Table of Contents
Unveiling Your DIY Embroidered Clay Ornament Project
The project: a polymer clay ornament with a transferred image on the front and a yarn-edged blanket stitch around the perimeter. The video demonstrates every step, noting where it helps to go slowly and where to keep moving so the transfer doesn’t over-dry.
What You'll Need: Tools & Materials
From the start, the creator lays out what’s essential:
- Polymer clay (the video uses Fimo Soft in white)
- A roller (acrylic roller or a pasta roller)
- A cutting blade and scissors
- A ceramic tile to work on and to bake on
- A laser-printed image (copyright-free, Creative Commons). Reverse it first if it’s not symmetrical, since transfers mirror the print.
- Water (for the image transfer)
- A narrow drinking straw (to punch holes for embroidery)
- Wet and dry sandpaper (medium and fine)
- Yarn or thick thread and a needle with a large enough eye
- Optional: permanent markers, acrylic paints, glitter
- Optional: a clear sealer or varnish
Pro tip: A ceramic tile makes a great flat, portable surface for both working and baking—no need to move your clay mid-process.
If you also enjoy machine embroidery in your studio, this hand-stitched project pairs beautifully with future accessories you might make on a separate machine, even those framed with a magnetic embroidery hoop.
Understanding Image Transfer & Blanket Stitch
The transfer relies on a thin layer of water applied to clay before laying the laser print face down. The blanket stitch is then used after baking to wrap a tidy yarn border around your ornament’s edge, hiding minor imperfections while adding a decorative finish.
Watch out: Time matters in image transfer. If the paper dries for too long (like overnight), the image can fade or the paper may adhere too firmly to the clay.
Quick check: Is your image reversed? If it’s asymmetrical and not mirrored before printing, your motif will appear backward on the clay.
For readers who split their crafting time between handwork and entry-level machines, this project is a satisfying change of pace from learning an embroidery machine for beginners.
From Image to Clay: The Transfer Process
Preparing Your Laser-Printed Design
Cut out your printed image, leaving a narrow white border. This border provides a little forgiveness when placing and lifting, and helps you handle the paper without smudging.
From the comments: A viewer praised how clean and complete the water transfer looked—proof that the thin, even water layer and careful dabbing really pay off.
Conditioning and Rolling Your Polymer Clay
Condition the clay by working it in your hands until it’s warm and pliable, then roll to an even thickness on the tile. Make the sheet about 1 cm larger than your image on all sides. If you don’t have a pasta roller, you can use plain cards or lollipop sticks as thickness guides while rolling.
Pro tip: Aim for uniform thickness so your ornament cures evenly in the oven and lays flat during image transfer.
If you keep a mixed-media craft bench, you might later complement this hand-stitched clay design with a small machine-embroidered tag or pouch—projects that often benefit from tools like magnetic embroidery hoops.
Transferring the Image: A Step-by-Step Guide
- Apply a very thin layer of water to the clay surface with your fingertip.
- Place the laser print face down onto the damp clay, carefully centered. Once it touches down, don’t slide it—sliding can smudge ink.
- Dab more water onto the back of the paper with a wet fingertip (dab; don’t rub or slide).
- Allow the paper to dry slightly; don’t leave it too long.
When it’s just about dry, lift a corner to check. If you see a clean transfer, peel the paper away fully. If your paper wrinkles, it may be from too much water—gently press for better contact and proceed once it’s nearly dry.
Watch out: Leaving the paper on too long can cause a faded image or stubborn paper that sticks to the clay.
For makers who alternate between hand embroidery and machine projects, you might later stitch coordinating details on fabric with your go-to setup—those projects sometimes involve hardware like embroidery machine hoops.
Shaping and Baking Your Clay Creation
Cutting and Smoothing the Ornament’s Edge
After confirming the transfer, cut the ornament shape with a small border between the printed outline and the outer edge of the clay. This border is important: it allows for sanding later and leaves room for the embroidery holes. The creator smooths edges gently with a fingertip for a curved profile, but you can choose your preferred finish.
Pro tip: A craft blade would have made cutting easier in hindsight, but the cutting blade used in the video still worked fine. Protect your work surface if you switch tools.
Adding Holes for Embroidery
Use a narrow drinking straw to punch holes evenly around the border. Space them by eye, roughly 10 mm apart, and be sure to place one hole at the top center; it will help with both stitch alignment and the hanging loop later.
Before you bake, confirm that the hole size suits both your needle and yarn—larger yarn and larger-needle combinations need wider holes.
