DIY: Felt ball stars – beautiful Christmas decorations

Felt balls have become very popular in recent years – this is how you make your own Christmas star ornament

Download PDF here

What you’ll need to make one star

• 30 felt balls of the same size – See the selection and colours here
• Extra strong thread – suggestions here (white) and here (black)
• A good straight needle – See the selection here

Method

I have chosen to sew the stars with 30 balls, as I think the stars are the optimal shape and size when using 30 felt balls.

As it is not entirely easy to explain with words alone, I will try to guide you using pictures taken along the way.

1. I would definitely recommend sewing the stars with double thread to best avoid dropping the thread along the way. In addition, the double thread is helpful as the felt balls can be hard to sew through.

2. Start by making a strong knot by tying three or four knots together into one knot to avoid the knot sliding through the balls as you pull the string.

3. Here’s how you do it:

Choose the colour combination you like best and then begin your pattern.

Start by sewing just 12 balls together so that they sit like beads on a string.
Then tie the two ends together to form a circle. Tighten the string fully so that you get a round shape.
For the tightest result, sew through all the balls one more time.

Now you’ll make the six points on the star

Each layer of the star consists of three felt balls. You will thus need 18 felt balls to create the points on the star. Each point must fill three felt balls on the inner circle. To sew a point, sew directly through a ball, fasten it to the second and sew directly through the third. That way you get a triangular shape.

Then sew down through the third ball and back again so that you strike obliquely through the ball you have just sewn through. You can see how in this image below:

By sewing obliquely through the balls, you also tighten the points so that they sit tight.

Use the same method for the other five points.

In the end, you can choose to use the thread you’re already sewing with if there’s enough left. Otherwise, you can thread a new thread and hide the knot between two of the balls.

For the star to hang beautifully, you have to sew a ball between two points and then you’ll have your complete creative and simple Christmas ornament, which is sure to spark attention. I’ve created many of these as I think the stars will work really well as hostess gifts in December.
Find cheap paper star strips here.

Accessories for Felt Balls