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

These instructions make one pinecone ornament.

Preparation

1. Print out the patterns (available, below).
2. Using an iron on medium heat, press freezer paper, shiny side down, onto felt. On the paper side, trace patterns A-E onto the appropriate felt colors. For patterns A, C, and D, cut four of each scale (two of each color for each size); for pattern B, cut eight scales (four of each color); for pattern E, cut two scales (one of each color).
   
3. Cut out scales and peel off freezer paper. Make a small hole in the center of scales A-D using the point of sharp scissors.
   
4. From either color of felt, cut 10 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 of scales 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 1/4x2-1/2-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 pinecone from a tree. The ornament also can be tucked into pine branches.

Get the patterns.