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.
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.
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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.
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 pierce the fabric and make a hang hole. My preferred awl is the Clover Premier Tapered Awl.
Thread the ribbon, cording or yarn through the hole and tie a knot at tail end.
Pull the knotted tail through the loop. Hang your beautiful ornament on your tree.
More stitched examples:
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
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