What should you know before you start?
- You can make felt Christmas ornaments tonight. All you need is felt, scissors, a ribbon loop, and glue or thread.
- A woven heart takes two felt pieces and one slow weave. Loops slide through loops, and that’s the whole trick.
- Start with four strips per piece. It’s the easiest version to get right.
Felt Christmas ornaments are easy to make when you start with a woven heart. Cut two felt pieces, then weave the loops together. Hang the heart from a ribbon. Jump to the steps when you’re ready to cut.
You saw the photo and you want yours to look like it. It will if you keep the cuts even and weave slowly. Most of the work is cutting, and that part takes a few minutes. The weave is the fun part.
One quick note on where this heart comes from. The classic woven heart is made from paper, often in two colors. Felt is a cozy, modern take. It’s softer and it hangs well. It won’t tear if a kid grabs it.
What supplies do you need for felt Christmas ornaments?
Each heart uses two pieces of felt
Here’s what you need for a batch of woven hearts. Each heart uses two pieces of felt in contrasting colors.
- Felt sheets, two colors. The pattern maker recommends 100 percent wool felt. Craft felt may be floppier, so test one heart before you cut a whole batch. That test is our suggestion.
- Sharp scissors. Felt dulls cheap blades fast, so use the sharpest pair you own. (Our advice.)
- A paper pattern. Use printer paper and make one test heart in paper first. (Our suggestion.)
- Pins. They hold the two pieces together while you start the weave.
- Ribbon, about 6 inches per heart. This is the hanging loop. The pattern maker gives the 6 inch length.
- Fabric glue, or a needle and thread. Either one holds the ribbon.
The pattern maker says two felt sheets in contrasting colors make three hearts. Each sheet is cut into three pieces that measure 4 by 8 inches. The maker doesn’t give a sheet size, so check that your sheets can give you three pieces that size.
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That ribbon loop is the last thing holding your heart up. Whichever glue you pick, check that the label says fabric. A paper-only glue can peel off felt. Thread works too if you’d rather skip glue. (paid link)
- The perfect size and assortment of your favorite glues!
- Always test for best results.
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Quick tip (ours): Make your first heart from paper. It shows you the weave in two minutes, and it costs nothing.
How do you make felt Christmas ornaments step by step?
Here’s the full method for one heart. The strip size and the weave order come from the pattern maker’s published tutorial. Where we added something, we say so.
Want to see a felt heart come together first? Hobby Crafting shows a different take on the same idea in this video.
Step 1: Cut your felt pieces
Cut each felt sheet into three pieces that measure 4 by 8 inches. Each heart uses one piece from each color.
Step 2: Fold each piece in half
Fold each piece in half the short way. Match the short ends. You now have a folded piece that is about 4 inches square.
Step 3: Place the pattern on the fold
Line up the straight edge of your paper pattern with the fold. Pin it so it can’t slide.
Step 4: Cut the curve, then the slits
Cut the rounded outer edge first. Then cut the straight lines inside the pattern. Four equal strips is the easiest start. The pattern maker calls the six-strip version tricky.
Our addition: stop each cut before the rounded edge so the strips stay joined. Check this against your pattern. The pattern maker gave no slit length, so test it on paper first.
Step 5: Pin the two pieces and start the weave
Unfold both pieces. Pin the top curved edges together to form the first loops. Keep the curved edges facing up. Feed the top loop of the right piece through the top loop of the left piece.
Step 6: Keep weaving, row by row
Open that same right loop and feed the second left loop through it. Keep alternating across the row. For the next row, start with the left piece’s loop going through the right piece. Switch the starting side each row.
The last loop tucks into the final spot. Take out the pins. Your heart is done.
Step 7: Add the ribbon loop
Open the top center, where the two curves overlap. Fix about 6 inches of ribbon inside with fabric glue or a few small stitches. Let the glue dry before you hang it.
Want to fill it? A small wrapped candy fits inside. That’s our idea, not part of the tutorial. Skip it if little kids or pets will be near the tree.
What goes wrong with felt hearts, and how do you fix it?
The weave bunches up and the heart looks lumpy. Uneven slits cause this. One strip ends up wider than the next. Cut your slits the same length every time, and use your paper pattern as a guide.
The heart pulls crooked or a strip tears. Felt stretches when you tug it. Weave gently and let each loop slide through on its own. If a strip starts to rip at the end of a cut, stop. Next time, end your cuts a little sooner.
How much do felt Christmas ornaments cost to make?
These are planning estimates, not quotes. Prices shift by store and by season.
- Scrap bin, about $5: Use felt, ribbon and glue you already own. Buy one pack of felt in a new color if you need it.
- Starter kit, about $15: Felt sheets in a few colors, a set of ribbon and a small pack of fabric glue. That covers a handful of hearts.
- Gift batch, about $30: Wool felt in two colors and a fresh pair of sharp scissors. That’s enough for a whole tree or a gift for a friend.
Plan on about an hour for your first heart, and less once you know the weave. That’s a planning estimate, not a timed test.
Is it safe to hang felt ornaments on the tree?
Yes, with a few common-sense rules. Felt can burn, so keep your hearts away from candles and from any bulb that runs hot. Hang them on a tree with LED lights.
Scissors are the only tool here. A grown-up should do the cutting when kids help. Kids can weave once the pieces are cut.
If you add candy, use wrapped pieces only. Keep filled hearts out of reach of toddlers and pets.
How do you know you did it right? Hold the heart up by its ribbon. If the loops lie flat and the heart keeps its shape, you’ve got it. Make another one in two new colors.
Where can you find more felt ideas?
If you like working with felt, try these next. Our guide to how to make felt balls is a good warm-up. You can also browse 18 felt ball projects or make a felt ball garland. For more tree ideas, see these easy DIY Christmas ornaments and this list of homemade Christmas ornaments on a budget.
Ready to make your first felt heart?
A woven felt heart looks tricky, but it’s just loops that slide through loops. Cut carefully and weave slowly. Your first one will be a keeper. Make a few and you’ll have felt Christmas ornaments ready for the tree or for a gift tag.
Want to show us your felt hearts?
We’d love to see yours. Share a photo on Facebook, save the idea on Pinterest, or tag us on Instagram.
A few helpful answers
Felt Christmas ornaments FAQs
Time, felt, kids, and the ribbon.
Plan on about an hour for your first heart. That’s a planning estimate, not a timed test. Later hearts go faster once you know the weave. A small batch of three hearts fits into one evening.
The pattern maker recommends 100 percent wool felt. Craft felt can work, but it may feel floppier. Test one heart before you cut a whole batch.
The classic woven heart is made from paper. Felt is a modern, cozy take on the same idea. The weave is the same, so you can learn it with paper first.
Yes, with a grown-up on the scissors. An adult can cut the curves and slits. Kids can weave the loops and add the ribbon. The pattern maker suggests four or five strips for children.
No, glue works. Use a fabric glue and let it dry before you hang the heart. If you prefer thread, a few small stitches hold the ribbon in place.
How will you fill your first woven felt heart?
A woven heart is hollow, so it can hold something small. Some folks keep it simple. Others tuck something inside. Pick the plan that sounds like you.
Then tell us in the comments what you’ll tuck inside, or what color pair you’re picking.
