12 Days of Holiday Crafts, Day 3: Felted Christmas Tree Ornament

A few years ago, my niece made felted wool ornaments for family Christmas gifts; they are some of my favorite ornaments to put the tree each year, mostly because she made them, but also because they are adorable.

One of ornaments is a little tree similar to this one. I thought if my ten-year-old niece could needle felt ornaments, I should be able to figure out the process. And it really is easier than the finished product makes it look. It’s also a great project to do while watching a favorite Christmas movie.

You will need:

• wool roving in green, brown, and a variety of bright colors
• needle felting tool
• a piece of foam
• a needle and thread

1. Pull off an acorn-sized chunk of wool roving and roll it between your hands to until it becomes a cone shaped. It will still be very loose, but the shape will get you started.
2. Using you needle felting tool, place your wool over the foam and start poking the heck out of it in a basic cone shape. I find that a three-needle pen tool works well and makes quick work of small projects. Using a felting needle interlocks the wool fibers; you’ll notice the acorn becoming more firm and tight as you work.
3. It works well to start with a piece of roving smaller than you want your finished tree ornament. As the core becomes felted, add thin layers of roving to the core and felt them in. This process allows you to control the shape.
4. Keep felting the tree until you’re happy with the shape and the fibers are no longer loose.
5. To make the ornaments on the tree, you’ll need very small amounts of various bright colors (if you’re in Spokane, Paradise Fibers has variety packs of wool roving for about six dollars). Roll a few fibers in your fingers until you have a small ball (see photos). Place the balls on the tree, and needle felt on. It doesn’t take much to get the ornaments felted to the tree.
6. For the trunk, use a small amount of brown roving. Roll it in your palms to get the cylindrical shape started. Then, using the foam to prevent injury, felt the trunk, leaving the end that will be attached to the tree a little be loose. Add the loose end of the trunk to the tree, and felt the pieces together.
7. Using a regular sewing needle and thread, add a hanging loop to the ornament.

I made three ornaments in just a few hours and will be giving them as gifts this Christmas. I hope you try this one—your creativity will be limitless!