Cross-Stitch Wood Sign

I haven’t done any Christmas decorating yet {I really prefer to enjoy Thanksgiving first} but I have been working on some projects for the Christmas season.  This cross-stitch wood sign was so fun to make and I love the way it turned out.  It’ll be a fun touch of handmade in our Christmas decor!

To make one, you’ll need a sheet of 1/4 inch thick plywood or another suitable board.  The sign can be any size you want since you’ll make your own letter templates.

Go online and find cross-stitch alphabet templates then transfer each letter to a piece of graph paper.  To get the size I wanted, each of my X’s are four squares wide and four squares high on the graph paper.

Tape the pieces of graph paper onto the board, lining them up with the center and leaving equal space between them.

Drill through the endpoints of each X.  I used a drill bit that was about 1/4 inch in diameter.  The hole size will be determined by the needle you use {I used a large plastic tapestry needle} and the yarn you use {I used a thick red chenille}.  If you’re unsure, test a few different sizes on a scrap piece of wood.

When the holes are drilled, sand the piece of wood and spray paint it in the desired color.  I painted my board white and then used a sanding sponge to rough up the edges a little.

To begin stitching the wood, use hot glue to attach the yarn to the back of the sign …

… and create X’s to match your template.  As with regular cross-stitch, you’ll want all your stitches going the same direction to give the best final outcome.

If you need a new piece of yarn, hot glue the end of the last piece to the back of the board and begin again until the letters are all completed.

I love the look of the soft yarn against the rustic wood and the old-fashioned look of the stitching.  I’m looking forward to adding some more homemade decor to our home this holiday season!