Sunday, November 30, 2014

Quilted Star Ornament Tutorial

 I have a quick tutorial for you today for simple fabric Christmas ornaments.

While I was decorating for Christmas, I decided to make a star garland from my old stash of African prints. The stars were so much fun to make, I thought I'd share the process with you. This is a great way to use up fabric and batting scraps.


 You will need some fabric scraps, batting scraps, ribbon for hanging or stringing, glue dots (or hot glue), shapes cut from freezer paper, pinking shears and a sewing machine.


I cut some 4" stars out of freezer paper using my Sizzix machine.  You can make any shape in any size. Press your freezer paper shapes onto a fabric scrap, leaving at least 1/2" between shapes.


Layer a piece of fabric (right side down), then some batting, and the fabric with shapes on top. Pin the layers together.

Using a slightly longer stitch length than normal, stitch around each shape, close to the edge of the freezer paper. (I'm working on the Featherweight because I dropped off the Bernina for service. Vacations are the perfect time to bring machines in for service!)

Overlap your beginning and ending stitches about 1" to lock the stitches, as indicated by the arrows below.

Clip the threads. Cut out the shape with pinking shears, about 1/8 - 1/4" away from the stitching line. I found it easier to see where to cut with the freezer paper still attached. 


Once the shape is cut out, remove the freezer paper.

Aren't they fun? I'm thinking about sewing together the bits and pieces to make scrappy stars.

I was trying to decide how to attach the stars to the ribbon and remembered I have lots of glue dots in my stash leftover from scrapbooking and Girl Scouts. 


The larger dots were perfect for the garland. You can just barely see it through the sheer ribbon at the top of the star.


I used two tiny dots to attach a ribbon for hanging an ornament.

If you don't have any glue dots handy, you can stitch or hot glue the ribbons. If you don't have pinking shears or a pinking blade for your rotary cutter, a straight cut will work just fine.


I'm still tweaking my Africa-theme Christmas mantle. The bows on the carved animals are causing some controversy in the family! Bill spent a year in Liberia when he was a kid. He bought the animals and his parents brought back the wall art made from barbed wire. 


You might not hear from me again for a couple of weeks. Bill and I are leaving soon to meet Julia in Tanzania. I suspect there will be more animals to add to the mantle, and there will certainly be lots of fabric to add to the stash! (Be on the lookout for a fabric giveaway before Christmas!) If I find a decent internet connection, I'll try to blog while we are away.

Baadai! 
(See you later)


Added 12/3/14: When I decorated the tree last night, I found this cute selvedge star. Apparently, I've made these stars before! This one is actually dated 2008. It was made in a quilt as you go style, stitching together the selvedges and quilting through the batting and backing all at once. If that makes no sense, I can clarify after the trip. I just wanted to show you another option for these ornaments.

9 comments:

Rike Busch said...

Dear Tina,
thanks for this tutorial!
And I wishyou so much fun and all the best for your travel!!! Have fun and enjoy a totally different christmas. If all went well, we will spend our christmas on the beach at Martinique for our Honeymoon. Wish me luck to get a last minute travel.
Greetings, Rike

WoolenSails said...

I love how you did the mantle with an african theme. I hope you have a wonderful trip to Africa and enjoy spending time with Julie. Can't wait to see your photos of the trip.

Debbie

mb-RI said...

Great tutorial - nice and easy during this hectic season! Have a wonderful trip! I can't wait to hear all about it!! Hope you take lots of pictures - safe, healthy, and happy travels to you.

Debbie said...

Love your mantle and the African pieces. Our friends just got back from Tanzania, and brought me some spices from their sidetrip to Zanzibar! Anyway, have a wonderful time! And thanks for the star tutorial - I may just use that! ;-)

margaret said...

such a clear tutorial many thanks and have a lovely time in Tanzania

Jodi said...

Oooh, I'm going to try to find some time to make some of those stars, Tina. Have fun in Tanzania!

pat giarrusso said...

I assume you like the bows on the animals and Bill doesn't!! Have a great trip and say hello to Julia for me. I will gladly pay you for a thimble from Tanzania if you find one! Thinking the star garland might go nice from my big mirror over the couch. Thanks for the idea! Safe travels.

Lesley Gilbert said...

Lovely story with your tutorial - I can see these stars made for anytime in the year, especially a kids bedroom :)

90min said...

thank you.

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