I purchased this to make for my son, who loves the Christmas story. I have absolutely ZERO experience doing any time of embroidery or needlework. Truthfully, my skills leave some to be desired, but even with my ineptness, I am pleased with the outcome.

First, if you are a beginner, this is is do-able. However, do not expect the instructions to be in an “idiots guide” format. Yes, you will need to read the directions multiple times before even beginning the project and you will likely wear the paper out from reading and re-reading the instructions. But, they are clear enough to understand, even for me.

My only complaint would be that on all the colors of felt, other than the white, the pattern in stamped in a relatively narrow line. So, as you embroider it either comes up or is easy to disguise under the stitching. However, the pattern stamps on the white are difficult for me to fully cover and hide. It’s somewhat annoying, particularly when you are using the gold floss, which does nothing at all in to disguise the ink. Oh well. I’m working around it and I also have recognized that as the pieces come together on the overall project, those black lines are not as noticeable as they are when you’re working on an individual piece.

Come January, assuming I finally get this one done, I’ll begin working on a stocking for my daughter for next Christmas. Understanding now the time it takes to do this project coupled with my rudimentary skills, I know I need to give myself ample time.
Rating: 4 / 5