Handmade felt ornaments are a wonderful way to add a touch of creativity to your holiday decor. These easy-to-make decorations also make thoughtful gifts for loved ones. Enjoy crafting and creating memories this holiday season.

Welcome back to Wild Cherry Farm. Today, I’m sharing a fun and easy project: DIY felt ornaments. You can make them any way you like—stars, moons, circles, or whatever inspires you. This is a wonderful craft that’s as relaxing as it is rewarding. Let’s get started.

Here’s everything you need to make these felt ornaments:

Embroidery floss: Or just regular thread. If you’re using thread, double it up for extra strength. Amazon Links: https://amzn.to/4ilwfWM (UK) https://amzn.to/49m9uhs (US)

Felt: Craft felt works great, and you can easily find it on Amazon or at your local craft store. Amazon Links: https://amzn.to/41jG1Tf (UK) https://amzn.to/49Ert2V (US)

Cookie cutters: Perfect for tracing shapes like stars or hearts, though you can freehand if you prefer.

Embroidery hoop: Optional but helpful, especially for stitching details. I’ll show you how to make ornaments even if you don’t have one. Amazon links: https://amzn.to/4gkWyKR (UK) https://amzn.to/4gjvZWx (US)

Polyester Filling: https://amzn.to/4f8UZPc (UK) https://amzn.to/3ZkQgEc (US)

Organic Raw Cotton Batting Fiber Natural White for Stuffing: https://amzn.to/4ikFV3I (UK) Carded Lambs Wool Stuffing Batting: https://amzn.to/49qBYqs (US)

Pen and paper: Great for sketching out your ideas.

Step 1: Start with Shapes

First, decide on your shapes. You can experiment with hearts, stars, or circles. I like to test out different colours and combinations to see what works best.

For a beginner-friendly option, start with a simple circle. It’s versatile, and you can decorate it however you like. While cookie cutters are handy, freehand drawing also works well. You can even trace around a glass to get a perfect circle.

Once you’ve decided on your shape, cut it out.

Step 2: Get Creative with Layers

For one of my projects, I used a circle shape as the base. I traced a second circle on yellow felt and cut it in half to create a half-moon. Then, I stitched this moon onto a piece of dark blue felt stretched in an embroidery hoop.

Adding stars to the design was simple and fun—you can cut small star shapes from yellow felt or stitch them on directly. Once the design was complete, I cut out the blue felt into a circle matching the size of the base circle, ready to sew together.

adding a half moon and stars to the felt

Step 3: Make It Personal

For my next ornament, I created a star using a cookie cutter as a template. The cookie cutter was a bit small for an ornament, so I used it to create an appliqué for a larger star. I traced around the green star on dark red felt, leaving extra space to create a bigger star shape.

Step 4: Add Details to Your Star

Once you’ve cut out the larger star, use it as a template to trace and cut a matching back piece. Now you have the front and back pieces for your ornament.

For the green star appliqué, I used green embroidery floss to sew it onto the red star base. While I didn’t use an embroidery hoop for this project, holding the felt in my hand worked just as well. If you prefer to use an embroidery hoop, start with a larger piece of felt so the hoop can hold it securely. You can cut the shape out after stitching.

Step 5: Add Embellishments

After sewing on the green star, you can decide if you want to add extra details like a tiny white star or a snowflake for example. I drew a simple design on the felt and stitched over it using cream-coloured embroidery floss.

sewing two felt pieces together to make a felt ornament

Step 6: Assemble Your Ornament

Now it’s time to sew the two red star pieces together. I used a blanket stitch for this step because it gives a neat and decorative edge. However, you can use any stitch you prefer. Consider using a contrasting thread color to make the stitching stand out, or match the thread to the felt if you prefer.

Leave a small opening as you stitch the edges, this is where you’ll add the stuffing. You can use polyester filling, natural wool, or any soft material to give your ornament a plush, three-dimensional appearance. Once you’ve stuffed the ornament, sew up the opening with the same blanket stitch to finish it off.

How to Make Easy Felt Ornaments (Using Cookie Cutters!)

In this post, I’ll show you how to make easy felt ornaments using simple techniques and even cookie cutters for some of the designs. These handmade decorations are perfect for your Christmas tree, gift tags, or even as thoughtful, homemade gifts.

Materials

Felt in various colours (wool or craft felt works great)
Cookie cutters (for shapes like stars, hearts, or trees)
Scissors
Embroidery thread or regular sewing thread
Needle
Stuffing (polyfill or cotton)Optional: decorative items (e.g., buttons, sequins, ribbons)
Ribbon or twine for hanging loops (or just use the embroidery floss to make a big loop at the top of your ornament

Tools

Instructions

1. Choose Your Design

Decide on the shapes you want for your ornaments. Cookie cutters are excellent templates for festive designs like stars, bells, or gingerbread men. If you prefer, you can draw freehand shapes on paper and use them as patterns.

2. Cut the Felt

Place your cookie cutter or paper pattern on the felt and trace around it. Cut out two identical shapes for each ornament (front and back). You can also mix and match felt colours for different layers.

3. Decorate the Front Piece

Before sewing, decorate the front piece of each ornament. Sew on buttons, sequins or small pieces of felt for details like eyes, buttons, or patterns (or use fabric glue to attach decorations). You could also create simple embroidery patterns like snowflakes and stars.

4. Stitch the Pieces Together

Place the two felt shapes together and stitch around the edges using a simple running stitch or blanket stitch. Leave a small opening for stuffing.

Tip: Use contrasting thread for a decorative look or matching thread for a seamless finish.

5. Add Stuffing

Gently fill the ornament with a small amount of stuffing to give it a plush, three-dimensional look. Be careful not to overstuff, as this can distort the shape.

6. Attach a Hanging Loop

Before closing the final stitch, insert a loop of ribbon or twine at the top of the ornament. Secure it with a few extra stitches to ensure it’s strong enough to hang.

7. Finish and Trim

Sew the opening closed, and trim any excess thread. Check for any loose edges or decorations and secure them as needed.

Notes

Ideas for Personalization:

Names or initials: Embroider or glue on letters for a personal touch.
Seasonal scents: Add a pinch of cinnamon, cloves, or dried lavender to the stuffing for scented ornaments.
Kids' crafts: Let children draw their designs on felt and help them cut and decorate.

I hope this tutorial inspires you to try your own designs and enjoy the process of handmade crafting.

Stay tuned for more creative projects here at Wild Cherry Farm! If you make your own ornaments, I’d love to see them. Share your creations in the comments or let me know on YouTube.

Happy crafting!