Sew Thankful Blog » Christmas Decoration

Click here for a PDF to print out the instructions.

NOTE: This PDF file requires a RECENT version of Adobe Acrobat Reader, available for FREE at Adobe.com

©Tracy L. Chapman & Sew Thankful Inc. December 2009. All rights reserved.

User assumes all risk. Tracy L. Chapman & Sew Thankful Inc. shall have no liability with respect to loss or damage caused directly or indirectly by the information contained in this project.

Please read entire pattern carefully all the way through before beginning.

This block expands on the method used in Block Variation #1.  This time we will make the block smaller and put 4 units together to form a pinwheel.

Materials required for each block:
• Focal Fabric – four 2.5 inch squares
• Accent (triangle) Fabric – four 2.5 inch squares* (contrasting)
• Coordinating sewing thread

Instructions:

1. Place fabric squares on your work surface.

Stacked - four squares of focal fabric next to four squares of accent fabric

2. Fold accent fabric with wrong sides together (right sides out) diagonally so that the corners meet–this will form a triangle.  Press with iron.

Accent fabric folded and pressed. Repeat to make triangles out of all four accent squares.

3.  Place pressed/folded accent fabric on to focal fabric, matching up corners and baste raw edges using a 1/16th to 1/8th inch seam allowance.

Folded Triangle basted to focal fabric. Repeat to make a total of 4 of these units.

4.  Lay units on work surface and arrange placement to form a pinwheel design.

Units arranged to form a pinwheel design.

5.  Use a .25 inch seam:  Stitch together top two units then stitch together bottom two units. Press seams in the direction AWAY from the folded triangle side to avoid extremely bulky seam allowance.

Top units stitched and bottom units stitched.

6.  Use a .25 inch seam and stitch together top and bottom sections.

Completed block should measure approximately 4.5 inches.

7.   Cut one 4.5” fabric square out of your choice of a coordinating or contrasting fabric for the ornament back; OR you may choose to use another 4.5″ block (either another of this or of any style) for the back.  Our block is turned into an “Elf Pillow on Point” by following the finishing instructions on this blog entry:  http://www.sewthankfulblog.com/?p=1299

Click here for a PDF to print out the instructions.  NOTE: This PDF file requires a RECENT version of Adobe Acrobat Reader, available for FREE at Adobe.com

IDEA:  Make these blocks/ornaments as scrappy as you want.  It only takes eight 2.5″ squares to make one of these blocks. Just be sure to choose fabrics with at least a moderate amount of contrast and pay attention to the placement for your pinwheel design.

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©Tracy L. Chapman & Sew Thankful Inc. December 2009. All rights reserved.

HST Pocket Ornament

Click here for a PDF — so you can print out the instructions. NOTE:  This PDF file requires a RECENT version of Adobe Acrobat Reader, available for FREE at Adobe.com

©Tracy L. Chapman & Sew Thankful Inc. December 2009. All rights reserved.

Please read entire pattern carefully all the way through before beginning.

This simple little block features a nifty pocket. When you finish your ornament, you might
want to tuck a gift card, piece of chocolate, note or other sweet surprise in the pocket.

Idea: Tuck a gift card or other sweet surprise in the pocket!

Materials required for each block:
• Focal Fabric – one 5 inch square*
• Pocket Fabric – one 5 inch square* (contrasting)
• Coordinating sewing thread

*You may choose to make your block any size. Whatever size you choose, simply cut the same size pieces of fabric for focal fabric and pocket fabric.  I recommend blocks no smaller than 3″ and no larger than 6 1/2″.

Instructions:

1. Place fabric squares on your work surface.

Block Variation #1 Fabrics

2. Fold pocket fabric with wrong sides together (right sides out) diagonally so that the corners meet–this will form a triangle.  Press with iron.

Pocket Fabric Folded and pressed

3.  Place pressed/folded pocket fabric on to focal fabric, matching up corners and baste raw edges using a 1/8th inch seam allowance.

Folded pocket fabric basted on to focal fabric.

4.  Cut one 5” fabric square out of your choice of a coordinating or contrasting fabric for the ornament back. Note, if you have chosen a different size block, cut that size fabric for the back.

5.  Find ornament finishing instructions on this blog entry:  http://www.sewthankfulblog.com/?p=1299

If you would like to receive notice when new free projects become available, please be sure to sign up for the FREE SewThankful eNews, click here.

Dress up your tree, easy as can be!

Click here for a PDF — so you can print out the instructions. NOTE:  This PDF file requires a RECENT version of Adobe Acrobat Reader, available for FREE at Adobe.com

©Tracy L. Chapman & Sew Thankful Inc. November 2009. All rights reserved.

