The holiday season often brings a mix of joy and nostalgia, especially when we think of those no longer with us. This sewing tutorial offers a unique way to incorporate their memory into your Christmas traditions. We’ll create special ornaments using clothing from loved ones who have passed, transforming simple fabric into meaningful decorations. This project is a beautiful way to honor cherished memories and keep those special people close during the festivities. Whether you’re an experienced sewist or just starting out, these ornaments are a heartfelt addition to any Christmas tree. Join me in this creative journey to craft keepsakes that will be treasured for years to come.
Let’s take a moment to understand why these memory ornaments are so special to the people who make them.
Making Christmas ornaments from a loved one’s clothing helps people deal with loss. It gives a new purpose to clothes that might otherwise just sit in a closet, unused and forgotten.
These ornaments are more than just tree decorations. They’re a way to feel close to someone important who’s no longer here. Seeing them on the tree can be comforting during what’s often a tough time of year.
Creating these ornaments can help people heal. It lets them focus on happy memories while making something beautiful to remember their loved one. It’s a way to keep that person’s spirit part of the holidays.
Often, these ornaments become family treasures that are passed down to children and grandchildren. They help keep family stories alive and connect younger family members to relatives they might never have met.
What you will need
Clothing item from loved one (shirt used in this tutorial)
Glittery felt for backing
Ornament template (available in my shop)
Pinking shears
Pins
Fabric pen or chalk
Sewing machine
Metallic thread (blue used in this tutorial)
Regular thread matching felt color
Fabric scissors
Polyester fiberfill or cotton batting
Ribbon for hanging (sparkly golden used here)
Decorative ribbons for embellishment
Fabric glue
Seam ripper
Step 1: Select the Clothing Item
For this project, I’m using a shirt that belonged to my mother-in-law. It’s a stunning piece with a blue and white plaid pattern, but what makes it truly special are the silver threads woven throughout the fabric. These threads give the entire shirt a shimmery, festive look – perfect for Christmas ornaments. After all, what’s a holiday decoration without a bit of sparkle?
I’ve held onto this shirt since she passed away, always intending to do something with it. Initially, I thought about having it altered to fit me, as it’s a bit too large for my frame. But as often happens, life got busy and I never found the time to make it. And even if it looks like a man’s shirt, it’s not; it’s a woman’s garment.
Now, I’m actually delighted that I kept it in its original state. Using it to create Christmas ornaments feels like the perfect way to honor her memory and keep her close during the holiday season. The process of making these ornaments is much quicker than altering an entire garment.
This project is proving to be a wonderful way to give new life to a piece of clothing that holds so much sentimental value. The shirt’s inherent festive quality with its shimmery threads makes it ideal for holiday decorations, but even if it wasn’t naturally sparkly, the memories it holds would make it special.
Note: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links. This means I will receive a commission if you order a product through one of my links. I only recommend products I believe in and use myself.
Step 2. Choose Your Ornament Shape
For this project, I’ve picked a bell shape. The soft curves of the bell work well with the blue and white plaid pattern from my mother-in-law’s shirt. The result is a charming and nostalgic ornament.
You’ll find templates for this bell design and other festive shapes in my shop here: Templates for Christmas Ornaments Made from Clothes. They’re free for my subscribers and come in two formats.
- PDF files for printing. Great for those who prefer hands-on cutting and tracing.
- SVG files for cutting machines. Perfect if you use a Cricut or similar device. If you do not have a Cricut yet but want to get one, I recommend the Maker version. It is more expensive but it cuts larger shapes and is, in general, a more versatile tool. Check Amazon prices here.
If you do not have a printer in home, print shops will print the files for pennies; but I find that having a printer is useful for many purposes. I recommend a laser printer, they have come down in prices and unlike the (cheaper) inkjet printers, you don’t need to worry about ink drying and clogging the nozzles. Check current offers at Amazon.
The bell is just one option among many. What matters most is that you select a design meaningful to you, one that honors your loved one’s memory. The blue and white plaid adds a cozy, homespun look to the ornament. It reminds me of warm holiday gatherings and cherished family moments.
