How To: Hand-Smocked Ball Ornaments

You can decorate plain ornaments with hand-smocked fabric, for a Victorian look.

Hand-smocked fabric is a type of old fashioned material that imitated elastic. The fabric was sewn in tiny pleats that allowed the wearer to pull the material over his head, making it ideal for shirt collars and other garments that needed to have some give to it. Today, you can use ready-made hand-smocked fabric for a charming Christmas ornament project, which will give the ornaments a vintage, Victorian look for your Christmas tree.

Things You'll Need

• Scissors
• Needle
• Thread
• Styrofoam balls
• Ribbon
• Pinking shears
• Hot glue gun

Instructions

1. Cut a square of hand smocked fabric so that it is as tall as the foam ball ornament, plus three inches, and as wide as the circumference of the ball. You can purchase hand smocked fabric at most fabric supply shops.

2. Sew a seam along the edges of the side of the fabric that is measured to match the height of the foam balls, plus the three inches. Sew the seam, so the square of fabric now looks like a tube.

3. Slip the tube of fabric over one of the foam balls, Tie a piece of ribbon around the top and bottom of the ball, so the fabric is secure.

4. Cut along the top and bottom of the tied off fabric with a pair of pinking shears. This creates an edge that won't fray.

5. Tie a loop of ribbon along the top tied off fabric, making a loop so the ornament can be hung from a tree.

References

• Dollar Store Crafts: Make 10 Second Ornaments
• Kid Smart Living: Making Kid-Tough Fabric-Covered Christmas Ornaments