Black & White Nine Patch with Red Yo-Yo Embellishment

Permission to copy and distribute this complimentary pattern at no charge to others, for personal or NON-PROFIT use, for guild and group projects is granted provided all copyright information and references to Sew Thankful are kept in tact one each and every pattern copy printed/distributed.

Permission is also granted to individual crafters making small quantities of finished items to sell at their own individual craft fairs, boutiques, etc.

For any other use, please contact tracy@sewthankful.com to obtain the appropriate permission and/or licensing.

Tracy L. Chapman & Sew Thankful Inc. shall have no liability with respect to loss or damage caused directly or indirectly by the information contained in this project. SEW THANKFUL and the SEW THANKFUL logo are a federally registered Trademark/Service Mark of Sew Thankful Inc.

Please read entire pattern carefully all the way through before beginning.

Materials required for each ornament:

• Two new or leftover Quilt Blocks of your choice (unfinished 3.5” to 6.5”) OR two pieces of fabric (unfinished 3.5” to 6.5”).
  • Variations…You may choose to have one pieced/leftover quilt block and one side plain or both sides plain or both sides pieced.
  • Appliqué blocks work great too!
  • Whatever you choose, you need two units of fabric with the same unfinished measurements of 3.5” to 6.5” square.
  • Don’t have any leftover small quilt blocks? Or want to make something new/different?  Try our Block Variation #1
  • You can go larger or smaller if you wish, depending upon the size of your tree or where you will be hanging the ornament.  I find that smaller than 3.5” tends to disappear in the tree and much more than 6.5” tends to become overpowering.
• Embellishments if desired
• Coordinating thread for sewing
• Polyfil/polyester stuffing or shredded batting scraps for stuffing
• 10” piece of coordinating or contrasting ribbon – I prefer 1/8” inexpensive satin ribbon but silk ribbon or cording or yarn can be used if desired.

Helpful tools:  Awl, silk ribbon needle, hand sewing needle

Instructions:

Prepare fabric pieces (whether blocks or plain).  Add any desired embellishments now, but remember not to place beads or breakable embellishments too close to the .25 seam allowance at the outer edges of the block.

IDEAS: Embroider or quilt if desired.  Try a new technique like stenciling or Paintstik rubbing, experiment with fancy threads or Texture Magic. These pieces can be as plain or ornate as you wish.

Lay fabric pieces or blocks on top of each other with right sides together.

Using a quarter inch seam allowance, stitch around the entire block leaving approximately a 2” opening.

Press seam to set.  At the 2” un-sewn opening, press back the seam allowance ¼” on each side.

Clip corners, being careful not to cut into any stitching.

Leave approximately 2" opening, make a .25" seam all the way around. Press back opening on each side (as shown at top of pic). Clip corners.

Turn right side out.  Use chopstick or smallish crochet hook to push corners out.

Fill ornament with stuffing through the 2” opening. Fill as firmly or as loosely as you desire. Use a chopstick or fingers to carefully push the stuffing into the corners.

Whip or blind stitch the opening shut.

Decide which corner you want to place your hanging ribbon.

Use an awl to make a hang hole. If you don't have an awl, try using a darning needle or tapestry needle to enlarge an opening to accommodate the ribbon - then thread ribbon through the hole with a silk ribbon needle.

Thread the ribbon, cording or yarn through the hole and tie a knot at tail end.

Thread tails through then knot close to the end.

Pull the knotted tail through the loop. Hang your beautiful ornament on your tree.

Knotted tails are pulled through the loop to the top.

More stitched examples:

Texture Magic has been applied. Stitched with Razzle Dazzle Thread.

Back Side of the Texture Magic/Razzle Dazzle Ornament. Tsukineko Ink (using a brush tip Fantastix) was used to write Christmas 2009.

Click here for a PDF — so you can print out the instructions. NOTE:  This PDF file requires a RECENT version of Adobe Acrobat Reader, available for FREE at Adobe.com

If you would like to receive notice when new free projects become available, please be sure to sign up for the FREE SewThankful eNews, click here.

Have you read Lazy Girl, Joan Hawley’s blog entry from Monday this week? You really should check it out.  She provides two FABULOUS projects: an ornament and holiday garland.

Click here to check it out.

2008 Free Ornament Project Samples

These fabric ornaments are fast, easy and cute as can be. While they may not be the *most* elegant or ornate ornaments on the tree, they really play nice with others!You probably have everything you need to make a bunch of these beauties.  Use up scraps and dress up your tree; or add a special touch to your gift wrapping this year.

Fabric ornaments are my favorite — they’re soft, colorful and UNBREAKABLE!

NOTE:  This complimentary PDF projects require a recent version of Adobe Acrobat Reader (available for FREE from adobe.com).  Sorry, SewThankful is unable to provide technical assistance for Adobe products.