Fabric pine cones

Many years ago, I received an ornament from a family that I taught three of their children. To this day it is my favorite ornament that I've been given.  It was home made and looked difficult to do.  This past Christmas I wanted to make gifts for our family instead of purchasing them, since I was on a budget but had a surplus of time.  I remembered my ornament and found how to make them online.  I absolutely loved how they turned out, and how easy it was to make them.  Now I'm obsessed!  I found a pretty iron bowl at Hobby Lobby and knew that it was just what I needed--to put pine cones in all year round.  Now each month I am making three seasonal ones to put on my coffee table.  Here's how to make them:

Supplies

1/4 to 1/2 yard of fabric (I found small prints work better than big ones)

Straight pins with the flat head

Styrofoam ball (I like the 3 inch size)

Scissors or rotary cutter and mat

Ruler

First, you need to cut your fabric into 2 inch squares.  I used a rotary cutter and self-healing mat, which makes it crazy fast and easy.  I cut four layers of fabric at once.

 

 Once you have the squares cut, you are ready to put it together.  First, take one square of fabric and pin it flat to the ball.  This will be your starting point. Then, take a square and fold it in half then in half again.  When you attach it to the ball, make sure the folded ends are facing upward with the double-folded side on the left, like this.

Attach the square to the ball on the left corner (right where my thumb is), overlapping a corner of the flat square you've already attached.  Fold another square and overlap it's left corner with the right corner of the already pinned square, securing the first square down on both ends.  Do this all the way around until you meet back up with your first square.  You will pin both corners of the square when you finish each row.

When beginning a new row, stagger your square so it covers up the pin you just put in.  The trick is to keep all the pins covered so you don't see them.  Sometimes that is really hard to do.  Keep pinning and adding rows until you get to the top and you can't put any more on.  Finish the top with one final folded square.  I like to take that last one and fold all four unfinished edges inward and pin it so there are no fray-able edges showing.  Then, if you want, you can add a ribbon to make it an ornament.  For Christmas I did, but for the seasonal ones I didn't.  This one is my favorite.  I think we will use it like mistletoe. I just love how they turn out!

And here is my February bowl: