Trim the Tree with Fall Finds—Create Felted Acorn Ornaments!

Foraging is a beautiful way to embrace seasonality and appreciate nature’s small wonders as you wander.  With some fiber art supplies and power tools, a handful of acorns you’ve gathered on a sunny fall walk can be transformed into cozy ornaments for your Christmas tree.
To do this project, you’ll need:

• Acorns
• Felt balls
• DMC Diamant metallic thread
• A sashiko needle 
• A size 5 DMC embroidery needle
• A drill, a 1/16” bit, and safety goggles
• E6000 Permanent Bond Glue
• Size 11° seed beads
• Silk ribbons

1. Remove the kernel of an acorn from the cap.
2. Do the following to make a beaded hanger:
    A. If the acorn cap doesn’t have a twig attached to it:
       i. Drill 2 holes through the acorn cap.  Be sure to use safety goggles for this step.  Use clamps to secure           the acorn cap to a stable platform.  Run the drill slowly and with light pressure until a hole forms.  Apply         pressure in a straight line aligned with the bit while holding the drill securely with both hands to control           its  motion until a hole is drilled.                                                                                                                            ii. Cut a piece of DMC Diamant metallic thread that is at least 10” long.  Using a size 5 DMC embroidery        needle, string 50 size 11° seed beads on the thread, centering them.  Pass each loose end of the thread               through a hole in the acorn cap from the outside.  Tie the loose ends of the thread into a knot inside the             acorn cap, forming a beaded hanger.

   B. If the acorn cap has a twig attached to it:
        i. Cut a piece of DMC Diamant metallic thread that is at least 10” long.
       ii. Wrap the thread around the twig 3 times and knot it, leaving 2 loose ends.
      iii. Using a size 5 DMC embroidery needle, string 25 size 11° seed beads on each loose end.  Tie the 2                loose ends together and knot them securely, forming a beaded hanger.  

3. Select a felt ball that fits inside the acorn cap.  Using a sashiko needle, embroider the felt ball with DMC Diamant metallic thread.

4. Use E6000 Permanent Bond Glue to glue all the embroidered felt balls inside the acorn caps.  Allow 24 hours for the glue to be cured.
5. Cut at least 9” of silk ribbon.  Thread the silk ribbon through the beaded hangers of several acorns.  Tie an overhand knot with 2 loose ends to secure the bundle of acorns.  Tie another knot about 3” above the first knot you made to create a hanger for the acorn ornament.  Trim the loose ends of the silk ribbon.

You’re all ready to deck the halls!  Merry Christmas and happy holidays, my dear readers.  I wish you all the best things in life!