These templates are a starting point. Use them as-is or adapt them to make something uniquely yours. The goal is to craft an ornament with special meaning for you and your family.
Step 3. Cut Your Ornament Shape
Carefully inspect the clothes, seeking out sections where the pattern is most appealing. For my bell ornament, I chose an area where the plaid lines created an interesting visual effect.
Position the bell template on your selected fabric section and delicately trace its outline using a washable fabric pen or chalk. For those using cutting machines, adhere to the specific guidelines for fabric cutting.
Precision is key in this step. The fabric may be delicate, particularly if it’s an older garment. Whether you’re hand-cutting or machine-cutting, take your time to ensure clean, accurate lines.
As you work, don’t be surprised if memories surface. This emotional connection is what sets this project apart. You’re not just making an ornament; you’re preserving a tangible piece of your family’s story.
I am using these scissors, I find them excellent and they already lasted for a number of years. They are cheaper than other brand names but not of lower quality.
I am using an air and water erasable Dritz pen for marking, I find it better quality than other brands. There are cheaper alternatives and multi-packs available, however I find the multi packs less useful because by the time I get to use them, they are already dry. And other brands have a much lower user satisfaction rating.
Step 4. Create Your Ornament Base
It’s time to give your ornament some backbone with a felt backing. Whether you choose glittery or plain felt, ensure the color complements your memory fabric. For my blue and white plaid shirt ornament, I selected a yellow color to highlight the original pattern.
Cut your felt piece slightly oversized compared to your fabric shape. This extra margin allows for easier assembly and ensures full coverage.
A word of caution if using glittery felt: it can be messy. Handle with care, and remember to wash your hands thoroughly afterwards to avoid any irritation.
The felt backing isn’t just decorative – it provides structure and a neat finish. While a bit of sparkle can be fun, remember that the true value of your ornament lies in the memories it preserves.
Some glitter fabrics promise low shedding (or no shedding) but this has to be taken with a grain of salt in my opinion. If you’re sensitive to glitter or prefer not to work with it, regular felt is absolutely fine. The most important part of this project is the memory fabric, not the backing material.
Step 5. Prepare Felt for Stuffing
Now we need to create a small opening for adding filling later. This step ensures your ornament will have a nice, plump appearance.
- Take your cut felt piece and find its center.
- Using sharp scissors, carefully cut a small slit in the middle of the felt, about 1-1.5 inches (2.5-4cm) long.
- It should be just large enough to allow for stuffing, but not so big that it weakens the structure of your ornament.
We’ll be covering this opening with your memory fabric, so don’t worry about it being visible in the finished product.
Step 6. Attach Fabric to Felt Backing
Now we’ll join the memory fabric to the felt backing. Start by pinning your cut fabric shape securely to the felt backing. These pins keep your materials properly aligned throughout the sewing process.
Thread your sewing machine with the thread you’ll use for both attaching and embellishing. For my bell ornament, I chose a blue metallic thread to complement the plaid pattern. If metallic thread is new territory for you, my tutorial Mastering the Art of Sewing with Metallic Thread might prove useful.
Adjust your machine to a straight stitch setting and carefully sew around the edge of your fabric shape, maintaining a consistent 1 mm (less than 1/16″) distance from the edge. This close stitching method ensures your fabric is firmly attached.
Take your time, especially when working around curves. You might need to stop occasionally with the needle down to adjust the fabric, ensuring you maintain that 1 mm (less than 1/16″) distance from the edge.
At this stage, we’re simply securing the fabric to the felt. Fancy decorative stitches will come in the following step, so there’s no need for perfection right now. Focus on creating a strong bond between your fabric and the backing.
Step 7. Add Decorative Stitching
It’s time to add some flair to your bell ornament with decorative stitching.
Browse through your sewing machine’s stitch options and choose decorative patterns that are dense and intricate. These types of stitches will be more visible and create a more striking effect.
