simple embroidered Christmas tree ornament - a sorta tutorial

I got it into my head that I wanted to make some embroidered Christmas tree ornaments this year. What I envisioned was a linen fabric with simple sort of geometric hand embroidery on it.

Of course I didn't have any linen lying about the house, but I did have a bolt of muslin. Make do, eh.

I started by downloading a simple tree template from Activity Village. I love, love, love the variety of templates they offer. Great fodder for crafting.

I cut one out in the size I liked and then, using a marker, traced it onto some cardboard I found in our recycling bin. Always save that cardboard! I draft clothing patterns onto it, small project patterns, use it to make gift boxes, etc.

But back to the ornament. After I traced the tree onto the cardboard I cut it out and that was what I used as my pattern. This way I only have to trace the pattern onto the fabric and it goes much, much more quickly than pinning a pattern. I've tried pattern weights on paper patterns before and tracing, but honestly I'd much rather hold down a cardboard template and trace that - especially if I'm wanting to make the item in bulk.


pic of my cardboard pattern template on top of a larger tree template printout

I used a plain old blue Sharpie marker to trace the template onto the fabric.



And I traced a whole line of them.



Then I put the end tree in a small embroidery hoop. Here you see the fabric in the hoop along with my needle, scissors, and embroidery floss. I opted to use DMC 498.



And I began to embroider. I opted for a very simple star design that is constructed of 4 straight stitches that criss-cross each other to create an eight-pointed star.



As I embroidered I took care to leave space around the design for the seams. I didn't measure it, but probably left at least 1/4" allowance. Then I removed the embroidery hoop.



The next step was to carefully cut out the tree and a backing piece. I cut just inside the blue line.



Then I got out my baker's twine and cut off a length long enough to create a loop hanger. I tied a tight knot in one end of the loop.



Next I pinned the two pieces of fabric with right sides together with the hanger inside and the knot of the hanging loop out.



Then, using my sewing machine, I sewed the two together using a zig-zag stitch. I set the stitch length at about 1.5. I wanted a fairly narrow stitch. I also made sure to leave a space unsewn so that I could later stuff the ornament with wool roving. I opted to leave the base of the trunk open. In retrospect it would have been easier to leave a larger space open.



Here you see the sewn ornament with the base left open.



Then I turned the ornament right sides out.



I stuffed the ornament with wool roving. To get the wool into the corners I used a wooden chopstick.



I turned the edges of the fabric at the base of the trunk in and pinned it shut. Then I used a needle and thread and sewed the opening closed using a whipstitch.







To make this tutorial semi-official, here is your list of necessary tools and materials to complete this project.

tree template
sharpie marker (or other writing implement to trace template)
cardboard
paper scissors to cut your template and fabric
sharp scissors for cutting fabric
muslin or other fabric
cotton embroidery floss (I used DMC 498)
embroidery needle (needle w/ sharp point & an eye big enough for 3 strands of floss)
embroidery hoop (helpful, but not strictly necessary)
sewing machine and thread (or needle and thread for hand sewing)
straight pins
baker's twine (or other such stringy item to create hanging loop)
wool roving (or other material to stuff the ornament)
chopstick (or pencil or other long thin item to help push stuffing into corners)

Edited addition -

Here are a few more ornament tops I embroidered yesterday after I queued up the post:


another done using DMC 498


with this one I used DMC 797

and here they are all sewn up -


the red one has a baker's twine hanging loop


and the blue one has a ribbon hanging loop