How to Make a Stuffed Christmas Tree

This stuffed Christmas tree is a simple project for an afternoon of family crafting or an evening relaxing in front of the television. It is quick, easy and uses minimal crafting and sewing skills. Making one will be all the encouragement you need to craft several more for family and friends. Have your children help with the different steps that are appropriate for their ages and witness their pride over the finished product.

Things You'll Need

• 2 yards green velvet
• Stuffing
• 3-inch wood star
• Mustard-yellow acrylic paint
• Paint brush
• Raffia
• Black crochet thread
• Long doll needle
• Tapestry needle
• Compass
• Newspaper
• Scissors
• Pins
• Large flat button

Instructions

1. Using a compass, draw circles in the following sizes on newspaper: 36-inch, 22-inch, 16-inch, 10-inch, 7-inch and 4-inch. Cut the circles out.

2. Pin the newspaper circle patterns for the stuffed Christmas tree onto the velvet. Cut the velvet circles out.

3. Fold the edge of the 36-inch circle over 1/2 inch. Sew a large running stitch around the edge using a tapestry needle and crochet thread.

4. Pull up the gathers and stuff the circle firmly. Tie off and clip the ends.

5. Repeat Steps 3 and 4 for the remaining velvet circles.

6. Thread a long piece of crochet thread onto the long doll needle. Slide the button onto the needle. Squash the velvet circles flat with the gathered running stitches in the middle and on the top. Insert the long doll needle into the middle of the first velvet circle (the largest) from the bottom and out the top gathered running stitches. Continue to add each additional stuffed velvet circle, from largest to smallest, omitting the smallest velvet circle. Pull the thread tightly and tie off. Do not cut the thread.

7. Turn the smallest velvet circle so that the gathered running stitches are facing down. Insert the needle into the gathered running stitches only of the small circle. Reinsert the long doll needle into the stuffed Christmas tree, in reverse. At the bottom of the stuffed Christmas tree, reinsert the needle through the button and pull tightly. Add a few additional stitches to hold tightly in place and tie off. Clip the thread.

8. Paint both sides of the wood star with mustard-yellow acrylic paint. Allow the paint to dry on each side.

9. Cut six strands of raffia approximately 36 inches long. Holding the strands together, wrap the middle around the stuffed Christmas tree between the second velvet circle from the top and the third one. Tie a knot to anchor the raffia. Wrap the raffia ends around points of the wood star and tie a knot. Finish by tying the raffia ends into a bow on the wood star.

Tips & Warnings

• Experiment with other fabrics and colors.

• Eliminate velvet circles for additional sizes of stuffed Christmas trees.