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These super cute padded fabric christmas trees make brilliant christmas decorations and are a lovely addition to your festive table and other christmas decor. They are brilliant for your mantlepiece, dinner table or centrepiece. Would you like to find out how to make a small fabric christmas tree? Then read on for a step by step easy sewing tutorial that will show you how. And you can also find my free 3D fabric christmas tree pattern!
*This post has been updated – it was originally posted in November 2018.
Padded Fabric Christmas Tree Decoration
The brilliant thing about these padded fabric Christmas trees is that you can make them out of lots of different types of fabrics. Last year I made myself some Cath Kidston christmas tree fabric decorations to match my holiday home and table decor. And I loved them so much that I started making Christmas tree decorations in all colours for all my family!
When stuffed fabric Christmas tree making I would always recommend cotton fabric over polycotton, as these do need to be pressed a lot, and polycotton has a tendency to shrink easily if you’re not careful. But do try out all the colours and not just the traditional Christmas fabrics.
How To Make Fabric Christmas Trees
For this fabric Christmas tree craft, you will need
- 3 Fat Quarters of Fabric – for my demo I did go with traditional Christmas colours and christmas tree fabric.
- Sharp scissors
- A sewing machine is definitely advisable.
- Some stuffing material – in the spirit of frugality I quite like using the stuffing from old pillows that needed replacing. But you can use this non-allergenic toy stuffing if you prefer.
- Some buttons or beads to decorate
- My fabric Christmas trees pattern template. I would suggest that you print this free sewing pattern for a Christmas tree out on card so that it is durable, as you will be using it several times.
Take your Christmas tree sewing pattern and cut out 6 of the templates on the fold.
Then I like to pin different colours right sides together, pinning away from the edge so you can sew around the edge easily.
Note: the little blue dots at the base of the tree on the Christmas tree sewing pattern are where you start and stop stitching, to leave a gap to stuff the tree later. Do a few reverse stitches at the start and end of sewing around the 1cm (half inch) seam allowance.
Remember when you get to the points of the fabric tree to leave the needle in the fabric so that you get a neat pivot point. I love my magnetic seam guide as you can see.
Carry on all around the outline of the tree and sew a few reverse stitches at the other marked end of the opening.
Trim the tips of the points so that there is very little seam allowance – without cutting through the stitches. Also, cut notches or clip the inner points/curves.
Turn the fabric the right way round, pushing out the points with a knitting needle or pointed object. Press it well, turning the seam allowance up at the base.
Do the same with the remaining 2 tree shapes, so that you end up with 3 tree bags with openings at the base.
Assembling the Tree
Pin the 3 shapes together at the outer points. Draw a central line from the top of the tree to the midline of the base, using an air erasable pen
Sew the trees together down the line you have drawn. This can be tough as there are now 6 layers to sew – even more at the base and tip of the tree.
And you have a tree with 6 compartments with a gap at the base of each ready to stuff! Stuff as much or as little as you want. (I tend to use he stuffing from old pillowcases or duvets – I love up cycling old bedding)
I always make sure to go around systematically putting stuffing in each section at the top, then the middle, then the base. That way it ends up more evenly stuffed.
To finish the tree, sew up the base with some hand stitches.
Add some buttons or beads to decorate (I chose these star buttons) and your DIY fabric Christmas tree is finished! You could also add a wooden dowel vertically inside the tree before completely closing the base and glue this to a wooden stand, but I find that they stand perfectly well without this.
Finished Trees
As I said at the start, last year I made these in so many colours and variations. They make a brilliant gift.
You will notice that this pattern for fabric Christmas tree produces a tree with 18 branches. Last year I was asked if this Christmas tree design could be altered to make a large fabric Christmas tree with more branches that could potentially be used to hold candy canes or be an advent calendar.
I came up with alternative fabric Christmas tree patterns. See my video of how I made a larger padded fabric Christmas tree that had over 30 branches!
Have You Enjoyed This Post On Sewing Fabric Christmas Trees?
Are you going to make these padded fabric Christmas trees with my free pattern? I would love to see your makes.
Enjoyed this? I love making Christmas crafts projects and coming up with homemade Christmas gifts ideas. I have a whole load more Christmas holiday decor ideas and other Christmas fabric decorations and sewing patterns.
Why not make yarn home decor for the holidays with my Christmas Pom-Pom Crafts?
Or my A Festive Rag Wreath which uses up the remnants from making these trees!
Find out how to have a more zero waste Christmas.A very Merry Lagom Christmas
Why not comment below or find me on social media?
And please do pin this post for later!
Oh these are just adorable and pretty simple! I love this idea!!!
Thank you. They make such great gifts.
Such a clever idea! I am definitely going to try this! What beautiful decorations 🙂
Thank you. They are really effective, and pretty easy to make.
These are just lovely, I must get better at sewing #bloggerclubuk
Like everything, the more time you spend doing it the better you get. But do have a go at these!
My mom and grandma used to make these! They were always part of the holiday decor growing up. Lovely!
Thank you. It’s great that these are part of your holiday tradition. They are fast becoming one of mine!
These are so cute! What a great idea #BloggerClubUK
Thank you. They are really effective aren’t they?
How do you keep the padded Christmas trees standing upright? They keep listing to one side.
