How to Make a "Green" Holiday Ornament

FAST Fabric Ornament

One of our many holiday traditions includes getting the kids a new holiday ornament. Every year I either make the ornaments or we buy them one that reflects their personality. Usually it's something like a Scooby or Baby's 1st Christmas ornament.

The last few years, I've taken to making the ornaments but I suppose they reflect more of my crafting style at the time instead of their personality. Oh well, at least I try! I've made ornaments from gold wire, bells, mini glass balls, and other mediums. Some have endured the years. Others haven't faired so well. Anyway, I enjoy making them and the family seems to like them, so it's a win-win situation.

Since I've been learning to sew over the last year, this year's ornaments are...

...Fabric ornaments.

I don't like formal patterns and tend to do better with general guidelines. It allows me to let my creative juices flow freely so, here's a quick and easy ornament that plays to those strengths. It uses scrap fabric, a cookie cutter, and scrap ribbon, rick rack or whatever else you have in your sewing stash.

Scrap Fabric Holiday Ornament in 1 Hour or Less.

1. Cut strips of fabric anywhere from 1" to 2" wide with the length depending on what you've got. The longer your length, the larger your ornament can be. You'll also need another coordinating fabric for the back side of the ornament unless you have enough of the patched fabric to make both sides.
2. Sew your fabric strips right sides together with 1/4" seams and press flat. Don't have fabric, use ribbon or a combination of both instead. Be cautious of your heat setting since your using multiple types of fabric. You don't want to burn up a section of fabric because the setting it too high. Learned this the hard way! ;) Add iron on interfacing to add stability since multiple fabric types are used.
3. Use a cookie cutter as a template or draw your own on paper. Trace it onto the wrong sides of your fabric. Think of how you want the stripes to look on your finished ornament when you set up your template. Cut out your template.
4. Add rick rack, sequins, jewels, applique, etc to either sides of the fabric. Again, keep in mind how your finished ornament will look.
   
5. Place right sides together with a ribbon loop inserted in between. Sew right sides together leaving about a 2" opening to turn inside out. Be careful not to stitch the top of your ribbon loop when sewing the fabric.
   
6. Turn right side out, stuff with sewing scraps including, thread, fabric, stuffing, etc. Close the opening with a whip stitch and enjoy your new holiday ornament.

Click here for a printer friendly version of this tutorial.