Some of you are probably going to think I have lost my mind.
It’s possible that I have…
But in the nearly 6 years that I have been selling my quilted Christmas ornaments, I have had many, many, MANY people ask me how I make them. And quite honestly, I used to be really secretive about it. But over time, I’ve realized that a lot of people would really just like to learn how to make them for themselves. And I understand that, because that’s exactly how I am too.
“Quilted” ornaments have been around for, I am pretty sure, forever…my mother taught my sister and I how to make them when I was about 15 years old. Our first ornaments were…well, to put it kindly, old fashioned, hokey, and maybe a little (I mean a lot) country bumpkin-ish (picture lacy aprons and yodeling…I’m just kidding; we didn’t wear lacy aprons).
The original technique is so old fashioned…but in the 18 years that I’ve been making these, it was only natural that my own methods and style would take shape. I’ve literally made thousands of these things – and I have the permanent pin indentations in my fingers to prove it. (Which, when paired with a lacy apron and yodeling, is very sexy, by the way.) Anyway, now, my updated process uses less fabric, less pins, and most importantly, results in a stunning ornament.
I’ve written a tutorial, available as a downloadable PDF. It is fully detailed, with specific instruction of my personal method, and over 60 up-close photos of every step. You can order it right now for only $10 from my ornament shop. The PDF will be downloadable instantly from your emailed receipt after you checkout.
I am also offering “ready to make” quilted ornament kits, with fabrics and ribbons pre-cut, prepared, and ready to be made into some fabulous ornaments. Those are also in my shop, and there are many more to come.
If you decide you would like to try making one of these ornaments yourself, and have any questions at all about the process, or anything else related to quilted ornaments, please feel free to leave your question in the comment section right below this post…I will be glad to answer all questions as best I can!
An update: I am now also including TWO bonus tutorials, “How to make a quilted ornament using wired ribbon” and “How to make a ribbon bow and hanger.” You will receive these two tutorials FREE with purchase of my “How to make a quilted ornament” tutorial.
Also, please check out an email I received from one of my customers. It really made my day…
Thank you so much for the bonus pdf. I have been making quilted ornaments every night as I watch TV. They are so much fun! I really appreciated the way you added time saving tips to your pdf instructions. I have found some “free” instructions, but they are are alot more complicated and time consuming. Your methods not only save me time, but tons of money on extra materials that really aren’t necessary. Please let me know if you come out with any new pdf’s for ornaments. By the way, your pdf is so well written that I think my “non-crafting” daughter would be able to do them following your instructions! -Veronica
How awesome! :D
{ 78 comments… read them below or add one }
Thank you very much for sharing… I will definitely be making your ornaments after I get the directions!
Sally
Thanks, Sally! And if you have any questions as you are going along, please feel free to post them here…I’d be more than happy to help! :)
I ordered a copy of your tutorial and have a check waiting to send you …. will I be getting that soon?
I always loved your ornaments.. I remembered when you first started making them… beautiful!!
Have a blessed day!!
I just emailed you, Sally! :)
Can’t wait to get started – only 106 days to go …………..
Not long at all! :D
Your directions and photos are of course, as beautiful as your ornaments. I got my first one of this type years ago from Stone Mountain, Georgia, almost 25 years ago, and I still have it. I’m going to enjoy trying to make yours! Thanks again for sharing these!!!
So glad you like the tutorial, Peggy! I hope you enjoy making them! :)
I tweeted and FB’d. Thanks.
Thanks, Susan! ;D
Hi–I have a question. What makes the ‘zig-zag’ look on some of your finished ornaments? It looks like you’ve sewn them prior to cutting them. Just curious. YOU are so talented!!
Thank you for the compliment, Nancy!
As an example, are you talking about the look of the silver lines in this ornament? http://www.theornamentgirl.com/mocha-snowflake.htm
If so, that is caused by making the ornament using ribbon with a decorative edge…that edging creates those lines. Some of the decorative edges on the ribbons end up looking really gorgeous throughout the finished ornament. (I actually just added a bonus tutorial today to the tutorial for sale in my shop, showing how to use ribbon to make these ornaments.)
