This year I decided to make a Christmas tree ornament for each child in my class. I decided on a star as it could be enjoyed by those children who are not Christian. In order to make these gifts, I dug into my drawer for the bits of leftover wool from previous projects. In my search on the internet, I found something that I liked. But, alas, there was no pattern. I thank my mom for figuring it out from the picture I had found.
The pattern has three rows. To begin, chain 5. Join the chains to close into a circle.
Row 1: ch 3, 2 dc (this is the first group), ch 2, 3 dc (this is the second group). You are to make 5 groups all together.
Row 2: Slip stitch through 3 chains to get to first space. ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in same space. Into the next space do *3 dc, 2 ch, 3 dc*. Continue with * until row is complete.
Row 3: ch 3, 2 dc, ch 3, 3 dc in first space. st into next space. **3 dc, ch3, 3dc, st** into next space. Continue **until row is complete.
Once all the stars had been made, I decided to stiffen them and decorate them with glitter. Before stiffening, I tied a bow on each star and tied on some wool from which to hang the ornaments. To stiffen my work, I used the white craft glue that becomes transparent when it dries. I placed some glue in a yogurt cup and mixed it with water and brushed the glue onto each star with a firm paintbrush. Before the glue had a chance to dry, I sprinkled some glitter onto each piece. I chose to work with silver but there are other colours one could choose: gold, blue, green and even red.
I left the ornaments to dry overnight. The next day, they were ready to be handed out. As I had a range of colours, I let the children choose which one they would like. I did not forget my own children, of course. Before taking the bulk of the stars to school to distribute, I gave them the opportunity to choose the ones they liked:
These now grace our tree. I am thinking that next year I will try out another pattern to help decorate the tree.
Do you make ornaments for your Christmas tree?
© Colline Kook-Chun, 2014
OH MY GOODNESS, THEY’RE ADORABLE!! The children will love them!
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They did. The were so pleased to receive one each. I also received a couple of compliments from parents 🙂
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I’ll bet you did get compliments! My grandmother used to make little horse heads out of felt that you could slide a candy cane up inside…Loved those..this reminds me of her..thank you.
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What a beautiful memory Suzanne 🙂
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It is and I thank you or reminding me of it!
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What a great idea! Love it!
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Thank you so much Colleen 🙂
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Of course, handmade anything is better than store bought anything… great idea!
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Thank you. I may even do the same thing again next year 🙂
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You are such a lovely lady Colline, I’m sure your children loved their gifts. 🙂
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Judging by their reaction, I think they did.
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These are so lovely, Colline. What a great teacher you are. Those children must love you to bits. 🙂
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Thank you. I wanted to give something personal this year instead of the pencils and erasers I have given in the past.
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Oh Colline this is such a sweet idea. what a keepsake this will be – and the kids may not realize it now – but handmade gifts like these are rare these days – also- it has a bit of “you” woven right in. also love the choice elf a star to cater to all 🙂 ❤
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had to quickly share this old ornament we got from my husband’s grandma – when she moved out of their family home – she sent me a bunch of holiday stuff to go through – in hindsight I see I should have kept more – but thankfully I grabbed a few treasures – and this is an example – I still have the matching male to go with this – but we only brought down 1/4 of our ornaments this year because we have a smaller tree (way TMI – lol)
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These ornaments are always precious. My mom passed on a few to me as well that my aunt had quilted. I love seeing them on the tree.
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I have told them that each year they will think of me when they hang their ornament on the tree. They did not quite understand – but they will in future years 🙂
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yes, they will later see – have a nice holiday Colline!
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one more thing – I created some modified stock images for a 2014 “blog buds page” I am making and here is one for you:
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I LOVE it Yvette. Are you posting these on your blog?
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yes, I have started a page – and plan to just limit it to blog friends form 2014 – and then I will something else for 2015…
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I will definitely head on over to have a look the next time I am blogging on a PC 🙂
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You did a great job with this one 😀
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thx
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You too Yvette 🙂
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What a wonderful idea! I can not knit nor croquet.
When I was teaching (at university!) I gave out holiday-themed erasers passed around in a basket. Not as special as the wonderful stars you made!