I always overstitch and pull the bottom of my trees up to make sure the base stays level.
These are so cute, I’m not good with the sewing machine but my daughter is, I’ll have to get some Christmas material now! I’d love you to come and post this on my Christmas linky on my blog. x
#Bloggerclubuk
Have just added them Anne. And I’m sure I’ll be making something with the fabric remnants that may also find it’s way onto your linky. Thank you!
These are gorgeous! My sewing skills leave a lot to be desired but I’m still going to give them a go 🙂
Do try them. Hopefully this step by step guide will help!
They are lovely! Thank you for sharing the tutorial at The Really Crafty Link Party. Pinned.
Thank you!
These are really pretty. I am not good at sewing but my aunt is. I will have to show her this blog post. x #PoCoLo
Thank you. Maybe she will make one for you. x
The are really lovely, what a brilliant idea x #pocolo
Thank you.
This is so lovely. What a nice piece for Christmas. #pocolo
Thank you. I’ve got lots of crafty ideas for Christmas to come.
These are so cute and so simple! X
Han
Thank you Han. Yes, so easy yet effective. Thank you for reading.
Oh I love these – I think we’ll try it! #kcacols
They really do make good gifts. Thank you for reading.
Gorgeous! #KCACOLS
Thank you! And thank you for reading!
And for #TwinklyTuesday
Oh I love this idea. They look beautiful. #PoCoLo
Thank you. They are such an east idea.
These look so cute! And pretty easy too! Thanks for sharing!! #KCACOLS
Thank you! They are so easy to make.
I’d love to get one of these as a gift – very cute! #keepingitreal
Thank you.
these look gorgeous, now I with my sewing was up to giving it a go! #TwinklyTuesday
They are honestly really easy. Definitely worth a try.
How cute are those padded Christmas trees I would love to try making one myself- but I doubt I’d manage. You are so talented ! Thanks for joining us for the #dreamteam x
Thank you. But honestly, if I can make them I think most people can. Thank you for hosting.
These are so lovely!! I’ve got some leftover Emma Bridgewater fabric somewhere that will match my table runner and crockery…a future project for sure!! I’ve pinned this as a reminder. Thanks for sharing. #TwinklyTuesday
Oooh! These would be lovely in Emma Bridgewater Fabric. Do send us a pic if you make them!
These are so sweet! I really wish i had more time to sew. the blog, pregnancy and my son take up my time now haha! #KCACOLS
I don’t sew quite as much as I would like. But it is always nice to come back to doing some crafts.
These are so beautiful and very effective. I love that you can match them up with your existing decor too! Lovely craft Jo. 🙂
Thanks for sharing with #MMBC. Enjoy the rest of your week. x
Thank you Jayne. Yes, matching them to my existing Cath Kidston Christmas table was definitely a big part of why I made these! Thank you for reading.
I keep meaning to make something like this but my sewing machine needs a service and i keep putting it off #triumphanttales
I hope that you get round to it soon. Thank you for reading!
Love these, might have to try myself #ChristmasLinky
Yes, do have a go, they are easy!
These are super cute, I can’t wait til the boys get older and we can make as gifts for relatives from them!
Thank you for sharing this with us at #TriumphantTales. I hope to see you back next week.
Thank you! They do really make super presents!
Thank you. Hope you get got have a go!
These look great – fantastic idea to make your own decorations #triumphanttales
Thank you. By making your own you can match everything up really well too!
These look really well made! I love the idea of crafts especially the closer we get the Christmas! I love Kath Kiddson patterns and fabrics. I actually have a friend who’s trying to get better at sewing so I’ll pass this across to her to see if she fancies a project! Xxx #dreamteam
I hope your friend gets to make one and makes you one too. You can find lots of little bits of Cath Kidston fabrics on eBay.
These are so pretty and actually better than having a bigger tree in my opinion! Though I’m not sure how I’d get on making them in reality… Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next time!
They are so easy to make. And sometimes less is more!
Oh I wish I had a sewing machine/knew how to sew better so I could have a go at making these! They look so sweet and would make lovely decorations for Christmas! x #KCACOLS
Aw thank you. They are such lovely decorations.
Hi Jo, what a nice and simple homemade decoration. They’d look good as part of any Christmas display. I’m just getting the hang od crocheting so I won’t be giving these a go, but if I could sew I certainly would.
Thank you for linking up with #KeepingItReal
xx
Thank you Debbie. Whilst I would really love to get to grips with crochet!
These look great – may be giving these a go! Thanks for sharing with #PoCoLO
Thank you. They really are so effective!
These are lovely, I’m going to share this with my Mum, I’m sure she’d love to make some. Thanks for sharing the tutorial and linking up #twinklytuesday
Brilliant, thank you for reading and sharing
These are stunning. I think I’d hand sew them. #keepingitreal
Thank you. I’m sure they would be just as easy to hand sew!
These are lovely and they look very easy to make too! #kcacols
Thank you for reading, I hope that you have a go!
What a fun project Jo!!
Thank you for sharing at Create, Bake, Grow & Gather this week. I’m delighted to be featuring you at tonight’s party and pinning too.
Merry Christmas,
Kerryanne
Thank you ever so much. Merry Christmas!
Thank you SO much Karren. I will be back soon. Happy Holidays!