Easy Christmas Crafts: Lace Flower Ornament
This Easy Christmas Crafts Lace Flower Ornament uses very simple stitches to turn lace and ribbon into pretty decorations. Each lace flower ornament uses two pieces of lace, two pieces of ribbon and a simple embellishment to become an elegant decoration. Both the steps and the tools are simple and inexpensive as well.
Take a look at these three finished Easy Christmas Crafts Lace Flower Ornaments hanging on the tree.
The lace flower ornament is simple. By using different lace, ribbons and embellishments, a wide variety of the lace flowers can decorate the tree.
Easy Christmas Crafts: Lace Flower Ornament Materials and Tools:
Lace 2 to 2 1/2 inches in width by 16 to 20 inches long with one scalloped edge and one straight edge (I used 20 inches)
Lace 1 to 1 1/4 inches in width by 16 to 20 inches long with one scalloped edge and one straight edge (I used 20 inches)
Ribbon 1/8 to 3/8 inch wide; 12 inches long for the front bow and 8 inches long for the hanging loop
Embellishment - artificial flower, beads, button or just use the ribbon bow
Sewing thread
Needle
Ruler
Scissors
Take a look at the simple materials and tools shown here.
Note: Both pieces of lace should be flat and not have a gathered edge. The netting holding the gathered edge adds too much bulk to the center of the Easy Christmas Crafts Lace Flower Ornament.
If you have lace with a gathered edge, you can remove the netting holding the gathers. The netting is generally applied using a chain stitch. With a little patience, you can find the thread to unravel the chain stitch which easily removes the netting.
The Steps for How to Make the Easy Christmas Crafts: Lace Flower Ornament:
Measure and cut the two pieces of lace. I used 20 inches in length which forms a tightly gathered circle. Shorter lengths, 16 to 18 inches, would be just as pretty with only slightly less fullness.
Fold the wider lace in half with the right sides together.
Match the two cut ends from side to side.
Starting at the scalloped edge, sew the two ends together with a 1/8 to 1/4 inch seam using small running stitches.
At the end of the short seam at the straight edge, make sure the lace seam lies flat.
Anchor the seam by making several stitches in one place before tying a knot near the lace.
Do not cut the thread.
Make larger running stitches, 1/8 to 1/4 in length, along the straight edge of the lace.
These running stitches should follow the straight edge to complete the circle back at the seam.
Gently and firmly pull the thread while pushing the lace into gathers.
Hold the gathered lace snugly while securing the thread with several small stitches and a knot near the lace.
Clip the thread near the lace.
The next few steps of the Easy Christmas Crafts Lace Flower Ornament are similar but applied to the narrow lace.
Fold the lace in half matching the right sides together.
Starting at the scalloped edge, sew the cut ends together with small running stitches in a 1/8 to 1/4 inch seam.
At the end of the short seam, make sure the seam is flat and anchor the stitches.
Tie a knot near the lace but do not cut the thread.
Begin running stitches along the straight edge of the lace with stitches 1/8 to 1/4 inch long.
These stitches follow the straight edge until they return to the seam.
Pull the thread gently and firmly to gather the lace into a small circle.
Hold the lace firmly while anchoring the stitches and tying a knot close to the lace.
Do not cut the thread.
Match the smaller lace circle to the middle of the larger lace circle with the wrong side of the smaller circle over the right side of the bigger circle.
Place the seam in the narrow lace over the seam area of the wider lace.
Sew the two pieces of lace at the center gathers.
Place a few stitches (five or six) around the inner circles making sure each stitch captures a piece of the larger lace gathers and a piece of the smaller lace gathers.
The stitches should remain hidden between the two circles of lace.
Measure and cut the two pieces of ribbon - 12 inches for the embellishment on the front and 8 inches for the loop on the back.
Optional - select the embellishment for the inner portion of the Easy Christmas Crafts Lace Flower Ornament.
In these examples, I used a flower (below), a short length of beads and a button. However, just the ribbon would also be a pretty decoration.
Here, I cut one of the artificial flowers for the center.
Tie a bow in the longer piece of ribbon.
Attach the embellishments. Insert the artificial flower through the center and sew a simple stitch through its stem to hold it in place.
Position the ribbon bow on the lace and attach with a few stitches.
Secure the stitches, add a knot near the lace and clip the thread.
You may want to consider where the lace seams are when adding the embellishments.
The Easy Christmas Crafts Lace Flower Ornament is almost finished.
With the remaining piece of ribbon, form a loop and overlap the ends.
Sew two or three small stitches to hold the loop together.
Position the ribbon loop on the back of the Easy Christmas Crafts Lace Flower Ornament.
Be careful to consider where the ribbon hangs on the front.
Sew the loop to the back of the lace such that its position allows the front decorations to hang properly.
Hang and admire the pretty Easy Christmas Crafts Lace Flower Ornament.
This Easy Christmas Crafts Lace Flower Ornament project varies by a simple change in the colors of the lace and the selection of ribbons and enhancements.
The sewing steps are simple and can be quickly accomplished to turn pieces of lace and ribbon into elegant Easy Christmas Crafts Lace Flower Ornaments.
Have fun!
Using inexpensive materials and tools, this Easy Christmas Crafts Lace Flower Ornament adds beauty to a tree, to a gift package or to a table setting as napkin rings that also can become small keepsakes for your dinner guests.