This year I’m making easy embroidered felt Christmas ornaments to place on gifts for a little something extra. I love the idea of two gifts in one, so I’m creating handmade ornaments for everyone on my list. My hope, is that you’ll take this idea and make something for yourself, or for that special someone on your list.
November Pinterest Challenge
It’s time for our November Pinterest challenge, and this month’s theme is DIY Christmas ornaments. Grab a cup of coffee and settle in for lots of inspiring ideas and tutorials.
If this is your first time to join us for a Pinterest challenge, this is how it works. Our host Cindy over at County Road 407, selects a photo for us to recreate, and each participant puts their own spin on the photo.
Our challenge this month is to come up with a Christmas ornament craft, and what great timing. I’m sure many of you will be ready to start your holiday decoration the day after Thanksgiving.
It’s always entertaining to see what everyone comes up on these Pinterest challenges, and I’m sure we’ll have an interesting variety this month too. Be sure to click through all the links at the end of the post.
Welcome to Thistle Key Lane! If you are stopping by from my friend Lora of Create & Ponder, I’m so happy to have you. Lora’s homespun pinecone ornaments are so darling, I want to make some too!
Last week I shared a home tour of our family room in the post Old Fashioned Christmas Decorating Ideas. When you click over, you’ll see simple greenery, natural elements and homemade decorations that make our home feel cozy.
I’m loving this old fashioned approach to decorating, and these simple embroidered felt ornaments fit right in with that theme.
You can make your ornaments as elaborate as you want, but I’m using the most basic stitches. My ornaments are made with a whole lot more love than skill.
Easy Embroidered Felt Christmas Ornaments
I have to admit, that I didn’t realize just how rusty my embroidery skills have become until jumping into this project. Luckily it’s starting to come back after a little practice.
First let’s talk about felt and the two types I’m using for these ornaments.
The green felt I’m using to make the trees is 100% wool felt, which is more dense and smoother than polyester felt. The navy felt I’m using for the birds is polyester which is less dense and rougher.
Whatever type you end up using may not make that much difference, but if you have a choice I suggest wool felt.
Supplies
- felt
- embroidery floss
- embroidery needle
- poly fill
- scissors
- ribbon or yarn
My first suggestion is drawing a simple shape that is easy to trace and cut out. The patterns I’m using are from a scrap piece of thick paper.
Place your pattern on your felt and trace around it with a pen. I’m using a white Gelly pen that is easy to see on the dark felt.
Next cut out two pieces (a front and back) for each ornament.
Now you’re ready to decorate however you wish. On the trees I’m starting out with V and O shapes in coordinating embroidery floss colors on the front piece only.
For this project I’m using DMC cotton 6 strand embroidery floss in the following colors:
- Dark Gray Green 3051
- Dark Moss Green 580
- Medium Mustard 370
- Dark Driftwood 08
I like using embroidery floss in lengths of about 18 inches. You can use all 6 strands together or separate the floss into three strands, which is a little easier to pull through the felt. See photo above.
Once you finish your design then you can sew the front and back pieces together, adding a small bit of poly fill for dimension.
On some of the ornaments I’m using a blanket stitch, however the whip stitch goes a lot faster. See the photo below.
When the stitching is complete around the entire edge, then you can attach your ribbon or a piece of yarn for a hanger. You can use embroidery floss to attach the ribbon or use fabric glue.
The navy felt bird ornaments come together the same way as the tree ornaments. They’re my favorite, even though they are a little more time consuming with the flower design, and the blanket stitch around the edge.
To download the bird and tree pattern you can click here.
Just For Fun
For fun I’m sharing a photo of my old scissors that our dog almost destroyed several years ago. They still cut fabric beautifully, but painful to used due to the mangled handle. So when I started this project last week, I bought a brand new pair.
If you own scissors specifically for fabric, then you know what I mean when I say, I love the precise sharp cut these make. Happy Christmas to me! Yay!
Embroidered Felt Ornament Gifts
I love the idea of attaching ornaments on presents, so that you’re able to offer two gifts instead of one. These little ornaments can be in any shape you desire, and can be personalized with a name or initial.
Don’t you just love how these look with plaid ribbon on the the gift boxes? This is fourth year to use the ticking stripe boxes, and let me tell you, I love not having to spend money on boxes every year.
The plaid ribbon really adds the finishing touch to the gifts. Now I have to finish my Christmas shopping so I can fill these boxes for reals. 😉
helpful supplies For embroidery
- you find these are good quality fabric scissors
- these embroidery cards will help you organize your floss
- small scissors like this pair are excellent for needle work
- this poly fill is good for so many crafts
- these gel pens are what I use on all types of projects
For felt woodland animal ornaments click here.
Be sure to follow Thistle Key Lane on Pinterest, where the boards are up to date with seasonal ideas that you can use right now!
Thanks again for visiting today and reading about my easy embroidered felt Christmas ornaments.
