Easy-sew DIY Christmas decorations
These quick-to-stitch softie Christmas decorations are an easy project for beginners and an easy make to whip up for experienced stitches looking for some home-made festive cheer!

Whip up these mini shapes in just a few hours and use them to deck out your tree with that home-sewn special touch.
How to sew Christmas decorations
You will need
- Main fabric: 15x30cm (6x12in)
- Polyester fibrefill
- Ribbon to hang
- Matching sewing thread
- Download and print our free Christmas decorations sewing patterns (PDF)
Notes
We've used Hantex, fabrics, as follows:
- Curiosities by Jeni Baker for Art Gallery fabrics (String Lights Carmin, ref: AGFCUR29133)
- Festive by Jo Clark for Cloud9 (Festive Peppermint Twist, ref: C9FES140506)
- Imprint by Katarina Roccella for Art Gallery fabrics (Crossthread Pure, ref: AGFIMP10454)
- Festive by Jo Clark for Cloud9. Festive Snowflakes. Ref: C9FES140702
Plus Polyester fibrefill: Carded polyester fibrefill, from www.worldofwool.co.uk

How to sew DIY decorations: step by step
Cutting out the fabric
Step one: Print out your chosen template from the pattern sheet and cut it out. You can choose from a tree, star or heart or draw your own if you prefer.
Step two: Cut the main fabric in half to make two squares, for the front and back of the decoration.
Making the shapes
Step three: Place your template centrally on the wrong side (WS) of one piece of fabric and draw round it.

Step four: Place this piece of fabric right sides (RS) together with the other piece of fabric and pin these together.
Step five: Stitch carefully along the draw lines starting and stopping along a straight edge so that you can leave a small turning gap.
Step six: Trim all round the edges using pinking shears to reduce the fabric bulk and stop it from fraying. Snip into the points and tight curves taking care not the snip the stitching.

Filling the shapes
Step seven: Turn your fabric shape RS out and turn the gap edges under, then press.

Step eight: Stuff the shape lightly using small pieces of stuffing at a time to make sure you get it into all the curves and points.
Step nine: Slip stitch the gap closed.
Adding a hanging loop
Step 10: Fold your ribbon in half then turn the short ends under and pin to the top of the back of your padded shape.

Step 11: Slip stitch the ends of the ribbon in place to complete.
Admire your finished decorations!

Authors

Rebecca is founder of Amber Makes and has previously worked as Senior Technical Editor of Love Embroidery and Simply Sewing magazines. She works with sewing TV channels including Sewing Street, Yarn Lane and Sewing Quarter. She been stitching since she was a child and has worked on many craft magazines as well as running her own curtain-making business. She is known by her colleagues as a sewing oracle – you name it, she can sew it. She’s hugely knowledgeable about sewing techniques, fabrics and tools and is full of helpful advice for her fellow sewists, from the best place to buy curtain-making materials to which books and websites are handy for that sewing problem you’re stuck on.