Hello!
Here we go! My first tutorial on my blog! I’m super excited to share this DIY Christmas Tree Ornament. I’ve written tutorials before for magazines but never added any to my blog. My goal is to continue to add fun crafty items for you to make at home. Let’s begin…
STEP ONE: Supplies (purchase links are located at the bottom of this post)
- Scissors
- Small detail scissors for hand cutting and cutting thread
- Wool felt in your favorite holiday color combinations.
- Two 6″x6″ sheets to cut your tree
- Eleven felt polka dots in your holiday colors
- Tacky or Fabric Glue (I used Tacky glue because I had it on hand.)
- Embroidery needle (size 5) and 3 single strands of matching thread that matches the color of the felt used for your tree
- Poly fill to stuff the tree
- Sewing machine, general or heavy-duty needle and thread (optional)
- Cricut with Strong Grip mat (optional)
- Sizzix die cutting machine and 1 inch dot die (optional)
STEP TWO: Cutting your tree and polka dots
To begin, I’ve created three electronic files for you to cut your trees, a JPEG, a PNG or a SVG file for Cricut cutting.
These files are located at the bottom of the post and can be downloaded.
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- Cricut Cutting
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- Hand Cutting
To Cricut cut: please use the SVG file and download to use on your Cricut. I have an Explore Air 2 machine and use the half way setting between Bonded fabric and Poster Board to cut my felt. I do not cut the dots on my Cricut. I find the Cricut is great for cutting large cut files but does not cut small-sized pieces very well. If you have a Maker Cricut machine you should be able to cut both the tree and the dots on your machine. Cut two tree shapes, one from each 6″ felt square.
To Hand cut: print out the JPEG or PNG file on your printer (any printer will work). Make sure you print at full size or 100%. Please do not reduce the print size. To check your print measure the one inch square provided on your page to insure it’s a one inch square all around. I do a rough scissor cut around my image and pin it to my felt. The paper helps me cut those corners of the curves to help keep them a sharp cut. Cut two tree shapes, one from each 6″ felt square.
STEP THREE: Cut your dots or purchase felt-fetti dots (link below)
If you have a Sizzix die cutting machine, simply use the one inch dot die to cut your dots in the felt colors you desire.
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- Sandwich your die, felt and cutting boards.
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- Run your felt sandwich through the Sizzix.
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- Gather your one inch felt-fetti dots for your tree.
As you’ve gathered your dots for your tree, create the color story you want to tell.
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- Gather your felt-fetti colors. Shown in Winter Mint color story.
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- Play around with the color placement. Shown in Nordic Snow color story.
After you’ve played around with your dot placement in the configuration shown above, use a dot of glue on the back of the dots and simply glue in place. Allow your glue to dry at the recommended time per instructions. I allowed my glue to dry overnight because I have several half-finished projects in the works and needed to move to the next one.
STEP FOUR: Top Stitching
You can top stitch by using your sewing machine or simply doing a back-stitch with your embroidery thread. I will be showing you the sewing machine method. If you need directions for top stitching using embroidery thread, please leave me a comment and I’ll be happy to find you a video for instruction.
Sewing machine top stitching will require three passes to create the complete top stitch pattern. Use a complimentary color of thread for your top stitches. I use a metallic silver Aurifill thread on my example.
To begin, place your sewing machine needle at the top of your tree in the center of the dot. Line up your sight line with the length of the tree and sew down to the last dot in the last row. Complete the triangle shape as shown in diagram #1. Tip: I like large stitches and use a No. 3 setting on the width of my machine. Secure your stitches by doing only two back stitches at the beginning and end of the shape.
I also secure my stitches by tying a knot with the thread on bottom of the felt tree.
Complete your top stitching by moving onto diagram #2.
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- Begin by place your needed in a stitch already created.
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- Follow stitch diagram #2 and pay attention to stay in the middle of the dots and to stop at the stitches already created.
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- After diagram #2, complete your top stitching by completing diagram #3. Your completed top stiching should look like this.
STEP FIVE: Blanket stitching and stuffing your ornament
Place your second tree shape behind your decorated tree shape and secure the two together with a blanket stitch by using a matching embroidery thread and needle. Start stitching to the left of the tree base and stitch all around to the right of the tree base, stop to fill your tree with poly fill, then complete the stitches around to where you began.
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- Thread your needle and knot the tail end. Start between the two layers and poke your needle up through the top layer. This will put your knot in between the two layers. This should be done about 1/4″ in from the edge, or at whatever length you want your stitches to be.
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- Your knot will be hidden between the layers of your tree.
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- To get the stitch anchored, poke your needle up from the bottom layer so that the needle comes out the top at the same spot where you started, basically making a loop.
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- Send your needle under the loop stitch you just made. To do this, poke the needle under the stitch going sideways along the crack of the two layers.
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- This photo shows several stitches, and how the loop should be underneath with the thread coming out. Now continue each stitch like this and you are on your way.
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- Keeping watching that you are spacing your stitching evenly around.
Once you’ve made it all the way around from the beginning of the one side of the tree trunk to the other, as shown, stop and stuff your tree with poly fill. Fill as much as you’d like.
Finish the blanket stitch all the way around the tree trunk to close up the ornament.
STEP SIX: CREATE A LOOP FOR HANGING
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- Using embroidery thread, insert your needle down about a quarter of an inch between the two layers at the top of your tree. You should have about three blanket stitches to secure your loop.
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- Insert your needle again, in the same place, to create two loops that you can knot together.
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- Once knotted, trim excess thread.
YOU DID IT! Your ornament is ready to hang. Color Story: Nordic Snow
Color stories: (L) Winter Mint, (R) Kitschy Christmas
Please leave me questions or comments below. I’d love to continue to provide tutorials on my blog and would love your feedback.
Thanks for creating with me!
Vicki
*** FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY!***
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Downloads:
Christmas Tree – SVG (takes you to a public Dropbox folder for downloading.)
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Felt Purchase Links: (please note, these links are affiliate links.)
Traditional Christmas felt color story
First Frost felt color story similar to my Nordic Snow color story
Love these! So beautiful! I think you should sell them (hint hint) 🙂
I wish I could make all the things Sarah! But with a full time job, it’s just not possible anymore. Sorry!
This is totally adorable 🙂 ! Great to make together with kids 😀 !