Crafting Sanity

by Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood

Paper Pieced Holiday Ornaments

Whether you’re decorating the tree or simply want a festive fabric adornment for the wall, this is the season to make paper pieced holiday ornaments. These tiny decorations are created by basting 1 1/2-inch square pieces of fabric around paper hexagon shapes measuring an inch across, whipstitching around the perimeter of each hexagon shape and then removing the paper.

I got into paper piecing (also know as English paper piecing) a couple years ago and immediately became addicted to this easy and portable quilting method. Because quilting time is limited and this method takes considerable time, I often apply the technique to smaller projects that I can complete in a sitting or two. With this speedy crafting goal in mind, I created these simple and sweet flower and wreath ornaments.
If you’re not crazy about the traditional green and red holiday fabric flooding shops right now, keep in mind that you can make these ornaments using any fabric you choose. I actually prefer to make these ornaments in non-holiday colors so the people on my gift list have the option of displaying them all year if they choose.

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Supplies

* Fabric. For the wreath, you’ll need enough fabric to cut 12, 1 1/2-inch squares, six for the front and six for the back. For the flower you will need two additional squares of fabric in a contrasting color for the flower center.

* Paper hexagons. You will need 14 for the flower and 12 for the wreath. Print the PDF template on cardstock paper to make your own paper pieces. This works for a one-off ornament, but if you want to do more paper piecing it’s worth investing in die-cut paper hexagon pieces (measuring a 1/2-inch on each side) at your local quilt shop or order online from www.paperpieces.com.

* Needle, thread and pins

* Embroidery thread.

* Seed beads (for the wreath ornament only)

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Flower Ornament Instructions

Step 1: Cut your fabric into 14, 1-inch squares. (Two squares should be a contrasting color for the flower centers.) Pin a paper hexagon to the wrong side of the first fabric square. You can trim the fabric around the paper within a 1/4-inch of the template, or skip the trimming and simply fold the corners of the square tightly over the paper hexagon and stitch it in place sewing through the paper using large basting stitches. These stitches will be removed later, so you don’t need to be too fussy about them. Repeat this basting process for each hexagon shape.

Step 2: Pick up the center flower piece and one of the petal pieces. Place right sides together and whipstitch the pieces on one side only using tiny stitches that catch the very edges of the fabric folded over the template. Do NOT sew through the paper this time. Unfold the pieces you just stitched together and sew the next petal to the center piece holding the pieces right sides together. Continue adding petals to all sides of the hexagon, then go back and whipstitch neighboring petal pieces to each other. When finished, set this piece aside and repeat the whole process to make another flower shape for the ornament back.

Step 3: Use a warm iron to press both ornament pieces. Cut basting stitches and remove paper hexagon pieces. Gently fold fabric back into place and press again. Immediately pin the back and front pieces of the ornament, wrong sides together.

Step 4: Whipstich around the entire edge of the ornament, then stitch the outline of the center hexagon to give the piece a quilted effect. (You can outline the petals, too, if you want.)

 

Step 5: Thread an 8-inch piece of embroidery thread through the top edge of the ornament and it’s ready to hang on the tree, adorn a gift package or simply give life to that empty bit of wall space at the end of the hall.

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Wreath Ornament

Step 1: Cut your fabric into 12, 1 1/2-inch squares. Pin a paper hexagon to the wrong side of the first fabric square. You can trim the fabric around the paper within a 1/4-inch of the template, or skip the trimming and simply fold the corners of the square tightly over the paper hexagon and stitch it in place through the paper using large basting stitches. These stitches will be removed later, so don’t be too fussy about them. Repeat this basting process for each hexagon shape.

Step 2: Place two hexagons right sides together and whipstitch the pieces on one side only, using tiny stitches that catch the very edges of the fabric folded over the template. Do NOT sew through the paper.



Continue connecting pieces to form a wreath shape. When finished, set this piece aside and repeat the whole process to make another wreath shape for the ornament back.

Step 3: Press both ornament pieces with a warm iron. Cut basting stitches and remove paper pieces. Gently fold fabric back into place and press again. Immediately pin the back and front pieces of the ornament, wrong sides together.

Step 4: Whipstich around the entire edge of the wreath ornament.

Step 5: Embellish by stitching three clusters of three seed beads to the top and bottom sides of the wreath. Add an embroidery thread bow to the lower middle part of the wreath and thread a hanger to the top. Hang it up or give it away to pass on a little holiday cheer.

Photo Credits: Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood

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