Gingerbread Candy Cane Holders

Create adorable Gingerbread Candy Cane Holders embellished with appliqué frosting and hand embroidery. The gingerbread man and woman make fun gifts. Plus, they make a great craft for kids to keep them busy during winter break.

CANDY CANE HOLDERS SUPPLIES

• Gingerbread Candy Cane Holders pattern
• Sulky Felty™: Light Brown & White
• 12 wt. Sulky Cotton Petites™ Thread: Dk Brown 712-1130, Sweet Pink 712-1256, True Red 712-1039
• 40 wt. Sulky Poly Deco Thread (construction): Lt Brown 962-1170
• Sulky Perfect Appliqué Fusible Web
• Organ® size 80/12 Universal Needle
• Hand sewing needle
• Removable fabric marker or chalk
• Note: Each Gingerbread Candy Cane Holder requires 2 candy canes

GINGERBREAD PATTERN

Download the Gingerbread Candy Cane Holders pattern and cut out the man and woman.

From the Lt Brown Felty, cut two patterns each (designate one front and back for each).

On the right side of the gingerbread man front, transfer the facial features and button markings using a removable fabric marker or chalk. Repeat to transfer the gingerbread woman features to the gingerbread woman front.

GINGERBREAD EMBROIDERY

Thread a hand sewing needle with three strands of Sulky Cotton Petites Thread in the color corresponding to the feature(s) you want to embroider first.

Embroider the eyes with a satin stitch, using the Dk Brown Thread. Embroider the mouth with a backstitch, using the True Red Thread.

 

On the gingerbread woman, embroider the buttons with circular backstitches, using the Sweet Pink Thread. On the gingerbread man, embroider the buttons  with circular backstitches, using the True Red Thread.

FROSTING APPLIQUÉ

Cut a 1″ x 10″ strip each of white Felty and Sulky Perfect Appliqué Fusible Web. Fuse the web to the Felty. 

On the paper side of the fusible web, draw a line down the middle of the strip to divide it into two 1/2″ x 10″ portions.

Freehand draw a wavy frosting line along both portions of the strip. (Frosting isn’t perfect, so the line doesn’t have to be, either!)

Using small, sharp scissors, cut out each frosting appliqué. 

With the Felty side up, plot the frosting locations and cut the frosting strips to the needed lengths. Fuse the frosting appliqué strips to the gingerbread man and woman along the dress/shirt cuffs and lower edges. Or place the frosting where desired.

If desired, stitch along the center of each frosting appliqué by hand or machine, using white thread.

CONSTRUCTING CANDY CANE HOLDERS

Install a size 80/12 Universal Needle. Thread the needle and wind a bobbin with 40 wt. Poly Deco Thread that matches the gingerbread fronts and backs.

Topstitch only the gingerbread woman front along the arm edges and dress lower edge.

Next, topstitch only the gingerbread man front along the arm and leg lower edges and inseams.

Then, place the front right side up over the corresponding back piece. Stitch the perimeter, leaving the previously stitched areas free.

Insert two candy canes in each gingerbread person, with the “hooks” extending beyond the arm edges.

TIP: If desired, hand tack a thread bow to the gingerbread woman lower edge for another bit of embellishment!

Gift the gingerbread couple to a special someone for the holidays!