How to Use an Embroidery Hoop

Loosen the screw and remove the inner hoop. Lie your material on top of the inner hoop. Push the outer hoop back into place over the material and around the inner hoop. Tighten the screw to secure the material into place between the hoops.

Tips and Tricks

• These crafts are flexible — use them as a springboard and get creative!
• You can use any regular fabric and colored felts. For a multi-fabric look, either sew or hot glue fabrics together or use something like a throw pillow case or kite, so the work has already been done for you.
• Hot glue can secure everything in place so things won’t shift during handling.
• Embroidery hoops come in basic raw wood, colored plastic, and finished wood options too. There are multiple sizes and shapes available. I didn’t specify any sizing of the hoops or material because it’s all adjustable to what you choose.
• If you’re less crafty or short on time, take some shortcuts. For example, for the bentsher holder you can easily use regular fabric instead of dip-dying the felt. You can also print and iron on lettering instead of stenciling and painting. It will result in the same beautiful look, without as much crafting.

The Time Flies By

Every year, it feels like Yom Tov flew by before I could blink. But these days are chock-full of memory moments, so I try to savor each minute. This hot-air balloon clock can be made in any color scheme and still maintain its whimsicalness.

Materials

Embroidery hoop

Fabric (I used a kite)

Pencil

Scissors

Hot glue gun and glue sticks

Cardboard

Clock mechanism

Felt (tan and multiple colors of your choice)

Popsicle sticks

Thick twine

Thin string (optional)

1. Trace the inner circle of your embroidery hoop on a piece of cardboard and cut it out.
2. Secure your fabric in the embroidery hoop. Pop the cardboard circle in behind the fabric.
3. Poke a small hole in the center of the fabric and cardboard to accommodate the clock mechanism. Attach the clock from the front and back and then trim the excess fabric in the back of the embroidery hoop.
4. To make the basket, fold a square of tan felt in half. Cut a few slits in the felt. Weave Popsicle sticks through the slits.
5. Using thick twine, create a border around the basket and then continue up around the embroidery hoop/balloon, gluing the basket to it as shown in the picture.
6. Cut small triangular flags and glue them to the basket. I glued the flags onto a thin piece of string to give it a garland look.

Clock In

Making this simple but striking clock will have you counting down the minutes until Yom Tov starts.

Materials

Embroidery hoop

Fabric (I used a throw pillow case)

Pencil

Scissors

Hot glue gun and glue sticks

Cardboard

Clock mechanism

1. Trace the inner circle of your embroidery hoop on a piece of cardboard and cut it out.
2. Secure your fabric in the embroidery hoop. Pop the cardboard circle in.
3. Poke a small hole in the center of the fabric and cardboard to accommodate the clock mechanism. Attach the clock from the front and back and then trim the excess fabric.

Gorgeous Gallery

Family photos plus florals between layers of tulle come together to create an inviting wall that will pull everyone into the succah. Under the sechach, the sky is the limit, so personalize your family’s gallery wall by adding things like pictures of gedolim or kids’ artwork.

Materials

Multiple embroidery hoops

Photos or artwork, up to 12” diameter

Pencil

Scissors

Clear sheet protectors (standard or 12 inch by 12 inch)

Small faux or dried florals

White tulle

Hot glue gun and glue sticks

1. Create a placement and sizing plan for your gallery wall.
2. Separate the inner and outer embroidery hoops.
3. For the photos or artwork, trace the outside circle of the inner hoop you plan to use and cut it out.
4. Slip the photo or art into a sheet protector. Slip the outer hoop on and secure it. Trim the excess plastic.
5. For the florals, prepare two sheets of tulle larger than your hoop.
6. Lay one layer of tulle over the inner hoop. Lay out your flowers and then lay the other layer of tulle over them. Slip the outer hoop on and secure it. Hot glue the tulle to the back of the hoop and then trim the excess tulle.

Spiraling Succulents

These stunning succulent balls will instantly upgrade your succah.

Materials

2 embroidery hoops

Moss ball

Faux succulents

Floral wire

Hot glue gun and glue sticks

Clear fishing string (optional)

1. Coordinate your moss ball size with the base embroidery hoop. Slip the hoop onto the moss ball and pivot the inner hoop 90 degrees. Glue and tighten the outer hoop to secure it to the inner one.
2. Use floral wire and/or hot glue to secure your succulents where you want them.
3. Take another outer embroidery hoop and bolt one end to the base hoop’s screw. The weight of the succulent ball will cause the open hoop to spiral when you hang it. If it’s weighing it down too much, use a smaller size open hoop or tie some fishing string to the hoop to hold the spiral the way you like it.

(Originally featured in Family First, Issue 756)