Monday, November 22, 2010

Monday Project - Layered Felt Christmas Ornaments


Next weekend our house will transform into Christmas Central - I love this time of the year!  I like to have new handmade ornaments to add to the tree each year.   This year I designed three from layered felt with the North Pole as a theme.

Materials List:

*assorted colors of felt
*assorted colors of embroidery thread
* beads - I used clear with a silver center on the North Pole and pearl beads on the reindeer
*a small amount of 1/8 inch ribbon - I make small loops and use an ornament hanger, but you can also use more and have a longer ribbon hanger
* Patterns - download here

If you have not made layered felt ornaments before or want a review, look at this past post.  It also have instructions for the basic embroidery stitches I use.

Attach all pieces with a blanket stitch.  I used two strands of embroidery thread through out, except for the embroidered features where I used four strands.

Print out two copies of the patterns.  One you'll be cutting apart and the other you'll use to see where pieces go.  Cut each piece out on the outside lines.


North Pole:

1.  Cut two of the whole pattern from white.  Cut out the top ball and cut one from sparkly white.  Cut out the sign and cut one from beige.  Cut out the stripes and cut one each from red.


2.  Sew the top ball on with a blanket stitch on the bottom side only.  Leave the outer edges unsewn.  In a spiral, sew clear beads on individually.


3.  Sew sign on top and bottom edges, leaving sides unsewn.  Sew red stripes on the same way.  Using gold embroidery thread, embroidery "North Pole."


4.  Attach front to back, inserting a ribbon at the top.


Reindeer:

1.   Cut one of entire pattern and one of entire pattern except for the antlers from brown.  Cut out the antlers and cut one from beige.  Cut the harness straps out and cut one each from dark green.  Add a small amount to the inside short edge of the chest harness so it will go under the stomach harness.  Cut out the hooves and cut one each from black.


2.  Sew on chest harness, leaving the two short edges unsewn.


3.  Attach stomach harness, leaving the edges unsewn, and sew pearl beads to both harnesses.  Attach hooves leaving the edges unsewn.  Cut a small red circle and attach to nose, leaving edge unsewn.  Embroider face with a french knot eye and outline stitch mouth using four strands of thread for all.


4.  Sew antlers onto the back pattern piece.


5.  Attach front to back adding a ribbon loop.  I used a variegated brown.


Santa:

1.  Cut two complete patterns from dark red.  Cut a square of felt for face, adding enough to each side so it will go under the beard and hat trim.  Cut out the hat trim and sleeve cuffs and cut one each from white.  Cut out the robe trim and cut one each from white, adding enough to the inside edge of Santa's left trim so it will go under the right trim and enough to the top of the right piece so it will go under the beard .  Cut out shoes and cut two from black.  Cut out mittens and cut one each from black, adding enough to the tops so they will go under sleeve cuffs.  Cut out beard with nose and mustache still attached and cut one from white, adding enough to the top edges of the beard so it will go under the hat trim.  Cut out nose and mustache and cut one from white.


2.  Sew on the left robe trim, leaving the outer edges unsewn.  Attach the right robe trim leaving the outer edges unsewn.  Attach the face square with a small drop of glue.


3.  Attach beard, leaving top edges and outer edges unsewn.


4.  Attach hat trim, leaving outer edges unsewn.  Attach nose/mustache piece, leaving nose area unsewn.


5.  Attach boots and mittens.


6. Cut a small circle from pink and attach as nose.  Attach sleeve cuffs, leaving outer edges unsewn.


7.  With four strands of thread, add arm lines and eyebrows with an outline stitch and eyes with french knots.


8. Attach front to back - I used a variegated dark red thread - and add a ribbon loop.


Happy Creating!  Deborah

9 comments:

  1. These are so lovely, thanks so much for sharing! I just need to find some time to make them now... I think it will be next Christmas.

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  2. These are so cute. I wanted to print the pattern out, but am having difficulty. When I print it out I only get 1/4 of the page! Ughhhh...any suggestions??
    Thanks for sharing!!!
    Desi

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  3. Hmmm - I have a couple of ideas on the print out problems. My mom had trouble with it earlier this morning but just now printed it out fine - she was getting an unavailable message, though. The other thought is that I learned with PDF files, if I close my laptop before it's done printing, I only get a partial page. If it's still not working, email me (address in profile) and I'll send you the file directly and we'll see if that works!

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  4. Thank you. I will try that now and see if it works.
    Desi

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  5. These are so pretty! Thanks so much for the pattern and tutorial, I'll be linking.

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  6. Very cute ideas! I love working with wool felt. That Rudolph is a real charmer! Thanks.

    Leslie S. in MN
    esclante at comcast dot net

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  7. Hi, here's hoping you get this message, as I tried to send you an email twice and they both failed. (boo) I am just now getting back to you on getting the Santa and reindeer patterns. I tried again to print, not sure what the problem is; but I couldn't get them printed. Would it be possible to send me the pattern at this gmail email address?
    Thanks much, ;)
    Desi

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  8. Desi - I'm so sorry they won't print out! I checked with several others and they've printed them, so I'm stumped as to what the problem is! Your profile isn't public, so I can't get your email address, but as soon as I do, I'll send you the pattern. The gmail address in my profile is my usual address - did you copy/paste it and send it from your gmail page?

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  9. Thank you Deborah. That's exactly where I got your email address from your profile; but both times it came back to me as "unable to deliver." message. Anyhoo...who know why I can't get my printer to print it out, but very much appreciate your generosity. It never fails to astound me at the generosity of bloggers, you among them!
    Thanks again,
    Here's my address:desi.wilson@gmail.com and I am a subscriber to your blog too!!
    Have a good day!
    Desi

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