How to sew old-fashioned paperclip skates...

Finished paperclip ice skate ornament.

      To sew these vintage paperclip skates you will need the following supplies: two large (2'') paperclips, one sheet of craft felt, thread to match, contrasting rick-rack, 16 silver or gold beads (for buttons), contrasting embroidery floss, ten cotton balls, wire or twine for hanging.
       Ordinarily these ornaments are hung in pairs as are mittens; but this is a choice of course. You could just make a single skate ornament.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Upload the pattern included here and print it out for this craft. The pattern is superimposed on a piece of graph paper quarter inch scale.
   
2. Cut out the pattern pieces and trace around these on top of cardboard to make your own templates. The seam allowance for my version is 1/8 inch.
3. With right sides together, sew the boot seams from point A to point B with a straight stitch. (toe to heel and then up behind the calf. You should do this twice, using four cut pieces of felt for two boots. 
4. Sew the tongue in place between the felt boot parts where the laces will be. Use tiny straight stitches to sew this in place.
5. Now turn each boot inside-out and stuff each boot.
6. Take the outside point of each paperclip and poke these through the sole at the toe of each boot. Sew the paper clip in place by working your needle through the stuffed felt sole inside and out and around the paperclip over and over until you have firmly attached it down it's length under the felt boot.
7. Sew on the beads spaced-out evenly on either side of each boot in the positions that would be eyelets on a real ice-skate boot.
8. Now "lace'' each boot with embroidery floss.
9. trim the boot with additional fancy stitching if you prefer. I used rick-rack along the tops, sewed on an additional boot 'grab' at the top and also used a blanket stitch for emphasizing edges. 

Left, the back of the paperclip ice skates with heal details. Center the front of the ornament with
 laces and bead work. Right, the paperclips poked through the toes and sewn in place.

Boot, tongue and heal patterns to be cut from felt.

More Ice Skate Crafts:

• Make a Frosty Ice Skate Paper Wreath

Stitch a red and green felt poinsettia ornament . . .

A vintage poinsettia ornament.

       I will sew a thin green wire to the back of this vintage Christmas flower and use this to attach it to a tree branch instead of hanging it with a hook.

Supply List:

• red and green felt scraps
• free pattern here
• pearl beads for the center of the flower
• red lace for the trim on the petals

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Download and print the free pattern from the link above.
2. Cut 6 green felt leaves and 6 red felt petals. All of these use the same small template.
3. Gather the flat edge of each petal/leaf.
4. Sew the red lace around every petal except on the gathered flat ends.
   
5. Then sew all six gathered red petals together at the bottom, flat side, from tip to tip. There should be a small hole at the center of the poinsettia. 
6. Cut a small, red circle to tack onto the backside of the felt flower where the hole is. 
7. Attach the pearl beads to this center.
8. Now repeat the same steps for the green felt leaves, omitting the addition of lace.
9. Turn the flower over on it's backside and stitch the green felt leaves in a circle to the back of the poinsettia.
   

Left, the pearl beads are sewn to the center of the poinsettia. Right, the green felt leaves
are attached to the backside of the felt flower.

4 Ways To Sew Christmas Mittens for the Tree!

Left, a vintage polka-dot mitten, trimmed with

       It's amazing how many different looks you can give one simple pattern! (free mitten pattern below) Not only will this classic shape look entirely dissimilar depending on who decorates it, it is also perfect for stuffing with candy or cash. Two gifts, I might add, very appealing to just about anyone. And if these come wrapped in a one-of-a-king ornament, your friends, family or  guests will appreciate the time and attention you gave the gift. You don't need to "over think" gifts at Christmas.
       The supplies needed for the mitten ornament start with scrap fabrics. You can see from the photos that I used red and green wool felts, a woven plaid wool and also even a vintage polka-dot; any fabric will due. I then trimmed the mittens with pom-poms, ribbon, faux fur, brocade ribbon and embroidery, in order to give every version it's own look.

Left, faux fur trimmed mitten. Right,

       You may choose to sew around the mitten using a straight stitch and then turn it inside-out to hide the seam. Or, you could just embroider the outer edge with a blanket stitch if you prefer that look.
       I attached hooks to three of the mittens to hang but strung beads for the hanger on the red felt version above.
       This ornament craft is a playful means for using up all those random bits of trim, buttons, and ribbon that you may have tossed into the bottom of a sewing basket! 

• Some knitting patterns for ornaments from All Free Knitting
• Sugar Cookie Mittens from myrecipes

 

Free templates for several ornaments, including the mittens above. I will link back to this post
 for the other ornaments once these have been posted. Mittens are above, Poinsettia project,
Gumball Machine Ornament, and homespun gingerbread kids.

