Get the new Great British Sewing Bee book worth £30 when you subscribe to Simply Sewing magazine
When they finally appeared, many people thought they were unnecessary, impractical and even scandalous
All you need is a little clever folding and weaving and a few strips of fabric from your stash to create a folded fabric star ornament this holiday season.
- 32 of the best free Christmas sewing patterns
- 25 quick gifts to sew when you’re short of time
- How to turn fabric scraps into Christmas baubles
Anna has used Dashwood Studios fabric to shape her stars from frosty prints but this is also a great stash-buster to show off fabric scraps too.
For the folded fabric star ornament, you will need
- Quilting-weight cotton fabric: 30x32cm (12x13in) per star
- Gold cord: 1-2mm thickness x 1m (1⁄8in thickness x 11⁄8yd)
- Large needle
- Basic sewing kit
You can find Anna Alicia’s full step-by-step tutorial below, or watch our video to see this method in action!
How to make a folded fabric star ornament
Cutting out
Step 1
From the cotton fabric cut: Star strips: four strips 30x8cm (12×31⁄8in).
Preparing the strips
Step 2
Fold one strip in half wrong side (WS) together, so the long edges meet, and press with a hot iron. Unfold the strip and now fold both long edges to meet the centre crease you have just made. Press along the folds.
Step 3
Refold along the centre crease and press again.
Step 4
Fold a strip in half with the short ends meeting and overlap one end by approx 2.5cm (1in). Press the fold.
Step 5
Repeat these steps with the three remaining strips.
Folding the stars
Step 6
Take four of the strips in the same fabric and lay out with the shorter sides on top. Arrange two of the strips as in the image, so that the second strip sandwiches the first 2cm (¾in) from its folded end.
Step 7
The third strip then sandwiches the second in the same way. Finally, the fourth sandwiches the third then is tucked through the folded end of the first. Gently pull the raw ends until they tightly and neatly fit together.
Step 8
Turn your woven piece over. Fold just the top, longer piece of one of the strips over the central weaving, then work around, folding the second and third. At the fourth strip, fold but also tuck the strip under the first.
Step 9
Take one of the strips that are closer to the front of your woven piece, fold it at an angle, and then fold again at an angle to create a point, as in the image.
Step 10
Fold this point in half, towards your weaving, and tuck the raw end underneath the square below – there will be a raw end sticking out at this stage.
Step 11
Repeat this for each of the strips that are closer to the front (which will mean skipping every other strip). Turn over and repeat on the other side with the remaining strips.
Step 12
Gently pull one of the raw ends a little further through, trim and then pull the point back into place. Repeat for each point on both sides.
Finishing off
Step 13
Thread the cord onto a large needle. Pass the needle through the inside of the star, from the middle of the bottom edge to the middle of the top edge. Pass the needle between the woven layers and not through to the outer fabric.
Step 14
Pass the needle back down on the other side of the inner panel. Tie the ends in a double knot and trim, then give the loop at the top a little tug on one side to hide the knot.
Get making with our folded fabric star ornament tutorial
Have yourself a homemade Christmas this year with these beautiful handmade fabric star ornaments. This project is a great way to use up any fabric scraps, and they make special little gifts for friends and family.
More stylish sewing for Christmas
Make this year a truly hand-made Christmas with our list of the best Christmas decorations to sew.
More festive fun:
- Free Christmas Tree Skirt Pattern
- Make a cute pal with our penguin sewing pattern
- Add some magic to your Christmas tablescape with this free starry table runner pattern!
