Seasonal Trees Ornaments
Finishing Instructions

• Finishing the Tree as an Ornament
• Finishing the Tree as a Brooch

Finishing the Tree as an Ornament

Materials needed:

• stiff posterboard or mat board
• needlepunch
• backing fabric
• cording
• matching sewing thread
• white glue (Tacky, Sobo, etc.)

Use the oval shape template as a pattern to cut the following:

• 2 pieces of stiff posterboard or mat board.
• 3 or 4 layers of needlepunch (a dense type of "batting" used for quilting/quilted clothing and found in quilt shops). You can use other kinds of padding if desired.

Enlarge the oval shape template by one half inch on all sides. Use this to cut a piece of backing fabric.

1. Trim one piece of stiff board so that it is slightly smaller than the original template (approximately 1/16 inch trim).
2. Dot this with glue and place 2-3 layers of padding on it, dotting a bit of glue on each layer. Trim the padding so that it is the same size as the stiff board.
3. Trim the canvas or fabric to 2/3 inch beyond the continental stitch outline (canvas) or the backstitch/outline stitch outline (surface embroidery). Attach to the padded board as follows:

Using matching sewing thread (doubled), stitch a running stitch halfway between the cut edge of the canvas/fabric and the continental stitch outline or backstitch/outline stitch outline. Center the ornament on the padding. Pull up the running stitches so that the canvas/fabric is gathered on the back side and knot securely. No matter what you do, this will not be tight. Lift the gathered edge up a bit, insert the tip of the glue bottle and squeeze some glue under the gathered edge. Press the edge to the board with your fingers, holding it until it is somewhat set (or you can secure it with clothespins).

4. Follow the same procedure for the back of the ornament. Trim the board, glue one layer of padding onto it and trim. Attach the backing fabric to the board following the same general method as you did for your canvas according to the shape of your ornament.

Option 1 - Decorative Cording with Separate Ornament Hanger

1. Make the ornament hanger by gluing a loop of narrow ribbon or fine twisted cord at the top center of the ornament back.
2. Using matching thread, whip stitch or slip stitch the two sides of the ornament together. Be sure to leave a little space to tuck in the start and end of your cording.
3. Make a twisted cord (if you follow the link, scroll down the page to find the twisted cord directions) using the same thread as your ornament or threads of your choice. Another option is to purchase decorative cording. Using matching thread, sew the cording to the edge of the ornament, tucking in the ends and fastening securely.

Option 2 - Decorative Cording with Continuous Ornament Hanger

1. Using matching thread, whip stitch or slip stitch the two sides of the ornament together. Be sure to leave a little space to tuck in the start and end of your cording.
2. Make a twisted cord (if you follow the link, scroll down the page to find the twisted cord directions) using the same thread as your ornament or threads of your choice. Be sure that the finished length of twisted cord allows for a large hanger loop. Another option is to purchase decorative cording. Using matching thread, sew the cording to the edge of the ornament until you reach the center top of the ornament. Loop the cording to use as the ornament hanger (see Ruby Ornament picture) and secure the two lengths of cording to each other at the bottom of the loop using tiny stab stitches. Complete sewing the cording to the edge of the ornament, tucking in the ends and fastening securely.

Finishing the Tree as a Brooch

Materials needed:

• stiff posterboard or mat board
• lighter weight posterboard or heavy card stock
• needlepunch
• backing fabric
• cording
• matching sewing thread
• white glue (Tacky, Sobo, etc.)
• pin-back

Use the oval shape template as a pattern to cut the following

• 1 piece each of two weights posterboard, mat board, card stock.
• 1-2 layers of needlepunch (a dense type of "batting" used for quilting/quilted clothing - found in quilt shops). You can use other kinds of padding if desired.

Enlarge the oval shape template by one half inch on all sides. Use this to cut a piece of backing fabric.

1. Trim the piece of stiff board so that it is slightly smaller than the original template (approximately 1/16 inch trim).
2. Dot this with glue and place 1-2 layers of padding on it, dotting a bit of glue on each layer. Trim the padding so that it is the same size as the stiff board.
3. Trim the canvas or fabric to 2/3 inch beyond the continental stitch outline (canvas) or the backstitch/outline stitch outline (surface embroidery). Attach to the padded board as follows
   
   Using matching sewing thread (doubled), stitch a running stitch halfway between the cut edge of the canvas/fabric and the continental stitch outline or backstitch/outline stitch outline. Center the brooch on the padding. Pull up the running stitches so that the canvas/fabric is gathered on the back side and knot securely. No matter what you do, this will not be tight. Lift the gathered edge up a bit, insert the tip of the glue bottle and squeeze some glue under the gathered edge. Press the edge to the board with your fingers, holding it until it is somewhat set (or you can secure it with clothespins).
4. Follow a similar procedure for the back of the brooch. Trim the lighter weight board. Place the backing fabric on this shape and mark the pin-back placement. Sew the pin-back to the fabric. Again, place the fabric on the lighter weight board, lift up an edge, and dot the board with glue right where the pin-back is placed. Press down to firmly adhere the pin-back area to the glue, then allow the glue to dry. Now attach the backing fabric to the board following the same general method as you did for your canvas/fabric.
5. Using matching thread, whip stitch or slip stitch the two sides of the brooch together. Be sure to leave a little space to tuck in the start and end of your cording (or other edge finishing material).
6. Make a fine twisted cord (if you follow the link, scroll down the page to find the twisted cord directions) using the same thread as your ornament or threads of your choice. Another option is to purchase decorative cording. Using matching thread, sew the cording to the edge of the ornament, tucking in the ends and fastening securely.