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This fun Apple Teacher Hoop Art has been in my head for months. I'm so happy with how these sweet little hoops turned out. I've included the free pattern so you can make your own Hoop Art Apple Teacher gifts below. This is also the perfect hoop for beginning hoopists, y'all...it's small and simple.

Cute little 4" hoops are my new favorite. They go together so quickly, but pack such a big design punch. These little Hoop Art Apple Teacher Gifts are perfect for Teacher Appreciation Week, end-of-the-year teacher gifts, and even back-to-school fun. They're neutral enough to give to principals, aides, coaches, and of course, teachers...let everyone at school feel the apple love! Grab the free pattern and check out the tutorial for these apple teacher hoops below.

Hoop Art Apple Teacher Gifts

I've never done a hoop on black fabric, I worried about being able to trace out a design. But, I LOVE how these came out. I may be using black fabric in more hoops. I wanted the background of these apple teacher hoops to look (somewhat) like chalkboards. I also love how the red of the apples pops off the black.

Supplies for Apple Teacher Hoops

• 4" embroidery hoops (the printable apple pattern is designed for this particular size)
• black fabric for hoop background
• red fabric for apples (I used fun fabric scraps in different patterns...this is a great scrap buster project!)
• DMC Embroidery Floss:
• DMC 117-977 in Light Golden Brown
• DMC 115 5-699 in Green
• DMC 115 5-666 in Bright Red
• FriXion Pen (these pens are my favorite...they erase off fabric with the steam of an iron!)
• embroidery needles
• embroidery scissors (I love my stork ones!)
• free printable apple pattern (below)

• Download this free apple pattern here.
• If the above link doesn't work for you, please try this alternate one.

How to Put Together Your Apple Teacher Hoops: 

• I started these by cutting out my apple and tracing it onto my red fabric (be sure to use an erasable fabric pen...this FriXion Pen I use erases with the steam of the iron). 
• Then I cut out my apple from the fabric.

• Situate your black fabric into the hoop.
• I attached my cut out apple with a small dab of fabric glue in the middle part of the apple. Be sure not to glue down the stem or leaf part...you won't be able to stitch through them if that happens (ask me how I know!). 
• I started by stitching the stem with a simple satin stitch. 
• See this satin stitch tutorial here on Wandering Threads Embroidery.
• Next, I stitched the leaf with my simple leaf embroidery technique.
• See my complete tutorial on How to Embroider Leaves here.

• On the body of the apple, I tried both a blanket stitch (pictured above, left) and a backstitch (pictured above right). I honestly prefer the backstitch so the fabric on the outside of the stitch can have a slight fray to it. 
• Gulf Coast Cottage Blog has a simple blanket stitch tutorial. 
• I love the backstitch tutorial over on Treasurie...it's is a good one if you're just starting out in embroidery.
• And I wanted to see what pom poms would look like on these apple teacher hoops, but I really think I like these hoops better without them. 

These little apple teacher hoops were fast to stitch, too. I knocked each one out in about an hour. Which is nice, since I'm making a few of these for all of our teachers for Teacher Appreciation Week. They'd be super cute for back to school gifts, too.

Finishing Your Hoop

• Honestly, the backsides of these apple teacher hoops turned out to be one of the cleanest, stitch wise. 
• But, if you prefer a more finished look, just cut out a circle of felt in the same size (a little less than 4"). 
• You can use fabric glue to adhere the felt to the back and cover up your stitching, if you prefer. 

How to Package Your Apple Teacher Hoops for Gifting:

• I love a good handmade gift. I like to attach one of my free printable handmade tags to these before wrapping them up so the recipient knows that these were made especially for them. 

• These sweet little 4" apple teacher hoops fit perfectly into patterned treat bags (available on Amazon). 
• I also attached one of my free printable apple tags to the outside of the bag. 
• And then tied them up with red and white baker's twine. 

This makes such a simple, but super cute way to gift wrap these up!

More Apple Teacher Gifts:

• My Free Printable Apple Teacher Monograms are really fun to print out and frame for your teacher.
• My Free Printable Apple Teacher Card is perfect for a simple gift card gift.
• These painted Apple Teacher Mason Jars from Simply Kierste are the cutest!
• This Apple Teacher Lip Balm gift from Country Chic Cottage is fun and practical, too.

If you love hoop art like I do, be sure to check out my Mother's Day hoop art in the video below (or in its post here):

Happy Hooping, Y'all!