Heart Ornament Ombre Color Cross Stitch

Cross stitch the heart panel with four closely-graded colors 

to this iconic Valentine shape. 

Add buffer and solid backside layers to finish. 

For a suspended tag or ornament, use the shapes 

with the hang hole. With or without the hole, 

it can star on a larger tag or hand-made card front, 

such as “Card A2 Hearts N Flags” separate design. 

Heart measures approx.2.98” tall x 2.85” wide when assembled. 

ASSEMBLY 1. Identify and cut the shapes:

A stitching heart front layer

B stitching heart offset contrast (second) layer

C buffer layer for back of stitching hearts

D solid heart back layer

Also shown is the stitching diagram, printed.

Alternative to a print out is to view chart on screen.

NOTE that the updated version of the chart in cut file

includes row numbers along left side, beginning

with row 1 at bottom.

Also obtain 4 closely-graded colors for stitching

the Ombre strata. For the sample heart, these

embroidery floss colors were used:

top - lightest DMC 3712

second - mid lightest DMC 347

third - mid dark DMC 816

fourth - darkest DMC 221

Blunt-tip tapestry needle will also be needed,

suggested size 22 or 24.

2. Prepare the two stitching hole-punched hearts

by making sure that all "chads" or cut out "crumbs"

are removed. One way to do this is to bend 

a standard paper clip end straight then use it

to poke through all holes not already vacant,

then brush or scrape away extra bits.

3. Position smaller front heart on top of second

contrast heart layer, and, working quickly,

attach together, taking care

that ALL outer cut edges plus stitch holes and

hang hole edges align as precisely as possible.

One way to check that the holes align is to use

the paper clip tool to poke through various holes

across the panel, particularly at edges and corners, etc.

Immediately place the glued-up unit on flat work surface

and press flat under a heavy flat object such as

this thick book volume, possibly with something else

heavy placed on top. Leave pressure on until

glue is dried completely and NOT still cool to touch.

Pressing flat like this will help minimize warping or

curling of the liquid-glue attached unit.

HEART CROSS STITCHING

4. Prepare to stitch by cutting a 30-32 inch

length of 6-ply floss for the bottom strata (darkest red). 

Following substeps will describe how to separate single strands

from the 6-ply group to minimize knotting:

A) Separate 2 plies by holding the grouped floss length

somewhat firmly between fingers of offhand, isolating one

ply to pull away, then . . .

. . .pull it gently away from others

while the twists of the group begin to bunch up behind it.

B) Place the two plies side by side and line up the ends.

Bring end pairs together to create a loop opposite end. 

C) Thread the ends through

the needle eye. 

Pull the ends through then adjust loop so that it is

the long end.

5. Study this diagram to understand how to form

cross stitches for uniform appearance and tension.

NOTE that the RIGHT SLANT stitches are generally

placed across the row first, followed by the LEFT SLANT

stitches placed coming back across the row.

6. For this project, begin at the bottom center where 

 the first cross stitch will be created.

Each square on the pattern chart represents 4 holes that

would be needed to create both the right and left slants.

A) Insert the needle with thread UP from backside

in the TOP LEFT HOLE where the first X will be made.

This closeup shows more clearly where the first

cross unit will be made. Needle is inserted up through

the top left hole of the four that are used for

first cross. NOTE that the first hole on second

row of holes is NOT used for bottom-most row.

B) Pull the floss through UNTIL about 3-2 inches

of the loop end remains, then insert the needle

diagonally to complete the first right slant stitch.

On the backside of work, insert the needle

through the loop and . . .

. . . pull the loop tight to remove all slack.

This is the "tying on" process.

7. Insert the needle through to front of work, in

the top right hole , then . . . 

. . . insert the needle through to back of work, in

the bottom left hole to complete the left slant of

the only cross stitch on bottom row.

8. Move upward to the second row to continue

 to follow the chart . . .

. . . skipping the first hole of the third row of holes

and begin the right slant stitches of the 3 cross stitches

on that row. Then . . .

. . . move back across row to complete the 3 left 

slant stitches of row 2.

9. Continue to follow the chart to complete the next

rows (3-5) that include stitches fully across row.

As stitching proceeds, thread length will 

eventually be used up. Before length is 

unmanageably short, pause when the needle is on 

the backside of work as a slant stitch is completed. 

Slip needle under 3-4 stitches on the backside, then . . .

. . . slide the needle off, and . . .

. . . trim the tails close

to the surface of the work.

This is the "tying off" procedure.

10. Checking the chart, NOTE that row 6 includes

alternating stitches of darkest and med-darkest

cross stitches. Work these across the row of holes

in same fashion, except skip the positions for

the other floss color stitches. Work right slant stitches

first, then work back to add the left slant stitches.

11. Row 7 also includes alternating stitches of

darkest color, so repeat the process used for

row 6. Tie off this color of floss.

12. Thread needle with second darkest color,

then begin on row 6 to fill in the alternate spaces,

then move to row 7 to fill in spaces there.

13. Continue to follow chart to add four solid rows 

(rows 8-11), then. . .

. . . complete rows 12 & 13 as alternating stitch

and space rows. Tie off of current floss color.

14. Tie on with second-lightest floss. Fill in alternating

stitch "spaces" from rows 12 & 13, then complete 

rows 14 & 15 as solid rows. Complete row 16 as

alternating stitch row. Tie off current floss color.

15. Thread lightest floss color into needle, and complete

the alternate stitches of row 16, and solid rows 17 & 18.

Tie off for final time.

16. Position and attach the buffer layer on backside

of stitched unit, taking care that outside edges align

as precisely as possible.

17. Position and attach solid back heart layer

taking care to match edges precisely. Press under

heavy flat weight to ensure that stitching layers

and back and buffer layers stay as flat as possible

and well joined.

Here is the completed ornament, with twine tied

through hang hole.

If desired, position and attach stitched heart

onto “Card A2 Hearts N Flags” in place of

lower "center" heart shape.

Here is that card project with the swap.