Search
Magnetic Stix Christmas Nativity
Turning the Stix Christmas Nativity figures into magnets to play with at Christmas time is a fun idea. Your little ones will love bringing the Christmas story to life with this interactive set of characters. Today I’ll show you just how easy it is. Pair them with a bag to store them in and you have a fun gift for a family or for the person in your life who collects nativities.
Supplies
Check out the DBJJ team’s favorite supplies in the Designs By Juju Amazon Store.
- 8 sheets white felt (I chose the “premium” felt that was a little thicker for the four sheets I was going to embroider on.)
- Tear-away stabilizer
- Thread (Use the color charts to help you decide how you want the figures to look.)
- Sewing machine (I also show a non-sewing option at the end.)
- DBJJ designs
- OPTION 1: Enclosed magnets—best if you have small children at your house
- Small, strong neodymium magnets: https://a.co/d/3DXZmKw (I like to test them with my felt and make sure they will hold through the felt.)
- OPTION 2: Glued magnets
- Ceramic magnets: https://a.co/d/5ZCwfKO
- E6000 glue: https://a.co/d/5ytv1TE
Preparation
Hoop tear-away stabilizer and felt.
Load designs into your machine. I use a 6” x 10” hoop and was able to do 3–4 in one hooping. Make sure you’re leaving about 1” between designs.
Embroider
Since I’m using my magnet hoop, I also run a basting box around my felt before stitching.
Referencing the color charts, start embroidering your designs and change colors as needed.
When one figure is completed, move on to the next one until you have them all stitched out. Load the next designs you need to stitch and hoop new tear-away stabilizer and felt for the next set. Repeat until you have all the designs completed.
Preparation for Finishing
I start by trimming any jump stitches in the front.
Then I trim up the threads on the back.
Remove basting stitches.
Remove the tear-away stabilizer from the back.
Attaching the Backing
I like to layer my magnets and sew them with my sewing machine. I find it hides the stitches and gives me peace of mind that the magnets are safely enclosed. I place the stitched sheet on top of a plain piece of felt.
Then I sew ¼” around the figure. I don’t worry about all the details; just give it a nice, smooth silhouette.
Leave a small gap (about ¾”–1”) to slide in the magnet.
Sew around all of the nativity figures.
Next, cut them out, just outside of the stitched line.
Where the gap is, I leave a little more of the felt so it’s easier to sew it closed after placing the magnet.
If you don’t want to take the time to echo-stitch the figures, you can just cut them and their backing in a square and sew around the edges of it.
I trim the square about ½” around the design.
Take your two layers and move to your sewing machine.
Sew ¼” from the edge of the felt leaving a 1” gap open at the bottom.
Placing the Magnet, Option 1
Option 1 shows how to encase the magnet between the layers of felt. I prefer this method for households that have small children or pets, or where a loose magnet could pose a choking hazard.
Place the magnet inside the design. I push it as far as I can up in the design.
This step is the same whether you have sewn your pieces in a silhouette or just in a square.
Sew the gap closed. I like to start on the stitches I already have and overlap at both the beginning and ending to secure the stitching.
Trim off the last little bit of the felt for the ones you echo stitched.
If you’ve cut your figures in squares, stitch the bottom closed on the square.
Magnet Option 2
If you’re not concerned about hiding your magnet, you can use ceramic magnets and glue them to the back of your design. For this method, I still like to double-layer the felt and sew around it because it makes it thicker and more sturdy as it gets used.
Using a strong glue that will work both on your magnet and the felt (I like E6000), place a small amount on the magnet.
Place the magnet on the back side of the design. Press it firmly to adhere. You could even weigh it down with a book until the glue has dried. Allow to dry thoroughly.
No-Sew Option
For a no-sew option, you can use just one layer of felt and glue the ceramic magnet with E6000 glue to the back of the design.
This doesn’t have as clean a look on the back and the figures are not as thick, but if you don’t have a sewing machine or don’t have time for this step, it’s definitely an option.
Once the figures all have a magnet, they are ready for playtime. It’s always fun to introduce a new Christmas decoration that doubles as a toy so it can become part of your holiday traditions.
If you make this set, please share your creations with us on the Designs by Juju Embroidery Blessings Group Facebook page, or anywhere on social media using the hashtag #designsbyjuju. We love seeing what you create!
