Prairie Point Star Ornament Tutorial

Welcome!

Whether you’ve arrived from Pinterest, CraftGossip, Total Tutorials or another of the wonderful sites that have linked to my Prairie Point Star Ornament Tutorial, I’m so glad you’re here!

The step-by-step instructions with lots of photos make this an easy sewing project to complete in a couple of hours time. 

They will look stunning hanging on your tree or displayed in a window throughout the holiday season.

Make several to add to your holiday decor or to give to family and friends.

For this tutorial, 5″ charm squares are used but you could easily cut your own 5″ squares from scraps of fabric from your stash of holiday fabrics. Or cut different size squares to make larger or smaller ornaments.

Please note: When making different sizes, you’ll also need to adjust the size of the lightly stuffed circle that forms the base that the prairie points are sewn on to. Scroll down to the end for instructions for how to do that. 

Want the ad free PDF?

All the instructions you need to make these beautiful Prairie Point Star Ornaments are right here in this post.

But I realize that it might be more convenient for you to have a copy that you can download to your computer to print out and have beside you as you work. You can purchase the ad free Printable Prairie Point Star Ornament PDF file for only $5 from my shop. It has this complete tutorial plus a bonus page with 3.5″, 4″ and 4.5″ circle templates (no need to get out your compass) for making the stuffed circle bases.

Materials required to make one Prairie Point Star Ornament:

• Sixteen 5” charm squares
• 5″X10″ scrap of cotton fabric or two 5″ squares (These will be completely covered so use whatever scraps you have. I used scraps of thrifted cotton sheets.)
• Polyester stuffing
• Hand sewing needle
• Strong thread.  (I used 30 wt quilting thread)
• Satin cording or ribbon for the hanger
• 2 Buttons for the center (one for each side)

To make the inside of the ornament:

1. Fold the 5″X10″ scrap of fabric in half or if using 5″  squares, place one on top of the other.

2. Use a compass (<-affiliate link) to draw a 4.5″ diameter circle.

If you don’t have a compass, you can use the lid from a yogurt container as a template.

3. Stitch completely around the circle following the pencil line.

4. Use pinking shears (<-affiliate link) to trim the seam allowance.

Alternatively, the seam allowance can be trimmed to 1/4 ” and notched as shown below.

5. Pull the layers of the circle apart.

6. Cut a small X in one side.

Avoid cutting the X too close to the center as you will be sewing through the center point several times.

7. Turn the circle right side out through the opening.

8. Mark the center point of each side.

9. Stuff lightly.

You want a flattish, puffed circle, not a round ball.

10. Whipstitch the opening closed.

It doesn’t have to look pretty. It just needs to hold the stuffing inside while you’re adding the prairie points.

Set the stuffed circle aside.

To make the prairie points for the Prairie Point Star Ornament:

11. Divide the charm pack into colorways.

For this tutorial, I used Reindeer Games by Sandy Gervais for Moda. As there were four colorways, I chose 4 charms from each.

12. Place a charm square wrong side up on the ironing board.

13. Fold it in half, opposite corner to opposite corner to form a triangle. Press.

14. Fold the triangle, corner to corner along the folded edge to form the prairie point.

15. Repeat for the remaining 15 squares.

To assemble the prairie point star ornament:

16. Thread the needle with about 30 inches of thread and tie a good strong knot.

I found that a soft sculpture doll needle worked best, but these can certainly be made using a regular hand sewing needle.

17. Insert the needle into the center mark on one side and draw through the mark on the opposite side of the stuffed circle.

18. Place one corner of the prairie point on the center mark and take a stitch.

19. Make another stitch, pulling the thread through to the opposite side of the circle as demonstrated in the left photo below.

20. Fold the prairie point over the circle and take a stitch in the opposite corner. Secure by taking a stitch back through to the first side.

21. Continue to add prairie points in this manner.

If it becomes difficult to pull the needle through the layers of fabric, a surgical clamp or pair of pliers can provide a better grip to pull it through. (Note: affiliate links have been added to help you find clamps or pliers)

It can be a little tricky to sew that last prairie point in place as it needs to be tucked under the first prairie point.

22. Once the final prairie point is sewn in place, secure the thread with a knot but don’t cut the thread yet.

23. Cut a 12″ length of cording (or ribbon) to form a hanger.

When using cording, I knot the ends to give me a larger area to sew through.

24. Sew the cord to the center of the circle.

25. Sew a pretty button on each side. Secure with a knot and cut the thread.

The finished size using 5″ charm squares is approximately 6″ across from tip to tip of the prairie points.

Prairie Point Star Ornaments can be made in a variety of different sizes and fabric combinations.

In the photo above, the center one is the one made while creating this tutorial. The red and white used 4.5″ squares while the green and white has 4″ squares to make prairie points.

Changing the size of the ornament is easy. Simply decide what size squares to use to make the prairie points and cut the circle for the inside ½” smaller in diameter.

For example:

If you are cutting 4.5″ squares, cut a circle that is 4″ in diameter. 4″ squares would require a 3.5″ circle.

The one pictured below is the first Prairie Point Star Ornament I made back in September.

It’s made from leftover charm squares of Season’s Greetings by Sentimental Studios for Moda.

They look stunning done with white and gold fabrics with ribbon flower centers in place of the buttons.

These are beautiful additions to our collection of Christmas ornaments.   

They’re a great way to use up some of those charm packs or Christmas fabric in your stash!

Over the years since I posted this sewing tutorial, I have made several for our home and for gifts.

You can even make Prairie Point Star Ornaments for other occasions.

Patriotic Prairie Point Star Ornaments hung in a window makes a beautiful display from Memorial Day through to the 4th of July. When making them in red, white and blue fabrics, use 15 prairie points instead of 16.

Make them in shades of pink for Valentine’s Prairie Point Star Ornaments.

Get the ad free PDF

All the instructions you need to make these beautiful Prairie Point Star Ornaments are right here in this post.

But I realize that it might be more convenient for you to have a copy that you can download to your computer to print out and have beside you as you work. You can purchase the ad free Printable Prairie Point Star Ornament PDF file for only $5 from my shop. It has this complete tutorial plus a bonus page with 3.5″, 4″ and 4.5″ circle templates (no need to get out your compass) for making the stuffed circle bases.

As always, if you make something with one of my tutorials, I’d love to see a photo. You can either e-mail me by clicking on the little envelope in the upper left-hand sidebar. Or tag me on instagram @supermomnocape.

Edited to add:

After you’ve made one (or more) Prairie Point Star Ornaments be sure to blog about it, post it on Instagram, Facebook or Flickr, then come share it in my Prairie Point Star Ornament Link Party!

This post contains affiliate links. For more information please check my Disclosures and Disclaimers page. It doesn’t cost you any extra, but it does help support this site.

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