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Christmas Craft Projects - Tree Ornaments
 
These ornaments are made with silky flosses and metallic threads. Each is one
of a kind. They are fashioned after the Japanese Temari balls technique but much
easier.
You will need:
plastic foam balls (about 3" diameter)
sewing thread (one spool per ball)
glass-head pins
metallic thread (gold or silver)
silky rayon floss (or perle cotton)
blunt needle
What to do:
Wrap plastic foam ball with sewing thread until ball is completely covered
with a network of criss-crossed threads. Mark with a pin at exact top and
bottom.
Use metallic thread to divide ball into halves from top to bottom, winding
thread once around each pin to hold it in place. Divide in half again to make
four sections; then repeat to make a total of eight equal vertical sections
(figure 1). The ball will now be sectioned like an orange.
Anchor top by weaving silky floss like a spider web around spokes of metallic
thread, looping floss around each time you cross the spoke (figure 2). Continue
weaving until you have come about 1/4" out from center pin. Repeat to
anchor bottom; remove pins.
To understand the basic principle for making these ornaments, look at the
peach, green, and gold ornament in the photograph. Notice the gold threads
making a zigzag pattern around the middle. This pattern is formed by single
threads which go around the ball but are pulled through the base layer of thread
in a consistent up and down pattern divided according to sections.
The green zigzag pattern above the gold pattern is made the same way, at
slightly different angles, yet still according to sections. A second green
zigzag pattern is overlaid on the first to create diamonds. Use one section, two
sections, or even half of a section at a time to make the design, as long as
you are consistent in going around the entire ball.
Begin your design by going around middle in a zigzag pattern with floss or
metallic thread. (Mark your place with pins all around the ball before you
begin, to keep pattern even.) As you make zigzag, catch needle through base
layer of thread whenever you change directions or cross a thread that divides
ball into sections. Repeat until you have six or eight strands making same
pattern.
Begin new series of zigzags, using either same color of floss or different
color. Second zigzag may overlap first or not, as you wish. Continue process of
making new rings of zigzags, working from middle toward top; then repeat process
to make patterns on bottom. An intricate design will evolve as you work.
If you wrap several strands of floss when you cross dividing threads, as
shown in figure 2, a ridge will result. If you do not wrap floss, but merely
catch it in the layer of thread below, a smooth finish will result. When ball is
covered with a pattern of zigzags, make a thread loop through top.
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