Stick with the metallic thread you’ve been using. The combination of shimmering thread and elaborate stitches will give your ornament a delightful sparkle that complements the holiday season.
Stitch around your bell shape, maintaining a distance of about 3-4 mm (1/8″) from the edge. Be patient, particularly when navigating curves. You may need to pause and readjust your fabric to ensure even stitching.
Embrace any small irregularities in your stitching. I would say these little quirks contribute to the charm and uniqueness of your handcrafted ornament.
✅ Related tutorial: Decorative Sewing Machine Stitches
Step 8. Stuffing Your Bell Ornament
Now we’ll bring your bell ornament to life with some soft filling. Find the opening you left in the felt and start carefully adding polyester fiberfill. Focus on creating a rounded bottom for the bell, using a pencil to push stuffing into the curves.
Build up the fullness slowly, checking the shape as you go. You want a gentle roundness that suggests the bell’s form without losing the fabric’s details. Once you’re happy with the fullness, gently pat the ornament to evenly distribute the filling.
Step 9. Finish the Back of the Ornament
Cut a piece of felt identical to the first one. Align this new felt piece with the back of your ornament, with finished sides facing out if using glittery felt. Pin the layers together to maintain alignment.
Choose a thread that blends with your felt color and stitch around the entire bell, keeping about 3mm (1/8″) from the edge. This process neatly encloses all layers and finalizes your ornament. Take extra care around the bell’s curves, and don’t forget to remove pins as you sew to avoid obstacles.
Step 10. Trim the Edges
Now we’ll tidy up the edges of the bell ornament for a polished finish. Use pinking shears for this task – they create a delightful zigzag edge that enhances the ornament’s festive look. Trim carefully around the entire bell shape, leaving a 3-4mm (1/8″) border beyond your stitching line. The zigzag edge from the pinking shears adds a lovely detail that echoes the bell’s curves.
If you’re shopping for pinking shears, I highly recommend this pair I found on Amazon – they’re perfect for intricate projects like this.
Note: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links. This means I will receive a commission if you order a product through one of my links. I only recommend products I believe in and use myself.
Step 11. Preparing the Hanging Ribbon
We have finished the ornament! But we need to hang it on the tree, and for this we will use also an ornamental cord (or ribbon). I used something I already had, but I found a very similar one on Amazon.
It’s time to add a loop for hanging your bell ornament. Locate the top center and gently remove about 3/4 inch (2cm) of stitching with a seam ripper. Select a ribbon that matches your ornament’s style (I chose a golden one). Insert both ends of the ribbon through the opening, pushing about 2 inches (5cm) inside. Ensure the ribbon is centered, then sew the opening shut, reinforcing with multiple stitches.
This method may appear weird, but I’ve found it to be quite effective. Sewing the loop in earlier stages would put it at risk during edge trimming. Instead, we add it after using the pinking shears. Creating a small opening in the existing stitching allows for precise ribbon placement while maintaining the ornament’s pinked outline.
Step 12. Add Embellishments
Time to make your bell ornament shine with some decorative ribbons! Choose ribbons that enhance your ornament’s color scheme and cut them to size. Using fabric glue, attach ribbons to the bell. Apply glue sparingly and hold each piece in place until set. You can always add more, but it’s harder to remove excess. If you are looking for a decorative ribbon, here is a selection from Amazon.
Take a look at this completed memory Christmas ornament, created from a beloved family member’s clothing. You might want to make one too. The fabric that once belonged to someone special is now a lasting tribute. With its delicate sparkle and meaningful design, it’s not just a decoration – it’s a way to honor someone who’s no longer here. Each time you see it on your Christmas tree, you’ll recall happy moments you shared. This ornament brings a personal element to your holiday traditions, ensuring your loved one’s memory shines bright during the season.
Liked this tutorial? Don’t forget to save this pin to your sewing Pinterest board for future reference. This way, you can easily return to this guide whenever you’re ready to sew memory Christmas ornaments. For more creative sewing tips, tutorials, and daily doses of inspiration, make sure to follow me on Pinterest.
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