       "On Christmas morning, let us all give thanks to God for our common share in the gift of the world's greatest Life. Let us lift our voices in singing His praises. Let our hearts respond to His love. Let us feel His presence in the midst of our happy gatherings. Let us forget all griefs and quarrels as we express the love and kindness of Christmas which is the love and kindness of Christ." Margaret Scott, Age 21

Craft a Belznickle Head, Patchwork Stocking Ornament

      For many years I have designed little stockings to hang from my children's Christmas trees. These are extra special because of the time and care it took to handcraft the faces. The old patchwork came from a damaged quilt remnant that I hadn't the heart to toss out.

I have yet to add the loops to the top of these stockings but they
are finished enough for you to see how these stockings
 will look hanging from our Christmas tree.

  Supply List:

• Fur trim
• patchwork scraps to sew the small stocking with
• grey felt for the hood
• embroidery floss for the stitching and braided cord
• Acrylic paints: black, blue, red, gold, white, and two variations of flesh toned paint, if you are intending to paint a mask.
• Flesh toned oven bake clay for the mask. (optional)
• white paper clay if you plan to paint your mask
• A face push mold (sold in hobby shops)
• white tacky glue
• acrylic gel sealer to preserve the face
• embroidery needle
• scissors
• The pattern included with this project for the stocking and the "hood" of my Belznickle.

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. First you will need to acquire patchwork scraps, sew them or purchase patchwork fabric from the sewing shop. These little stockings are sewn from old patchwork scraps that I already had on hand. Patchwork is also sometimes sold for the constructing of baby blankets, however, some of you my enjoy making your own patchwork. Visit Carolyn Wainscott to see how she she sews a patchwork Christmas stocking.
2. Below is a pattern that you may download and print to use for a stocking similar to the one pictured here.
3. I used a blanket stitch to sew together the two sides of my stockings. You may wish to craft the Belznickle's head and attach it to the stocking prior to this step. I did not do this because I made the small Christmas stockings prior to deciding to add the Belznickle head. 
4. Slip a piece of wax paper between the two stocking halves before gluing the Belznickle mask on top of the front side of your stocking. This will prevent the glue from seeping through the fabric and sticking the two sides together while the mask dries.
5. I made my mask by pressing paper clay into a half press mold. The mold that I used was purchased from a hobby supply store. The mask measures roughly 1 1/2 inches both up and down.
6. The paper clay dries relatively fast, but I waited for the mask to dry overnight before gluing it on to the stocking.
7. Below you can see the colors of acrylic that I used to paint the mask with: black, blue, red, gold, white, and two variations of flesh toned paint. I am aware that some of you do not have the confidence yet to paint ornaments. If this be the case, I recommend that you use a flesh toned low firing oven clay for the mask. Then add suggest a few facial features with fewer colors. Let your acrylic paints dry for an hour.
8. Next, you will need to use tacky white glue to paste on the fur beard. You can use any kind of fur that you prefer for this procedure. I cut out a small "u" shape of fur to attach to the chin of my Belznickle and then added strips of fur to the inside of the felt hood attachment after sewing it to the stocking. (see photo process below)
9. The felt hood is constructed by sewing together two end pieces and then attaching this strip to the stocking over the top of the Belznickle's head. Leave a bit of room above the head approximately one inch so that the Belznickle will look as though his head is inside his hood.
10. stuff between his furry hair and the felt hood a bit of cotton batting and then glue with tacky glue a few strips of fur to the inside of the hood. (pictured)
11. Now you are ready to trim out the rest of the hood with a few blanket stitches and a cord for the ties on his hood.
12. Coat the mask with acrylic gel to protect the face from general wear.
13. Add a cord made of extra scrap fabric or calico to hang the stocking from the tree.

Left, the paperclay mask is dry and glued to the patchwork stocking. Center, you can see the variety of paints that I used to paint my small masks with. Right, the masks have been painted and now I am ready to glue the fur onto my Belznickles faces.

Left, the fur trim beards have been glue both to the mask and the stocking material. Next, the felt hood brim is sewn to the patchwork stocking with a strong straight stitch. Center, I then glue down my Santa's bangs and tuck inside a bit of cotton batting to keep the hood stiff. Right, glue in the final grey fur strips to the upper, inside edge of the hood.

stocking pattern by Kathy Grimm

See more patchwork Christmas stockings:

• So much fabric, so little time
• Patchwork Christmas Stockings from Shannon Makes Stuff
• Elf Stockings from DIY Home Sweet Home