Hope that I’ve answered your question! :)
Nancy that is the edge of wired ribbon that was used
Thanks, Donna…you beat me to it. :)
gorgeous as usual
Thanks, Carolyn :)
Just ordered your tutorial…I made some of these but used tons of pins…I love looking at the ones you make….they are beautiful!!! Thanks for offering your tutorial, I will be hardly waiting to try your way
Melody
Thanks, Melody! I just sent the tutorials to you. They still use a lot of pins, but I’ve cut the amount back considerably from the way that I originally learned way back when. I hope you find the tutorials helpful!
I really want to cut back on the number of pins I use.
Yes, every little bit helps with these ornaments…to save money AND your fingers! :D
Once again, I cannot enter. I am not on Facebook and I am sure there are a lot of other “older” folks like me who aren’t either, who would like to enter your contest. Please try to remember us “oldsters” on the next one.
Cyndy…Will you send me a direct email at staciann@theornamentgirl.com? I have an alternative way for you to enter. :)
I love your stuff, I love your blog, tutorials etc. I clicked on fb to try and win the contest but couldn’t find a place to click when I went back to your message? Your ornaments are awesome and your patterns are exceptional. Thanks for all the help you give us….
Thank you, Ruth! My site was having some connectivity issues for a few days, and the button may have not been showing up. I’m sorry about that. If you clicked the like button, that is all I needed…thank you for sharing the post on facebook!
Love, Love, Love your work!!!!
Thanks so much, Tammy! :D
I LOVE LOVE LOVE these ornaments. I couldnt find anything else that weould compare!!!! I hope you will always keep doing this and share your amazing talent!!!!
thanks, Judy! :D
I hope you will always share your amazing talent with us. I honestly can not find anything or anyone that compares to your ornaments. Absolutely stunning!!!!!
Does your tutorial include a ‘how to’ on making the bows on top?
It sure does! :)
Hi! I ordered your tutorial on the quilted ornaments on 9/22 & was just curious as to when I could expect to receive it. Can’t wait to get started! :)
Oops! Just thought to look in my junk email and there it was. Thank you!
Great…I’m so glad you found it! :)
Hello there! First of all let me just say “thank You!” for deciding to share your patterns with the rest of us. Very considerate of you!! I so admire your quality work! So now that I have ordered the tutorial, I have a few questions. They will probably be answered once I actually start to make them but I like to have a visual before starting. First, when you place the very first rectangle of fabric on the ball and “fold it down a bit,” does it have to be exact every time? I would think it does so as to keep it consistent, it looks like maybe 1/4 inch? Next, I noticed that the measurements for the fabric are 3″ by 2″ but the meas. for wired ribbon are 3″ by 1 1/2 or 2 1/2″ cut in half which would make it 1 1/4. Since the wired ribbon is not as wide, I can’t picture it coming out the same….? Sorry for the crazy questions! Finally, how do you get your small ribbon (for the top) to match your fabrics so perfectly and where do you get all those great charms? You must spend hours shopping for your supplies! Love your work, so timeless and unique! Thanks for getting back to me. Hopefully I won’t come across more questions once I get started… ;)
Hey Tina…thanks for the compliment! And I welcome the questions!
When you fold the edge over on each rectangle, you will want each fold to be close in size to each other, but they do not all have to be absolutely exact. You will find as you start layering the fabric that slight differences in the size of that fold will not matter, because the corners of each triangle will be covered by the next layer. Unless you are folding way too much over, slight differences aren’t going to matter a bit. (Everything I just said will make a whole lot more sense once you have started, trust me!)
Yes, the wired ribbon widths are a little different…I have had to make adjustments in the size, and sometimes I like to cut them into slighter longer lengths just to give me a little extra to work with, but it will work. The biggest reason that the smaller width will still work is that in most cases with the ribbon, you won’t be folding over that edge as you do with a fabric rectangle…which ends up making the widths that you are actually working with very similar to each other.
