About This God With Us Cross-Stitch Ornament Pattern
This pattern creates a small nativity-themed ornament titled "God With Us" designed to be stitched on dark (black) Aida fabric for strong contrast. The chart is 34 stitches wide by 40 stitches high and includes a DMC floss legend for accurate color placement. The finished ornament can be mounted in a 3" wooden hoop and embellished with a Swarovski AB crystal at the star center.
Includes both color and black-and-white charts plus clear floss symbol legend for easy stitching. Suggested fabric counts and finished approximate sizes are provided for multiple fabric choices.
Why You'll Love This God With Us Cross-Stitch Ornament Pattern
I absolutely love this pattern because it combines compact design with meaningful subject matter, making it a perfect handmade ornament for the holidays. I enjoy that the piece is small enough to finish quickly yet detailed enough to feel special and gift-worthy. The use of a Swarovski crystal in the star adds a little sparkle that really elevates the finished piece. Stitching this pattern feels calming and rewarding, and the finished ornament looks beautiful hanging on a tree or in a window.
Switch Things Up
I love changing the color palette of this design to suit my holiday decor; try warm golds and creams for a vintage look or jewel tones for a richer finish.
You can make the ornament larger or smaller by changing fabric count and stitch method: use a higher count for a mini or a lower count for a chunkier ornament.
I often switch the center Swarovski crystal for a small glass bead or vintage button for a unique focal point.
Try stitching the design on colored Aida (navy, forest green, burgundy) instead of black to create different moods and contrasts.
If you prefer a framed finish, mount the stitched piece in a small metal ornament frame instead of a hoop for a sleeker look.
I sometimes add a tiny embroidered name or year to the back of the hoop for personalization and gifting.
Swap the wrapped fabric hoop for washi tape or painted hoop edges to coordinate with your color scheme.
For a rustic finish, use natural linen instead of Aida and embroider with muted DMC shades to soften the motif.
I like to create a set of ornaments by varying thread shades slightly to make each one unique while keeping the same overall chart.
Consider adding a thin wire inside the ribbon bow to pose and style it perfectly when finishing the ornament.
For a keepsake version, stitch the same design on evenweave using finer threads for a more detailed, heirloom-quality ornament.
Don't be afraid to combine techniques — a few backstitches in metallic thread can highlight the star or halo area for extra shine.
Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them
✗ Centering the design incorrectly on your fabric; solution: mark the center of your fabric and align it with the red center lines on the chart before beginning to stitch.
✗ Stitching with too many strands on evenweave or high-count fabric; solution: follow the suggested '2 over 1' or '2 over 2' instructions and test a small sample to match the recommended finished measurements.
✗ Using a light background instead of the recommended black Aida which reduces contrast; solution: stitch on black Aida as recommended or adjust color shades to retain contrast if using a different fabric.
✗ Forgetting to secure the Swarovski crystal properly which may fall off later; solution: glue the crystal with a strong fabric adhesive and let it cure fully before handling the ornament.
✗ Failing to check the floss color symbols with the legend which causes misplaced colors; solution: cross-reference each symbol carefully with the DMC legend printed on the chart before stitching each area.