I haven’t had a Christmas tree in many years but I used to make ornaments for our and others trees. I would take a toilet paper tube, glue a circle of cardboard to the bottom. Then cover the tube with green or red felt, and ribbon or silver/gold bricabrac (probably no longer exists, lol) at the top and bottom of the roll. I made a hole on either side of the top, attached a ribbon handle with name(s) attached written on a small piece of thick construction paper (when there was thick construction paper. Then filled the ornament with candy (the special candies of Christmas), candy canes, small presents, ornaments if giving away, and candy canes and other stuff for home.
I made other types of ornaments, but this was the one I made up (or perhaps I saw somewhere) when I was fairly young. I don’t think any survived the test of time and my leaving home, lol. And, as I usually, do — I’ve given away my age again.
Have a great Christmas and all the best in the new year. May your stars remain a special part of your student’s memories.
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Sounds like the gifts you made were from the heart. I enjoy gifts made by children as they spend so much time and creativity on it 🙂
I wish you the best for the New Year and a wonderful Christmas too Phylor.
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PS: We (my mother helped when I was young) might have used tape to make the bottom circles stick!
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I think that makes since. And the tape then would have been better at sticking too 😉
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They’re beautiful! 🙂 It’s been a long time since I’ve made any kind of Christmas decorations. I’m not terribly talented when it comes to crafts and doing things with my hands. I’m dangerous with glue and scissors. lol!
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That is when the decorations in the stores are a blessing 🙂
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I love these little snowflakes, Colline. They make really nice tag decorations,too, serving double duty. 🙂
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Now that is a good idea! I think I will make some and store them with my wrapping paper 🙂
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I used spent Christmas Cards one year to cover a cardboard shipping box, then covered the whole shooting match with clear contact paper. I needed something sturdy enough to house a garden angel made of concrete. My sister like the box better than the contents. She still uses the box to store her Christmas goodies in, off season. Some kids never grow up. 🙂
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That is a wonderful idea to carry a gift. I am not surprised your sister loves it 🙂
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🙂
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Colleen, they are beautiful!
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Thank you so much 🙂
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Beautiful – creative ideas!
May this Christmas marks the beginning of a wonderful year for us. Have a joyous Christmas!
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Thank you. And a merry Christmas to you as well Mihrank.
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Colline what a thoughtful thing to do…..and to make so many in the midst of all the Christmas chores is surely a labour of love. They are so pretty I’m sure all the children were surprised and delighted. I don’t make tree decorations any more…..but I often buy one or two when we are away on holiday. This tradition began on our honeymoon, many years ago, when I bought six wooden tropical fish decorations. Each year as I hang them, I remember buying them in heat and colour of Sri Lanka 🙂
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I love the tradition you have started. Your tree is therefore filled with pleasant memories 🙂
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WOW! What a beautiful idea… Thank you dear Colline, Merry Christmas, love, nia
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Thank you Nia. Glad you like them 🙂
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These are really sweet, Colline. Though the kids may not fully appreciate them – yet — I’m sure their Moms will.
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A mom already told me of her appreciation. It was nice to hear John 🙂
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I saw these the other day, but had to leave when it was the time to comment. That’s a wonderful idea, Colline! How many students are there in your class?
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This year I have 22 students. And, as usual, I am enjoying the moments spent with them 🙂
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🙂
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Gorgeous, gorgeous! Our tree is decorated with all the handmade ornaments made over the years. There are salt dough ones, glitter covered polystyrene shapes, wrapped boxes, macaroni angels, etc, from when the boys were really little; to the ones I’ve made from felt, knitted, crocheted and fabric. Only the balls and a few stars are bought. We always used to decorate with homemade Christmas shaped biscuits, meringues and strung popcorn, and will have to bring that back next year. It was yummy!
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I have never decorated the tree with edibles – that must be fun to make and eat 🙂
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oh and how the kids love it! Both the baking, of course decorating with icing in different colours and adding sprinkles and silver balls, then the eating!!!! Of course, if we make the tree early, it gets stripped bare regularly, meaning lots of “refills”.
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What fun 🙂
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