I can usually find the more narrow ribbons right along side of the wider ribbons in the craft stores this time of year, and even when there aren’t exact matches, a lot of the styles are so similar that there is usually something that looks perfect. JoAnn’s, Michael’s, and Hobby Lobby always have those narrow ribbons right there beside the wider ribbons from now through Christmas…I am in trouble every time I set foot in those places. ;D
The charms can be a little more difficult to find, but they always have some seasonally near the jewelry section in the craft stores, and whenever I’ve found some super cute ones, I make sure to stock up. I have found that with the charms, when they’re gone, they’re gone. Oh, and I also sometimes use mini tree ornaments as charms!
I hope I answered all of your questions! And please don’t hesitate at all if you have any others…I am glad to help in any way I can! :)
Staci: I sent a couple of questions to your yahoo account concerning a couple of questions I had regarding this tutorial. Just wanted to know if I need to send it another way since I haven’t gotten a reply. I’m not in any hurry -just wanted to touch bases. You are an inspiration to all of us crafters – great job on your blog tutorials and thanks for the time you take to answer our questions and sharing your expertise. Have a great day. . . Shirley
Hey Shirley!
I did get your email, and I will send you a replay today…sorry for the delay; I just want to make sure I am not in a rush when I am responding, and that I answer all of your questions thoroughly..
Thanks for being so patient!
Staci” Thanks for the reply – will look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience. Didn’t want to hurry you, just wanted to double check I sent my questions to right email address. Have a great day. . . Shirley
Hi Staci, I received your tutorials a few weeks back and am enjoying looking at them and trying my hand at making my own. I just had a question – on page 21 of the quilted ornament tutorial when you are adding the 4th layer on the first side, you said you like to leave a small amount of the last layer left showing – @ 3/4 of an inch – I’m just a little confused – the 2nd layer is pinned 1 cm from the center – the 3rd layer is pinned 1 1/2 cm & then 4 of the triangles are done 2 cm from the point of the 2nd fabric – so… how far down do you measure to place the 4th layer? The layers from the first side are overlapping with layers from the 2nd side very early on – is this correct? Thanks so much for your help – wish you could take a look at mine in person and tell me how to fix it! ha ha Thanks – Jennifer
Hi Jennifer :) Yes, there will overlapping early on…I usually end up with overlapping by the third layer of the second side, and after I’ve finished that layer, I trim it back, just to the edge of the first side, before I begin the fourth layer. (the photos on page 30 to 32 show this really well.) Then, do the same with the fourth layer…even though it will really seem to be overlapping a lot, use the same measurements as you did on the first side. As long as you’ve kept it all pretty even, both sides will end up looking symmetrical once you’ve trimmed that fourth layer back.
I really hope I am making sense and that this helps! If not, please feel free to send me a picture of where you are on the ornament (staciann@theornamentgirl.com)..I’d be happy to take a look at it and try to give you a better answer. :D
Thank you so much for the tutorial. Now I know that not using consistent measuring is why my ornaments don’t look as neat as yours do! My question concerns the straight pins. The ones I have been using are flat head and almost 3 cm long. Is this length ok, or do you use a different length of pin?
I’m glad you liked the tutorial, Gloria! I do use pins that same length…I’ve actually tried using shorter ones, thinking it would make it a little easier on my fingers, but I found them to be harder to handle, especially when I get going fast. :)
I love your ornaments and have made a couple. I have a question…
In the first pages of the instructions, your measurements are in cm (how far apart to place the next row). But on page 21, you say you like a smaller amount showing and say 3/4 inch. Do you mean 3/4 cm? 3/4 inch is very close to the 2 cm. you suggest on a previous row. Your instructions and photos are great! Thanks for all of the tips! They are very helpful.
Hi Bonnie…Yes, I did mean 3/4 cm, and thank you SO much for bringing that to my attention. I apologize for my mistake!
I was reading over the pattern and it is described so very nicely. I have been making these ornaments for awhile and purchased your pattern to learn of any shortcuts or tricks. Your description definitely helped! Although, there aren’t any shortcuts to making these ornaments. lol Which, in part is why they turn out so beautiful.
What kind of glue do you use when you glue the pin/ribbon onto the ornament? I’ve been using hot glue and I really don’t like using hot glue on these ornaments as it is very noticeable if I do.
