THERE’S something about Christmas time that brings out my creativity – and these DIY Christmas tree decorations are one of my favourite festive crafts.
I came up with the idea a few years ago when I was struggling to find (and afford) decorations for my Christmas tree. After making a few ornaments for myself, I continued making these as gifts for family and friends – fine-tuning my design as I went along.
Here are a few simple steps to follow if you’d like to try your hand at this Christmas craft.
ALSO READ: Help SANBS raise blood stock this festive season
You will need cardboard (an old box works well), a ruler or measuring tape, a pencil, a pair of scissors, fabric, a needle, wool, cushion stuffing or cotton wool, and optional – beads and thread for decoration.
Step 1 – Create a template
For this project, the simpler the shape, the better. Opt for rounded edges rather than sharp corners as these can be tricky to sew closed. My favourite shapes include a simplified Christmas tree, a heart, a Christmas stocking, and a bell. Sketch the shape out on a piece of cardboard and cut it out – this will form a template to ensure you end up with uniform decorations. My templates are about 8cm in length and around 6cm in width, depending on the design.
Step 2 – Cut out the design
Fold your fabric in half, place your template on top of the fabric and trace out the design with a pencil. You may want to pin the fabric together before cutting out the shape. You will end up with two identical shapes to sew together.
Step 3 – Details
If you want to add beadwork – sew this to one side of your decoration. I added a string of beads to my Christmas tree design to look like tinsel.
ALSO READ: WATCH: Incredible lightning storm across Berea
Step 4 – Sew it up
Using wool, stitch the two sides together. If your fabric is starting to fray, you may want to singe the edges against a candle flame first. You can ‘wing it’ for a more relaxed look or measure 0.5cm markings to guide you for even, neat stitches. I use a blanket stitch for this step. If you are new to sewing, there are plenty of tutorials on YouTube with advice for the perfect stitch. Leave a little gap to stuff the decoration with cushion stuffing or cotton wool before sewing it all the way shut.
Step 5 – Finishing touches
Add a piece of ribbon or wool at the top of the decoration so you can hang it on the tree, and voila!
For more from Berea Mail, follow us on Facebook or Twitter. You can also follow us on Instagram.