Felt Pinecone Christmas Ornament

• Template plastic or lightweight cardboard
• Freezer paper
• Wool felt: two complementary colors
• Wooden skewer
• Fabric glue
• 2 1/2-inch length of thin wire

Preparation

1. Prepare the patterns (available, below).

2. Using an iron on medium heat, press freezer paper, shiny side down, onto felt. Trace patterns A-E onto the appropriate felt colors. Make a small hole in the center of shapes A-D using the point of sharp scissors. Cut out shapes and peel off freezer paper.

3. From either color of felt, cut nine small squares (1/4-inch to 1/2-inch square) to use as separators between pairs of scales. Make a small hole in the center of each square.

Make the Pinecone

1. Slide scales in two-color pairs over a wooden skewer, with a square separator in between pairs, as follows: Two A scales, square, two B scales, square, two B scales, square, two C scales, square, two C scales, square, two B scales, square, two B scales, square, two A scales, square, two D scales, square, two D scales, square.

2. Shift each pair to position individual petals between petals of the prior pair. Cut excess skewer with scissors. Glue E half-scale pieces into a small flower. Glue flower to top of pinecone.

Form the Stem

1. Cut a 1/4x21/2-inch strip from one felt color for the stem. Twist and glue strip around the thin wire; set aside.

2. Using pinking shears, cut a 1-inch-diameter circle from the same color of felt used to cover stem. Make a small hole in the center of the circle. Insert stem through the hole; glue circle and stem to bottom of pinecone. If desired, tie on a string or ribbon to hang from a tree. The ornament also can be tucked into pine branches.