Thanks for the wonderful instructions.
Hi Trish…no, definitely no shortcuts, but I sure wish there were! Hopefully there were other things in the tutorial that you found useful, though!
I don’t like using hot glue, either. My favorite glue is Beacon’s 3-in-1 Advanced Craft Glue…it looks like this: http://www.beaconadhesives.com/cgthree.html. You can usually find it at Joann’s. :)
OK — I probably have the silliest of silly questions. I LOVE your ornaments, and ‘attempted’ to make a few for Christmas. But here’s my question. HOW DOOOO you get the inside designs (like the light blue with the gingerbread boy in the center, etc.) lay flat against your styrofoam ball? When I do it – the fabric gets puckery (ok, really technical term here!!). It’s like I’m trying to lay a flat surface (the material) onto a formed item (the styrofoam ball).
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
Nancye
Hey Nancye!
This is not a silly question at all! Honestly, I still sometimes have difficulty with this, and I’ve made what seems like a zillion of these things! I don’t have any easy “trick” or anything, but what I do is lay the fabric piece down, and first pin the top, bottom, and each side, just using 4 pins. (And I find it helps to have the piece of fabric cut in a square shape rather than round, by the way.) Then, I put my first four triangles on, top, bottom, and 2 sides, where those first 4 pins are. However, I DON’T pin the outer corners of those triangles yet. I leave those loose for the moment. Then, when I am putting on the last four triangles, I tug a little on the edges of the fabric square, as I pin those triangles down, to keep it taut. Again, though, I don’t pin the edges of the triangles yet. At this point, you’ll have the eight points down, and what seems like a bunch of extra fabric in between each point. But THEN I go back and pin all of the corners (starting with the first 4) and continuing to pull the corners of the fabric square taut as I go. This way, I can pull any of that “pucking up” under the edges of my triangles and hide them, and the parts of the fabric square that are showing are smooth.
I REALLY hope that that made sense. I definitely don’t have any special trick that makes it super easy, but I have found that doing it the way I described makes it look nearly perfect…and it DOES get much easier with a little practice! If any of this didn’t make sense, let me know, and I’ll try to think of a better way to describe it! :D
According to Paypal, the payment was sent on 12/24/11. Can you confirm receipt for tutorial?
Pardon me if I am sending this twice……
According to Paypal, the payment was sent on 12/24/11. Can you confirm receipt?
Hi Cookie…I emailed you again last night…did you get it? Hopefully so…let me know if not!
I am SO EXCITED that you have decided to sell your How-To on the “Quilted” ornaments!! I just ordered mine.. YAY!!! Thank you!!
Thanks so much, Shauna! I just emailed it to you…let me know if you still haven’t received it after a few minutes. And thank you again!
Hi: Just wondering if you ever made any of your Easter quilted decorations on oval or egg shaped styrofoam?
Somehow I missed this question…I’m so sorry, Teresa. Yep, I have used the egg shapes and they are really cute. In fact, there are a lot of variations you can do with that shape. I’ll be adding a tutorial for egg shaped quilted ornaments to my shop in the near future. :)
Hello, Staci Ann. Your ornaments are just stunning, and the hangar at the top is a lovely finish. I have also been doing these for a number of years but have never seen them done before with wired ribbon. Anxious to try a new twist, I just received your instructions and can’t wait to get to the craft store to choose my ribbons! I can’t tell what size pins you use, but I use the shorter sequin pins. They are much easier on the fingers than the full size pins and keep the fabric just as secure. I love your folding method. I have been using a different method which produces a nice final product but with more work. I am hopeful that your way will be a time-saver! The other difference is that I do iron my fabric squares. It’s time-consuming but produces a neat, crisp-looking quilt ball. Perhaps your folding method will negate the need to do that. I look forward to seeing more of your beautiful creations.
