FELT DECORATION

Dimensional Felt Ornament

This holiday decoration may look complicated, but it's very simple to make.  Plus it's nice and lightweight so it will hang beautifully from trees, wreaths or garland.  A group of them in a range of colours would make a lovely mobile!

Materials Needed:

Cardstock

1 sheet of stiffened felt

Scraps of wool or acrylic felt

Water-soluble fabric marker

Scissors

Sewing machine

Hand-sewing needle and thread

Tacky glue

Scrap of embroidery floss

Cotton swab (optional)

Template (http://cdn.makezine.com/make/craft/felt_ornament_template.pdf)

Directions:

Step 1:  Download the ornament template and print it onto cardstock.  Or, if you prefer, create a shape of your own and draw it on cardstock.  Cut the shape out.  Use a water-soluble marker to trace this shape onto the felt four times.  Cut the four pieces out carefully, so your shapes are as alike as possible.

Step 2:  Stack these shapes up, matching all the edges.  Use the water-soluble marker to draw a line down the centre of the topmost piece.  (I've drawn this line boldly so it shows up in the photo - your line should be more subtle.)

Step 3:  On a sewing machine, sew through all eight layers, following the line you drew in Step 2.  If your ornament shape has points at the top and/or bottom, like this one does, you'll probably find it easiest to begin sewing in the centre, and stitch out toward each point.

Step 4:  Gently fold the pieces along this seam to open them up a little.

Step 5:  Cut some ½-inch-wide strips of wool or acrylic felt.  If you're using the provided template, you'll need eight strips, each 6-inches long.

Step 6:  Thread a hand-sewing needle, and knot the thread.  Roll the first felt strip up tightly with your fingers.  When you've rolled it up completely, sew the end of the strip down with a tiny whipstitch.  Repeat this process with the remaining seven felt strips.

Step 7:  Take the first felt spiral, and apply glue to the back edges as shown.

Step 8:  Carefully place the spiral between two layers of the ornament, making sure the glue comes in contact with the felt.  Repeat this process with the other seven felt spirals, taking care to line them up with each other.  Allow the glue to dry.

Step 9:  Thread a scrap of embroidery floss on a needle.  Pass the needle through the top of the ornament as shown.  Tie a knot in the floss to create a hanger.

Step 10:  If your ornament has any stray marks from the water-soluble marker, clean them up with a moistened cotton swab.

Variation - 2-Color Spiral

If you want to add a little more visual interest to your ornament, try making the spirals with two colours.  Start with 8 (½-inch-wide) felt strips, but cut them about half as long as you'd normally use for this ornament.  (If you're using the provided template, then cut your strips about 3-inches long.)

Step 1:  Place the two strips together so they're a little offset.

Step 2:  Begin rolling the spiral from the topmost strip, catching the bottom one as you roll.

Step 3: Stitch down both ends of the felt strips, using a tiny whipstitch.

Author:  Diane Gilleland

 Love and hugs,