DIY Mini Pouf Ornament Tutorial

I know that it's early for Christmas, but as  blogger I want to make sure I can share my ideas in plenty of time for you, the reader, to have time to create these items for yourself. So, when I had a chance to participate in a handmade ornament exchange, I decided to go ahead and choose an early date. This is just the first of a few handmade ornaments that I plan to share this season.

There are around 80 bloggers in the exchange posting from November 1st through the 13th. I am paired up with Amy from Mama's Journey, so the ornament I've made below will be sent to her in time to decorate her tree.

This Mini Pouf Ornament Tutorial does require some basic sewing skills, but after you make one you can whip them up pretty quickly.

I've always admired the floor cushions, or poufs, that I've seen online in beautiful designer fabric, and thought they would make a pretty Christmas tree ornament. So I enlisted my husband to help me scale down a floor pouf pattern and I ended up with this.

I don't think you can tell from the picture, but this ornament is about the size of a grapefruit. It looked like the pouf, only way too big for an ornament. By the time I realized this my husband was unavailable, so I was on my own to scale the pattern once more. With trail and error I ended up with two smaller sizes, and have included all three templates for you choose from.

Here's the tutorial:

The Materials

Two complimentary cotton fabrics - you can use solids if you want
Polyfill or other soft filler
Embroidery thread or thin ribbon to hang the ornament
Pattern template - below

 

 

The Process

Step 1

The following images are from the extra-large ball so you can easily see the steps.

Draw the template of your choice (above) on some stiff paper like card stock and cut it out. Trace onto your fabric. Cut 4 pieces of each fabric, a total of eight.

Step 2

With right sides together, join one piece of each fabric to the opposite, and sew along one side, pivoting at the corners.

Step 3

Next take two pieces, with right sides together, making sure that the same fabric pieces are not matched up, and sew along one side again. You will now have two pieces that look like little bowls.

Step 4

Turn one piece inside out and nest it into the other so that the right sides are together. Pin, matching seams and corners. Sew together leaving a small opening at one of the seams about 1.5 inches wide.

Step 5

Turn right side out and stuff with poly-fil or other stuffing material.  Hand stitch the opening closed and sew a loop of embroidery thread at the top to hang.

How fun are these? I plan on making several and hanging them on our tree this year.

I also think they would be super cute tied to a package for added decoration and an extra gift.

Many thanks to Erlene from My Pinterventures for organizing the event. Check out her site for all the wonderful and creative projects going on during this exchange.

Also, sharing tutorials today are:

Mama’s Journey
Recipes For a Sweet Life
Dragonfly and Lilypads
Amber Downs
Toolbox Divas