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Would you like to make your own no-sew fabric Christmas ornaments? This tutorial explains a surprisingly simple technique.
You don’t need to buy new fabric; you can use up leftover pieces of fabric.
The use of a knife rules out this method for kids, but they might like to watch you turn a foam ball into a beautiful Christmas decoration.
This technique could also be used throughout the year for all sorts of celebrations.
Have a look and see if you like it.
Supplies Needed
- Smoothfoam balls (not floral foam or styrofoam)
- Hobby knife
- Fabric
- Pen
- Pins
- Tape measure
- Paper
- Butter knife, or something with a flat smooth edge
- Scissors
- Decorative rick rack
- Decorative pins
Step-By-Step Instructions
- Locate the “mold line” on the ball where it was glued together.
- Draw along that line right around the ball.
- Put your thumb at one end on the drawn line with your index finger at the opposite end.
- Mark an X on each of these spots; these will be the top and the bottom of the ball. Check that they are even.
- Place the tape measure on an X and run it down to the other X. If the tape measure slips, put a pin in place to hold it.
- Draw a line along the tape measure.
- Repeat on the other side.
- Continue drawing lines until you have the number of sections that you want.
- Using your hobby knife, start at the top and cut along each line to the depth of the tip of the knife.
- Measure from the top X to the bottom X, and add half an inch.
- Measure between 2 lines in the widest part in the middle of the ball and add half an inch.
- Take your paper and draw a line for the length of the first measurement from top to the bottom.
- Across the middle, draw a line for the length of the second measurement.
- You should have a cross shape.
- Draw from the top, through the end of the middle line to the bottom.
- Do the same on the other side.
- You should have a cigar shape.
- Cut out the pattern.
- Pin the pattern to your fabric.
- Cut out the fabric.
- Cut a piece of fabric for every section.
- Pin a piece of fabric to the top of the ball.
- Use your butter knife to push each side of the fabric into the knife cut. Do it from side to side going down the ball so the fabric stays smooth.
- Add all your pieces of fabric. When you push in one side, take care not to pull out the side of another piece of fabric.
- Cut a piece of rick rack about 2 inches long.
- Wrap it in a circle.
- Place the ends on the top of the ball.
- Push a decorative pin through both ends of the rick rack to form a hanger.
- Push a pin in at the other end of the ball to match.