If you occasionally move between hand-stitching and machine setups, you might eventually mount matching fabric decor with magnetic frames for embroidery machine—but for this ornament, the simple straw-made holes are all you need.
Baking and Cooling for Durability
Bake according to the clay manufacturer’s instructions. In the video, Fimo Soft is baked for 30 minutes at 130°C. Remove and let the piece cool completely before sanding or embellishing.
Quick check: Verify oven temperature and bake time match your clay brand’s guidance; then be patient and allow thorough cooling before the next steps.
For crafters who love gear talk, you may enjoy exploring machine accessories later, from classic frames to niche options like a snap hoop monster—separate from this handmade process, but fun in a broader embroidery practice.
Adding Flair: Embellishment & Protection
Sanding for a Perfect Finish
Use wet and dry sandpaper (medium, then fine) to smooth edges and remove scratches. The creator notes they demonstrated sanding dry for filming with good ventilation, but recommends wet sanding to keep clay dust contained. Clean off all dust and dry the piece before embellishing.
Watch out: Avoid breathing clay dust. Wet sanding is safest; if sanding dry, ensure excellent ventilation. A commenter also suggested wearing a mask, and the creator agreed.
Optional Decoration: Markers, Glitter & Paint
Add your decorative elements now—metallic details with a silver permanent marker, touches of acrylic paint, or glitter. In the video, the creator used a silver Sharpie to add shine to select areas on the transferred design. Let any embellishments dry fully before sealing.
From the comments: One viewer mentioned they’ve added markers and acrylic paint before baking without issues; glitter before baking wasn’t confirmed.
If you’re a multi-crafter who also machines stitches, you could later coordinate fabrics or gift tags on projects that use a mighty hoop—again, not used here, but a neat tie-in across your craft table.
Sealing Your Ornament for Longevity
Seal the ornament to protect both the image and any embellishments. The creator likes a matte clear spray and mentions options like Fimo varnish or even resin. Allow the finish to dry completely before moving on.
Quick check: Pick a product that’s suitable for polymer clay, apply in thin, even coats, and let it cure fully.
The Art of Embroidery: Mastering the Blanket Stitch
Prepping Your Yarn and Needle
Thread a tapestry or yarn needle with a generous length of yarn—overestimate so you don’t run out mid-stitch. If you added a top-center hole, that’s where you’ll begin and end. Feed the needle from back to front through that first hole, leaving a long tail on the back to become your hanger. Pass back to front through the same hole again, then go right to left through the loop to form a knot that anchors the yarn.
Pro tip: Keep the yarn tail long enough to form your hanging loop later; it saves time and keeps the back tidy.
If you love toggling between hand and machine embroidery, this same ornament can inspire fabric-based companions you might stitch on a machine using an embroidery magnetic hoop.
Executing the Blanket Stitch Around Your Ornament
Work clockwise. For each new hole: go back to front, pull until a small loop remains, then pass the needle right to left through that loop and snug it. Repeat around the ornament for a consistent edge.
Watch out: Maintain even tension so your stitches sit neatly; too tight and the edge may pucker, too loose and loops may sag.
Quick check: The line of stitches should march around the edge consistently, covering most of the clay’s side profile—great for both looks and for disguising minor sanding marks.
From the comments: The clean look of the transfer and tidy stitch line drew praise—proof that careful prep and calm stitching win the day.
If you’re building a broader embroidery toolkit, you may eventually experiment with gear beyond hand stitching, like magnetic embroidery hoops or even different sizes of embroidery machine hoops—useful on separate machine projects.
Securing Your Stitches
When you reach the starting point, secure with a knot and a second knot for good measure. Remove the needle and prepare the tails for the loop.
The Final Touch: Crafting the Hanging Loop
Finishing Your Ornament
Gather the two yarn tails above the ornament, choose the loop length you like, knot, and trim away any excess. That’s it—ready to hang or gift.
From the comments: Viewers shared creative uses for the technique, from crafting clay panels inspired by nostalgic card crafts to making clay centers for basket weaving lids.
Displaying Your Handmade Masterpiece
Hang your ornament where it catches the eye: on a seasonal tree, a wreath, or a knob on a cabinet. The laser image gives clarity, the sealer adds protection, and the blanket-stitched edge delivers a warm, hand-finished touch.
From the comments: Someone asked about using liquid clay to cover the design—the creator mentioned they have another video demonstrating a different technique with liquid clay.
If you keep a foot in the machine-embroidery world too, you might enjoy coordinating pieces across mediums—handcrafted clay paired with stitched textiles, whether floated in a standard hoop or a modern magnetic embroidery hoop.