A felt owl ornament is a small, squishy keepsake that looks great on a tree and even better as a gift. This one comes from Stephanie Klauck on YouTube. She made a set of twelve in soft aqua and grey for her sister, who loves owls as much as she does. Each owl has a stuffed body, scalloped feather layers, felt wings and layered sequin eyes that catch the light.
How to make a felt owl ornament: the short version
- Cut every owl piece from felt, two bodies and two wings.
- Backstitch the two bodies together, stuff them and tie off.
- Stitch around the face, eye piece and wings.
- Glue on the feather layers, hanging loop, ears, face, eyes, wings and beak.
- Finish the eyes with stacked sequins and a dot of glitter glue.
Die or no die?
Stephanie uses the Memory Box Plush Wise Owl die. It cuts every piece and punches the stitch holes in one pass, which makes sewing fast and tidy. It also makes this a good project to share with a grandchild, since a blunt needle finds the holes on its own. No die cutting machine? Draw an owl on paper, about 3 inches tall, and use it as a template. Cut the felt with sharp scissors and sew a small running stitch or blanket stitch around the edge instead.
Picking the felt
Wool blend felt cuts cleaner and holds its shape better than thin craft felt. It also pills less when the ornament gets handled every December. Pick three or four colors that go together: a dark body, a white or cream for the feathers and eyes, and one or two shades of a bright accent. Stephanie made half the set in a lighter aqua so no two owls look quite alike.
How much stuffing?
Less than you think. The owl should feel plump, not hard. Overstuffing pulls the stitches and makes the glued layers bow away from the body. Pull the fiberfill into thin wisps before you push it in. Clumps show through felt as lumps.
Glue tips
- Thick tacky glue grips felt without soaking through. Thin white school glue does not.
- Decant it into a small fine-tip bottle. The big bottle is hard to control.
- Press every edge down after you place a piece. You have a few minutes to slide it.
- Let the owl dry fully before the sequins go on.
Common problems
- Stuffing pokes out the gap. Pinch the opening shut with your thumb while you sew the last few holes.
- The knot shows. Bring the needle up between the two body layers for the last stitch, then tie off inside the seam.
- Scallops do not line up. Flip the owl upside down to place them. It is easier to see both edges.
- Sequins slide. Use a matte gel medium and tweezers, not tacky glue.
Gifting and display
Stephanie packed her dozen owls into a gridded box lined with white tissue, one owl per square. It stores them for next year too. Skip the scarf if you want the owls to work all year on a garland, a wreath or a gift tag. Add a little felt scarf if they are only for the tree.
More handmade ornaments
Brush up on the seam with how to backstitch. Make a matching batch of felt acorns, browse more Christmas ornament ideas, or try a yarn version with how to crochet an owl. Like soft little animals? See how to needle felt a small animal.
