I recently spoke to the cross-stitch designer of today’s assorted Christmas ornaments. Designer Peg Edwards began designing cross-stitch at the early age of 15. One of her first projects was a cross-stitch design of her own home. She got other commissions based on this original design. She would photograph a home, chart it and work the cross-stitch piece, adding the date built, the family name and other such pertinent information. She has come a long way since then and now has a full-service cross-stitch business, Carolina Country House, selling an assortment of kits, books and leaflets.

Peg also is the design coordinator of Monsanto Fibers’ “Designs for America” program. As coordinator, she works with knit and crochet designers and editors around the country. As a representative of Monsanto Fibers, she appears on Lifetime TV’s “Handmade by Design,” TNN’s “Aleene’s Creative Living,” and PBS’ “Crafting for the ‘90s” shows.

This dynamic young woman is a community volunteer as well as a mom with three young children.

Peg says that the ornaments make wonderful gifts and are especially nice teacher gifts. They are great sellers for Christmas craft shows and church bazaars. She finds this project extremely easy to do. You can easily complete one ornament in an evening, including the finishing.

I asked her if this would be a good project for a beginning cross-stitcher or to teach someone how to do cross-stitching. She thought it would be ideal, as the most basic stitches are used: cross-stitch and back stitch. Even children can learn to cross-stitch, as the ornaments are ideal for small hands.

Work the unique fringe after the ornament is complete. The Aida cloth strands naturally pull away from the fabric. You can pull several strands at a time until there are three or four remaining strands before stitching begins.

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