How to Make Christmas Ornament Cotton Angels

Top the tree with your cotton ornament angel

What Christmas tree is complete without an angel making an appearance either at the top of the tree or as an ornament? Making a Christmas ornament cotton angel starts by first creating the design. Draw out how you want the ornament cotton angel to look. On your initial design, you are free to mark in halo, wings and any decorations you wish to create for the angel that embodies your creativity and imagination.

Things You'll Need

• Paper
• Scissors
• Thread
• Needle
• Pins
• Measuring tape
• Sewing machine
• Yarn
• Cord
• Marker
• Pipe Cleaner

Instructions

1. Make a simple angel by drawing a round head over a triangle shape with wings unfolding on each side. Make the angel template from paper. Add a 1/2-inch seam allowance all around the angel.

2. Gather the supplies you will need all in one place. This includes scissors, thread, needles, pins and measuring tape. If you plan to sew using a sewing machine, lay everything out on a surface close to the sewing machine.

3. Select a white cotton material for the Christmas ornament angel. Wash any new fabric you purchase. Iron out any wrinkles. Fold the fabric. Lay the template onto the folded cotton fabric and pin together so the material will not shift. Cut the design from the fabric. Since the material is doubled, you will end up with two copies of your angel. Remove the template. Take out the pins.

4. Lay the angel cutout you plan to use for the front, face up. Using markers, create a face and mouth. You can also sew on facial features or glue on pieces cut from felt.

5. Turn right sides of the fabric in. Pin together. Sew a 1/2-inch seam all around the ornament angel, but leave a 2- to 3-inch opening for stuffing. Every 1/4 inch around the angel, snip the fabric vertically toward the seam without severing the seam.

6. Take out the pins. Turn the fabric right side out. Use a long, thin, blunt instrument such as the eraser of a pencil to push out the inside seams.

7. Open a bag of cotton batting to use as stuffing. Using a little batting at a time, push the stuffing into the ornament angel. Push it first into the top of the head and the tips of the wings. Continue to stuff the ornament angel with cotton batting until it is as full as you wish it to be. Close up the opening by folding in the raw edges. Pin together. Hand stitch closed.

8. Cut 6- to 12-inch lengths of yellow or gold yarn for hair. The length and how many required will depend upon how large you make the angel. Lay the strands on the angel’s head so that half falls on either side. Sew on strands of yarn. Add a red bow to the hair or pull into pigtails. Cut a white or gold pipe cleaner to fit around the head. Make a circle and fit it around the hair as a halo.

9. Cut an 8-inch piece of black cord. Tie the ends of the cord together. Place the knot against the back of the head of the angel with the rest of the cord above the angel’s head. Sew the knot in place. You now have a way to hang the Christmas ornament cotton angel on the tree. Add names and dates to the angel ornaments and give as gifts.