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Flosstube: Ornamentations #122 - It’s Christmas in July!

Katie Strachan EmbroideryUnited States
3.2K views263 likes38:43English7 Jul 2026Watch on YouTube ↗

Summary AI

In this episode of Ornamentations, Katie celebrates Christmas in July by sharing several festive finishes and works in progress. She begins by showing her June ornament, Victoria by Susan Standley, which she stitched over one on the called-for linen, adding a green silk ribbon edging and crystal embellishments. She explains the differences between single-face and double-face silk ribbon and offers advice on choosing the right type for different projects.

  • Katie finishes Victoria by Susan Standley over one, adding a green silk ribbon edging and crystal rounds.
  • She discusses the pros and cons of single-face versus double-face silk ribbon for different finishing techniques.
  • Katie shares her second version of Reindeer Games by Brenda Gervais, stitched on 40-count Fox and Rabbit Ocean Air with Gobelins threads and embellished with sequins and crystals.
  • She starts a larger version of Paisley on 38-count Legacy Linen Fuller's Teazel, using a different colour conversion.
  • Katie talks about her mystery sampler progress and plans for the July ornament.
  • She reviews the book 'Samplers, Smallpox, and Sugar' and highlights its classification system for samplers.
Finishes / FFOsHaulNew startsWIPs
Description from YouTube
Ornamentations (noun): 2. That in which the process of ornamenting is embodied; the ornaments which adorn a thing collectively; ornament in general Or, in music, the grace notes that embellish a melodic line.

Victoria 1883 by Susan Standley is stitched over one with the called for linen and threads
Charts and kits for Victoria are available on Susan's website: https://susanstandleystitchintime.com/product-category/first-stitches/cross-stitch/

I used 1/2" single face ribbon, color Evergreen for the edging: https://www.etsy.com/listing/640017422/evergreen-habutai-silk-ribbon-hand-dyed?ref=yr_purchases
It was couched down at half inch intervals and each couching point had a 2mm crystal round, color Emerald, added over it.

Reindeer Games by Brenda Gervais (second version) is stitched on Fox & Rabbit 40 count Ocean Air with:
Gobelins 133, 199, 741, 779, 2224*, 4534, Blanc
Bijoux Jasper
Note on 2224: I used it so I've noted it in the conversion but I would recommend omitting it entirely and just using 199 for your green
Embellished with sequins and 2mm crystal rounds, colors Crystal Moonlight and Light Siam.  Crystal Moonlight is widely available from Artbeads, Fire Mountain Gems, and other bead sources, but I have yet to see Light Siam available anywhere at retail.

Paisley (38 count version) is stitched on Legacy Linen 38 count Fuller's Teazel with 
100/3 232, 264
Gobelins 671, 718, 945, F02, Creme
Note that F02 and Creme are both off whites - you don't need both, you can pick whichever your prefer/whatever best suits your linen. Creme is lighter and brighter than F02.

The conversion for the 48 count version of Paisley and all other past conversions can be found in my episode guide: https://katie-strachan.com/episode-guide

My Stitch with Me on finishing Animal Crackers by hand: https://youtu.be/5rr69sXXtQs

My mystery sampler is stitched with Soie Surfine on Legacy Linen 48 count Bride Cake, and I will one day finish it and release it as a chart.

Flosstubes mentioned:
Susan Standley Stitch in Time.  Her most recent flosstube, showcasing her magnificent Centennial quilt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xz66RZWxFc
Thread Gremlins
Stitching by the Numbers
The Curious Crafters

You can find both of Becca's stunning finishes of the Britomart Sampler on her Instagram, @bexistitches
Kits for the Britomart Sampler, with or without the class are available at katie-strachan.com/shop

The Royal Collection Trust stumpwork casket: https://www.rct.uk/collection/search#/1/collection/39240/stumpwork-casket
For some reason the pictures through RCT are not currently available, but if you google King's stumpwork casket Windsor, it should turn up a photo of a magnificent casket with a 3D garden on the lid.

Samplers, Smallpox, and Sugar is available in the United States from the Attic: https://atticneedlework.com/shop/samplers-smallpox-and-sugar-life-in-mullers-bristol-orphanage/?v=0b3b97fa6688
More books are on the way and they will be restocking
If you are outside the US, it can be purchased from Witney Antiques
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