2020 and decided to release a yearly ornament on my own and not through a publication (if you are new here, please
see this important post for context), I have the honor of feeling the love from so many stitchers that value my art and designs. It brings me immense joy to design a holiday ornament each year and share it on my own terms with stitchers who appreciate me and my passion for needle and thread. On this day of thanks, I want to thank YOU for a multitude of things: for allowing me the opportunity to continue to pursue
my passion...for your kind support of
my needlework and quilting designs...for making purchases in
my Etsy Shop...for inspiring me...for your uplifting comments, notes and emails...and for sharing your enthusiasm of all things needle and thread with me. I kindly ask you please take a moment to read all the details below before downloading the chart - then enjoy!
This year's ornament is another in my Woodland Ornament Series...it is "Festive Fox." I had so much fun designing this happy winter fox with his lovely red scarf. It complements my previous ornaments and is in the same style as my 2021, 2022, and 2023 ornaments (My Frosty Friend, Bundled Up Birdie, and Peppermint Pressie). I continued in my flat-finish tradition (if you stitch it on 32-count fabric, 3 1/4" circles work perfectly) and used DMC floss (321 and 505) to make two-tone twisted cord. I decided to attach a 3/8" red gingham ribbon bow with a couple 1/2" red jingle bells. I used hand-dyed 32-count fabric again this year...search your stash for a darker neutral fabric...just make sure the white floss will stand out. I used Weeks Dye Works cotton floss for the model and provide DMC conversions with the chart, if you prefer. I truly hope this cheerful fox will bring a smile to your face - please stitch it with a happy heart.
As an added bonus this year, I will be sharing a finishing tutorial on the Therm O Web Blog in December - this will give you time to stitch your ornament and be ready to put it together. There will be templates and a step-by-step finishing tutorial available on the Therm O Web Blog on December 16th...along with a video tutorial Reel/Short on my Instagram Feed and YouTube Channel. You can also find the exact supplies I used for finishing by visiting the posts in my Amazon Shop (note, as an influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases).
You can find the printable PDF chart for "Festive Fox" here: https://blueribbondesigns.com/free-charts/
I kindly ask you do not post the actual chart on the Internet/social media or on Pinterest - instead, post a photo of the finished piece and/or direct users to this post or my website.
My hope is that my gift to you inspires you to pay it forward by giving a holiday surprise to someone you love or someone in need! I would love to start a movement of giving and positivity. I also hope this complimentary pattern will entice you to visit my website and/or Etsy Shop to take a look (all shippable orders will include a pretty printed "Festive Fox" chart)...or if you feel so inclined, you can Buy Me a Coffee...it is definitely not required, but truly appreciated. Thank you for supporting my creativity and valuing my artistry!💕
NOTE: To be fair, I want to note, Just CrossStitch Magazine has since changed their policy going forward (starting with the 2022 Christmas Ornament Issue) - they are now compensating designers for submissions (insert applause here). I should also note - they have not invited me to design an ornament since I sent them the letter in December 2020 and posted about it publicly online. I want to thank each and every one of you who spread the word regarding my blog post and called out Just CrossStitch Magazine for their outdated non-compensation policy (my message truly went viral!). While they did not reach out to me for the 2022-2024 publications, I am proud of myself and everyone who stood with me to make this change that benefits all cross stitch designers working with them going forward. Thank you for helping me find my voice to make a difference.
Finally - if you plan to stitch "Festive Fox," I hope you will share an image of your progress or finished ornament on social media and tag me, so I can see it. It truly warms my heart to see each of you stitching my designs!
This holiday season, may your heart be full of joy, may you find some creative time each day, and may you see the beauty that surrounds you. Take a little time to count your blessings…and a little time to stitch…