Up next in our Pinterest Challenge blog hop is Laura of Everyday Edits. Don’t forget to check out all the links below. There’s something for everyone!
Cheers!
Oh my goodness Michelle, these are absolutely darling! I love both, but those blue birds are simply charming! I love the idea of making them as gift toppers! Pinned xx
Thank you Cindy! I’m anxious to see what the family will think about them. 😊
HI Michelle! You had me at the navy and green tartan ribbon! Love this! Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanks Laura, I have a weakness for navy and tartan too!
Oh wow, these look so elegant. What a fabulous idea to embroider them. I love the dark colors of the felt too, stunning.
Thank you Marty, I’m loving the richer colors too!
Wow! These are so beautiful! I love them. Happiest holidays!
Thank you so much Renae!
I haven’t embroidered in years but those birds are adorable. Thank you so much for sharing!
Thank you Laura! It’s been a long time for me as well, and I realized how much I missed embroidery.
Michelle
I love this idea. These look so elegant and high end. Great post. Happy Thanksgiving
Thank you so much Rachel! I’m loving these color combinations!
I absolutely love these, Michelle! I love doing embroidery and this is a great way to turn it into something special. Your blanket stitch looks great, but I think I’d do the whipstitch route;) Always enjoy seeing your creativity. Now I’m going to pop over and see your tree pillow, which I also plan on doing this year!
Thank you so much Lora! Yep that whip stitch is so much easier, but I’m getting faster with practice. 😊
Two things: One – I wish I could come spend a day with you so I could rub your head and some of your beautiful creativity would rub off on me! Two – I also wish I were receiving one of those magnificent gifts! I am seriously in awe of you right now. I’ve always thought you were so skilled and had the prettiest style but this is just pure wonderment. I love the colors you chose, the shapes and the little details. You should have your own booth someday. Heck, YOUR OWN STORE! I would be your biggest fan and customer. 🙂 Thank you for joining in. I feel blessed to know you. pinned X 3!
Thank you, thank you, thank you Cindy! Your sweet comments and vote of confidence makes me feel sooooo good. You don’t know how much I appreciate being part of this wonderful group and look forward to these projects every month. I feel blessed to know you too! Big hugs my sweet friend!😁
Michelle, these are so charming, lovely, and cozy! The embroidery on the ornament is a perfect touch, and with your tutorial, just about anyone could make these. My mom and I were looking through the posts together, and she LOVED yours, as well! Pinned, of course!
Thank you so much Julie and please tell your mom too! Hope you are having a wonderful Thanksgiving!
We had a lovely holiday! Wanted to let you know that I’m so excited to be able to share these at Tuesday Turn About this week! Pinned, again!
Thank you so much Julie! I’m thrilled that you are featuring my post!!
Michelle, what a fun idea for decorating packages!! I love tying on ornaments as my mother started this for us four when we were kids, and I continued it with my two. Now I get to add ornaments each year to my adult children and daughter-in-law’s and grandson’s packages! I’ll have to go hunt down some wool felt and get my embroidery skills back in shape.
Thank you for the idea and Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours,
Big holiday hugs,
Barb 🙂
Giving ornaments to to your family is wonderful tradition Barb! Hope you and yours are having the best Thanksgiving today!
Thank you, Michelle! Happy December 1st tomorrow. 24 more days til you know what!! 💒💕☃️
Michelle, both felt ornaments are precious. My embroidery skills are lacking but you’ve convinced me I should practice. Love the detail on the bird one. Merry Christmas, friend.
Thank you so much Carol! Merry Christmas to you too friend!
Didn’t read all the comments so don’t know if this was suggested, but maybe wrap the mangled handles with electrical tape a couple of times they might not hurt then. Beautiful felt ornaments love the embroidery, just might have to do this with my GD.
That’s a great suggestion Debbie, and I think I have some thick Gorilla tape that may do the trick. Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting today! Hugs!
These look wonderful. I have some really nice cookie cutters that I think will work for a pattern. Thanks so much for the instructions.
Thank you Barbara, and what a great suggestion to use cookie cutters for a pattern! I bet they will turn out so cute!
Omgoodness Michelle, these are adorable! I have made ornaments for our tree for years and have often made them from felted wool. Angels, stars, and one other I can’t remember! I might have to add a bird and a tree to my collection! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much Cindy! I just got through making a few more. They are addicting LOL!
Michelle these are wonderful! I love the colors and how you used the ornaments to coordinate beautifully with your gift wrap. Just gorgoeus!
Thank you Amber! I kinda hooked on making these now, and already thinking about what to make next year!
Michelle, these are beautiful! I so love your style and your holiday decor (including the entry table and living room posts!). Merry December!
Thank you so much for stopping by Rita! I hope you’re having a wonderful holiday season!
Oh my goodness, I just found you and these ornaments are truly delightful! Where oh where did you find that gorgeous chevron ribbon?
Thank you so much Susan! I found the ribbon at Hobby Lobby.