Hi Paula! Thanks so much for your compliment! You are going to love using the wired ribbon…the ornaments come out beautifully! I hope that the folding method saves you some time. That is one of the main reasons I make them the way I do…that, and the fact that you can use a little bit smaller pieces of fabric. Have fun, and let me know how your ornaments turn out! :)
Well, I had a blast in the craft store picking out ribbon. The problem is that there are just too many pretty options to choose from. Fabric is fun, too, but I like the idea of working in a slighty different medium. I just completed my first ball, and I’m very pleased with the results. Your instructions were very helpful, as I learn the nuances of working with ribbon, and your method was definitely a time saver!
I am thrilled to hear that! Thank you so much for the feedback…and enjoy working with the ribbon! (And picking it out! ;D)
I have e-mailed you twice and have yet to hear from you?
Hi Kathy,
I am sorry; I only received one of your emails, it was from a few minutes before this post, and I responded within about a half hour…. I want to make sure you got it? If not, let me know and I’ll re-send.
Hi – I am interested in purchasing your tutorial but have a few questions first – is there any sewing involved in the quilted ornaments and how big of a piece of fabric is needed. I am not a great sewer but have some beautiful Lilly Pulitzer fabric I would like to use to make some of these ornaments – just want to know if I have enough – :) Thanks!!
Hi Suzanne,
Nope, there is no sewing at all in these ornaments. It’s all made from folding and pinning the fabric onto a styrofoam ball base.
All of the points are individual rectangles of fabric, and so it really doesn’t take much fabric at all… It only takes about a quarter yard of fabric or less, total. In fact, you can even use fabric scraps.
I have made these with Lilly Pulitzer fabrics (actually, here is one of them: http://www.theornamentgirl.com/daisy-ornament.htm) and they have all come out amazing. I love the bright colors. :)
Let me know if you have any other questions!
Got the tutorials, thank you so much!!!
Sorry, Cookie, I didn’t see this before. I’m glad you got them! :)
Is your site a secure site? Thanks
Hi Kay,
Yes, it is. Also, all purchases are processed through PayPal (you don’t need to have a PayPal account), which is also secure. :)
I am going to put in my order now. Thanks
Thank you, Kay! Let me know if you have any trouble with the download, or any questions about the tutorial.
This is so far down, I wonder if you’ll read it……When looking for charms to decorate things with, try the great people at Fire Mountain Gems. You can get their catalog and frequent sale books sent to you by requesting them on your website or just go to their website to see what they have and place an order!! Just be careful, there is enough georgeousness with this site that you could literally break the bank. But, please DO ENJOY!!
Thanks, Cookie! I’m always looking for new places to find charms. I find a lot of cute Christmas ones in the craft stores, but then they are never to be found again when the season is over, which is so frustrating. I will check out Fire Mountain, thanks again for sharing! :)
(p.s. I think you’ve probably already seen this Cookie, but if anyone is reading this and wants to know a good way to attach charms to these ornaments, here is a DIY I wrote last year: http://theornamentgirl.com/blog/being-crafty/charmed-and-dangerous/)
I have a question about the styrofoam balls. Do you only use the textured balls or can the smooth type be used as well?
Hi Susie,
You can use either, but for these ornaments I definitely prefer the rough styrofoam. I have a post about it where I explain why I like them better; it’s right here: http://theornamentgirl.com/blog/being-crafty/regular-styrofoam-or-smooth-foam/. :)
Hi Staci Ann….I purchased 2 ribbon ornament kits in November, but am having great difficulty printing the tutorials (more a problem with my printer than the tutorials themselves). Is it possible to purchase a hardcopy of the 3 tutorials directly from you? Hope you can help. Thanks!
I just purchased one of you quilted ball ornament kits and am really looking forward to making this. I have seen these around for quite a while, but never knew where to get the pattern. Can’t wait to get started.
Thank you so much, Lois! It’s going into the mail today, so you should have it by Wednesday. Let me know if you have any question as you go along. Thanks again! :)
The pattern for this ornament has been around for quite some time. I along with a few friends from work made these about 10 years ago and gave them as gifts to our family. I just was thinking about making some more of them, but since so much time had passed by I forgot exactly how to fold the squares that I already have cut. I am going to order your instructions so that I will always have them, because these are beautiful and you can do so many different things with them for holiday decorating.