The Make Arcade Gingerbread Man Christmas Cross Stitch Kit

I stitched the cutest little gingerbread man cross stitch ornament last December, but never found the time to post a photo of the end result anywhere, so it's time for it's debut. Better late than never, right?

This little gingerbread man kit came from an English brand called The Make Arcade who are known for their fun, colourful little craft kits, which are suitable for beginners and advanced crafters alike. I've made a few of their Christmas cross stitch ornaments in the past, and enjoyed them so much, I couldn't resist going back for this one two Christmases ago. It's cutesier than my usual style and much smaller and simpler than what I usually stitch, but his little face won me over, and I knew it would be a fun, quick project to sew while watching Christmas movies with the family.

I stitched it over a couple of evenings in front of the TV, and think it took about seven or eight hours of sewing to complete. It may only be a three inch design, but they take longer than they look! Once the sewing was done, I finished the back by cinching in the aida with a running stitch, and gluing on a circle of hot pink felt, which was provided in the kit. I also glued a yellow pom pom trim to the outside of the hoop. This wasn't part of the set- unlike the other three Make Arcade ornaments I made which came with pom pom trims- but something I purchased from Paperchase so it would match the others. Oddly, it also didn't come with some ribbon to hang it with, which is annoying, and I still haven't got around to buying something suitable. I must get myself down to Hobbycraft before Christmas so I can hang it. I don't understand why The Make Arcade have stopped supplying ribbons in their kits. It's such an inconvenience.

The kit comes with everything else you need to make it, including the aida (fabric), a three inch wooden embroidery hoop, threads, a needle, felt, step-by-step instructions to help beginners get started, and of course, the pattern. You'll just need some sewing scissors and something to cross the chart off with as you sew, and you're good to go. (A glue gun and glue would be helpful for attaching the felt, but you can sew it on instead. I just glued it on as I was being lazy). It all comes presented in a little cardboard box with a hot pink sleeve, so it would make a lovely present for any crafter this Christmas.

The Make Arcade seem to have updated their gingerbread man cross stitch kit design for Christmas 2021 (and I personally don't think it's as cute), but this design is still available to purchase from John Lewis here. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants a fun, quick cross stitch project to enjoy this Christmas.

Have you cross stitched anything lately?

You Might Also Like

My Christmas Cross Stitch Makes

Mid Century Maude Retro Reindeer Cross Stitch

Merry Christmas Patchwork Cross Stitch Sampler
My Christmas Cross Stitch Makes 2016
My Christmas Cross Stitch Makes 2015
Noel Peace on Earth Christmas Cross Stitch Sampler

My Christmas Cross Stitch Makes

It's been a while since I last shared photos of my cross stitch makes- mostly as I haven't done a lot this year thanks to worsening arthritis in my hands. I am currently working on a colourful Christmas cross stitch from Satsuma Street (this one, but on white aida), but as I have a long way to go until that one's finished, I thought I'd show you some of the pieces I stitched during the previous two Christmases. I don't think I ever got around to sharing photos of them online.

Last Christmas, I made three modern little cross stitch ornaments from a British brand called The Make Arcade- a Christmas tree, a gingerbread house, and a reindeer. I bought these little kits to stitch while I was relaxing in front of the TV with my family over Christmas, and they were perfect for keeping me busy while we watched Christmas movies from Christmas Eve through to Boxing Day. They were really fun to make, and as they're only little three inch hoops, they didn't take too long to complete- I think they took about five or six hours worth of stitching, each, completed over a couple of evenings. Once each one was done, I then used a hot glue gun to attach felt circles to the backs, and pom pom trims around the hoops. All the materials you need to make them are included in the kits- aida, embroidery hoop, DMC threads, ribbon, pom pom trim, felt, and I think even a needle. You just need a pair of scissors, a hot glue gun and glue so you can attach the pom poms.

They're great little kits for getting your craft on over the festive season, and would make ideal stocking fillers or Secret Santa gifts for any cross stitcher this Christmas. I particularly love the gingerbread house design, but the Christmas tree is a close second. I've picked up the gingerbread man kit to make this year, and am tempted to go back for the penguin and the snowflake. I'd love to make the entire collection so I can hang them all up on my Christmas trees for future Christmases. With several cross stitchers in the family, we've always had cross stitch ornaments on the tree- albeit, more traditional ones- so it's satisfying to add some of my own work to the ornament collection, and in a different, more modern style.

Two years ago, during Christmas 2017, I made two cross stitch Christmas cards from two different card kits from a Cornish brand called Riverdrift House. The Fa La La card is from the Jolly Holly Card Kit and the Silent Night card was part of the Christmas Carols Kit, which doesn't appear to be available anymore- although, there is a similar Christmas Carol Card Kit with colourful threads. I still haven't got around to making any of the others from either kit, but these two were fun to make and only took about half a day of work each.  Each kit has everything you need to make six cards, including the cards and envelopes, but when I eventually get around to making the rest, I'm planning to either turn them in to tree ornaments or frame the sets together because I'd rather keep them.

Back in 2017, I also stitched a Scandi-style red and grey Christmas sampler from Riverdrift House with a Glad Tidings We Bring design. This was another easy project with lots of simple little motifs to stitch like snowflakes, snowmen, robins, and Christmas trees, plus a cute little house, some hearts, and borders using just two shades of red and two shades of grey threads. It took me about two months to sew, putting in just an hour or two a night, and I'm really pleased with the end result... even if I still haven't got it framed! This is another kit that doesn't appear to be available anymore, but they do still stock a similar Happy Christmas design.

I also stitched this Riverdrift House Christmas Alphabet sampler in 2017, y'know, just in case I need to remember my ABC's at Christmas time or something. It could happen! Especially with my brain fog! Haha! This sampler is much bigger than it looks- I think the fabric is at least A3 size- so it involved a lot of cross stitching and took several months to complete. Even though it was big and time-consuming, it was pretty simple to sew, with no complicated patterns or stitches; just simple shapes and cross stitches in Riverdrift's signature Scandi style and seven shades of threads. Despite the simplicity, I think it came out pretty well. I think this may be another discontinued cross stitch kit as I can't find it online anymore, but if you like the style and can't track it down on eBay, Riverdrift House has lots of other Christmas cross stitch kits which you can find here.

So, those are some of my Christmas cross stitch makes from the last two years. If you'd like to see more of my cross stitching, you can find all of my cross stitch posts here.

Have you cross stitched anything this Christmas?

You Might Also Like

DIY Retro Reindeer Cross Stitch From Mid Century Maude
Merry Christmas Patchwork Cross Stitch Sampler
My Christmas Cross Stitch Makes 2016
My Christmas Cross Stitch Makes 2015
Noel Peace on Earth Christmas Cross Stitch Sampler