Handmade Christmas Surprises: Stitching Joy for My Girls
As we wrapped up another festive season, I wanted to share a little about something extra special I made for my girls this Christmas. For the first time, I decided to create unique, handmade cross-stitch pieces just for them. I'm hoping to make this a new annual tradition, where every year, they’ll receive a cross-stitched gift stitched with love by their mum! The best part? They had absolutely no idea they were getting custom pieces this year, which made their reactions even more delightful.
Sprigatito for My Youngest Pokémon Trainer
The first piece I stitched was a pixel-art character of the adorable Sprigatito, one of the new Pokémon from 'Pokémon Scarlet.' My youngest daughter picked Sprigatito as her starter in the game, and she has been having so much fun with it! This piece is framed in a 3" embroidery hoop, making it the perfect size for her to display in her room or even hang on her backpack.
Here's a closer look at some of the details in the stitching:
Minecraft Icons for My Oldest Gamer
For my oldest daughter, who absolutely loves everything Minecraft, I created a piece featuring six pixel-art icons from the game. I chose items that she loves using in her builds and adventures: a netherite sword, a sign post, an enchanted golden apple, a diamond, a lava bucket, and a goat horn. Each item holds a special place in her gameplay, and seeing them all together in a 3" embroidery hoop really brought a smile to her face.
Let's get up close with the details in this piece:
The Reactions That Made My Christmas
Both my girls absolutely LOVED their cross-stitch gifts. I was especially overjoyed by my oldest's reaction to her piece. Since she’s special needs, her gift responses are usually very honest, and she's never afraid to let me know if she’s not interested in something. But this time, I got the most heartwarming reaction ever! She hugged her Minecraft piece and then gave me a huge hug to say thank you. It was such a beautiful moment that made all the stitching time totally worth it.
I can't wait to continue this new Christmas tradition of handmade gifts. Now, I’m already brainstorming what to make for next year!
Do you handmake something special for your loved ones each year? I'd love to hear about it in the comments!
If you're curious about my stitching journey or want to learn more about my process, you might enjoy my post 'Know Your Needleworker' here. If you're curious how I finished these two pieces, check out "how to finish a cross-stitch in an embroidery hoop". And if you’re thinking of requesting a custom stitch piece yourself, you can find all the details on my Stitch People FAQ page!
