From Hand Embroidery Hoops to Festive Christmas Decor

Deck the halls with machine embroidery framed in hand embroidery hoops! This project adds a fa-la-la-festive flair to your home.

The steps below demonstrate how to make this merry addition to your Christmas decor. Hang the hoops on your mantel, along a banister, on a door, or on an open space of wall -- the options are endless!

Supplies & Materials:

Project Needs & Notes

Hand embroidery hoops (12", 10", and 8" diameter hoops were used in this example)
1/2 yard print quilter's cotton
1/3 yard linen
1/3 yard felt for back
Medium-weight (2.5 ounce) cutaway stabilizer
Temporary spray adhesive (like Gunold KK100)
Air-erase pen for marking
Double-sided fusible web
1" wide ribbon (for hanger)
1/2" wide ribbon (for decorative bow)
Round object like a bowl or plastic cover for tracing (should be 2" smaller in diameter than the hand embroidery hoop size)
Fabric glue
Pinking shears

Designs Used:

Designs featured in this tutorial are from the Christmas Frolicking Friends Design Packs. Different sizes of designs were used in the different sizes of hoops.

The 12" diameter hoops feature X9042, the 5.83" x 6.28" design pack.

The 10" diameter hoops feature X9043, the 4.72" x 5.10" design pack.

The 8" diameter hoops feature X9044, the 3.73" x 3.83" design pack.

Use larger or smaller sizes to match your preference and decor, and find an excellent variety of festive designs in the Christmas category here.

Gather Materials:

Choose the size hand embroidery hoop you wish to use, then make sure your design fits well inside.

A template is a printout of the design, and it's an excellent tool for determining size.

Print a template of the design using embroidery software.

To get an idea of size, place the design template inside the hand embroidery hoop. The edges of the design should be at least 2" from the hand embroidery hoop.

Two wooden embroidery hoops placed on a light wood surface with a printed grayscale image of a reindeer with a bird sitting on its back inside the smaller hoop.

Next, plan where the design will be embroidered on the linen fabric.

Use an air-erase pen to draw a circle on the linen. The circle should be 2" smaller than the hand embroidery hoop.

You may find that a bowl or plastic lid is the right size to trace.

Hand holding a purple fabric marker near a black, upside-down metal bowl on a light beige fabric surface.

Center the template inside the shape. Mark the center point and the horizontal and vertical axis lines.

Hand drawing of a reindeer and bird on fabric with a purple marker, next to a printed grayscale reference image of the same drawing on paper, with circular markings on fabric.

Start Embroidering:

Remove the template and draw lines connecting the marks.

Spray a piece of medium-weight cutaway stabilizer with temporary adhesive. Smooth the fabric on top.

Hoop the fabric and stabilizer together, aligning the marks on the fabric with the marks on the hoop.

Rectangular embroidery hoop placed on light brown linen fabric marked with centered cross lines and a half-circle in purple ink, on a light wood surface.

Attach the hoop to the machine and load the design.

Move the hoop so that the needle is directly over the center point.

Embroider the design.

Close-up of an embroidery machine stitching a colorful reindeer with a red saddle, blue harness, and decorative collar on beige fabric hooped in a square embroidery frame.

After embroidering, trim the stabilizer away from the back.

Cut out the shape.

Close-up of circular linen fabric with embroidered reindeer wearing a decorated green and red saddle, surrounded by two embroidered flying bees, next to a pair of metal scissors on a wooden surface.

Cut a piece of print cotton fabric that is at least 2" larger than the hand embroidery hoop.

Place the fabric flat with the right side facing up.

Position the hand embroidery hoop in the center of the fabric. Trace the outer edge of the hoop.

A hand holding a blue fabric marking pen near a wooden embroidery hoop placed on red fabric with green, yellow, and white vertical stripes.

Add fusible web to the back of the embroidered piece.

Center the embroidered piece inside the traced shape.

Smooth into place.

Close-up of a circular embroidery hoop with a brown reindeer wearing a green and red blanket and bells, with two small white birds on its back.

Zigzag stitch around the entire outer edge of the embroidered piece.

Close-up of a sewing machine stitching on beige fabric with colorful embroidered designs of a bird and flower patterns, set against a red and green striped textile background.

Following the directions on the fusible web packaging, press the fabric with an iron to activate the adhesive.

Use a pressing cloth on top of the fabric to prevent scorching of the embroidery.

Close-up of a Black+Decker iron pressing a white fabric square on top of a round piece of beige fabric, both laying on red and green striped textile.

Prepare the back by placing the hand embroidery hoop on top of the felt and tracing the inside of the hoop.

Cut out the shape and set aside.

Hand holding blue fabric pencil marking green felt inside a wooden embroidery hoop on a light wood surface.

Now add the fabric to the hand embroidery hoop

Place the outer hand embroidery hoop on the fabric, aligning it over the circle shape. Position the screw at the top.

Add the inner hoop to the back. Press in place.

Tighten the hand screw to secure the fabric. If necessary, gently pull the fabric tight.

Hand holding an embroidery hoop with fabric featuring a colorful, stylized reindeer wearing a blue and red harness on a red and green striped textile background.

Using pinking shears, trim the fabric around the edge of the hoop leaving about 1/2" excess.

Embroidery hoop with festive reindeer design on white fabric, surrounded by red and green striped fabric; orange scissors on wooden surface nearby.

To add the back, flip the hoop over to the wrong side.

Add drops of fabric glue to the back of the fabric inside the hoop. Press the felt back in place.

Wooden embroidery hoop holds a green felt circle over a multicolored woven mat on a light wooden surface; a small glue bottle with a yellow label is nearby.

After the back has been added, it's time to add the ribbon hanger.

Cut the desired length of the 1" wide ribbon. Tuck one end of the ribbon under the felt back right behind the hand screw.

Add drops of fabric glue to the back edge of the hoop and press the ribbon in place.

Close-up of two wood embroidery hoops on a light wood surface; the top hoop is wrapped with green fabric ribbon and multicolored trim. A hand holds a white glue bottle near the hoop. The interior of the top hoop is covered with dark green fabric.

Flip the hoop back over to the front and tie a bow around the hand screw using 1/2" wide ribbon.

Close-up of a hand tying a green satin ribbon bow on a wooden embroidery hoop holding fabric with a colorful reindeer embroidery on beige cloth and red-green striped background.

Get Inspired:

Repeat this process to create as many hoops as you like to fill your space.

In this example, six hoops of varying sizes are displayed at different heights. It results in an engaging and eye-catching holiday display.

Four round embroidery hoop decorations with reindeer designs hang by red and green ribbons from a wooden mantel above a stone fireplace. Two white candles burn below.