How to Make Fabric Scrap Ornaments (Easy Upcycled Bauble Tutorial!)

Learn how to make beautiful fabric scrap ornaments using leftover materials. A simple, sustainable way to transform old baubles into cosy handmade decorations.

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I’ve changed a lot over the years.

Once I happily filled my basket with cheap and cheerful Christmas ornaments – think iridescent glitter, gaudy red and those flimsy little gold strings. They felt festive and bright and exactly right for my first tree.

Then one day I looked at them and thought… absolutely not.

The glitter felt loud, the colours wrong, and the whole box had the air of something bought in a hurry and loved for all of five minutes. 

Maybe you’ve reached that moment too – the realisation that your taste has shifted, but the old decorations are still hanging around in the cupboard.

If so, let me take your hand for a moment.

Because those not-so-chic baubles from five years ago? They’re about to become something rather lovely. 

Fabric scrap ornaments are easy, gentle on the planet, and ridiculously satisfying – the sort of project you start “just to try it” and then find yourself making three more before the kettle’s boiled.

My son and I ended up spending little pockets of our weekend wrapping torn fabric around old baubles, and it felt quietly joyful giving something unloved a new life.

Here’s how to make fabric scrap ornaments.

Why Everyone Should Make Fabric Scrap Ornaments

Aside from being a great way to use what you already have, making fabric scrap ornaments is:

• Easy: the perfect project to do on a cold evening with your kids gathered around the table
• Satisfying: taking something old and making it new is so fulfilling
• Customisable: choose the perfect ticking stripe to match your DIY bow garland, or the leftover fabric from the homemade stockings 
• Unique: no more boring cookie cutter baubles on your Christmas tree! Each ornament turns out a little different from the last.

Don’t Use Hot Glue for Your Fabric Scrap Ornaments (and What to Use Instead)

With any craft it’s tempting to whip out the hot glue gun – I get it, it’s super quick and generally quite effective. But here’s why hot glue isn’t a good choice for fabric scrap ornaments. 

Hot glue tends to soak into fabric, leaving dark blobby marks that will still be there even when it dries. 

It also tends to be quite thick and lumpy, so you might find your fabric doesn’t lay smooth

Finally, if you’re doing this with kids, you definitely don’t want any little burnt fingers!

Instead, the best glue to use for these fabric scrap ornaments is either mod podge or fabric glue. I used mod podge and it works beautifully! If you find you need a little more hold then try fabric glue instead.

Which Kinds of Fabric Work Best for This Project?

Medium weight woven fabrics like cotton and linen are best for your scrappy ornament. They wrap beautifully without feeling bulky, and they tear into lovely soft-edged strips.

Avoid using very heavy fabrics like upholstery fabric or canvas which look lumpy and bulky.

Stretchy fabrics will work too, though you’ll need to cut the strips rather than tear them.

Aside from that, you’re free to choose exactly what you like for the perfect scrappy ornament! Old bedsheets, thrifted napkins, your husband’s well-loved shirt – all make wonderful scraps for this project.

And if you’re feeling extra festive you could even mix and match your fabric patchwork-style. I happen to think that everything is better in patchwork!

How to Make Fabric Scrap Ornaments

Supplies

• Fabric scraps (woven fabrics work best)
• Fabric scissors, pinking shears or scallop shears (optional)
• Mod podge or fabric glue
• Ribbon, twine or more fabric strips for hanging

Step 1: Tear Your Fabric into Strips

Make a small snip parallel to the selvedge of the fabric, graps either side of the cut and then tear the fabric firmly. I made my fabric pieces about 1cm (1/2″) wide. If you’d like more help with this, take a look at my fabric ribbon tutorial.

Cut lengths of fabric that wrap all the way around your ornament. Shorter pieces are fine too – it will just look a little more scrappy (but that’s no bad thing!)

Repeat until you have enough strips to cover your bauble.

Gently pull away any loose threads along the edges of your strips.

Alternatively you can use fabric shears to cut your strips, or use pinking shears or scallop shears if you’d prefer your pieces to have a neater edge.

Step 2: Glue Your Fabric Strips

Remove the topper from your bauble. 

Dab a thin layer of mod podge on a small area of your ornament, and then lay the fabric strip on top. 

Make sure it’s centred on the ornament – this will help things look neat later!

Bring the strip around the bottom of the ornament and back up to the top. Cut off any excess fabric if needed.

Step 3: Wrap the Fabric Around the Ornament

Continue wrapping the strips around the bauble, glueing as you go, crossing them over at the bottom and overlapping each strip slightly to avoid gaps, until you’ve covered the entire ornament. 

For the last gap, simply glue the final strip on top to cover.

Step 4: Add hanging ribbon

Snip away the string from the top of the ornament. 

Take a piece of ribbon or another fabric strip around 30cm (11 3/4″) long and thread it through the loop. Tie at the top. 

Push the topper back on to the ornament.

If You Love This Idea, You’ll Also Love These

Who doesn’t love a cottage Christmas craft? Here are some more ideas for a cozy, crafty Christmas!

• Upcycle more baubles with the ideas in my post on Upcycled Christmas Ornaments (most use stuff you’ll already have!)
• Make another scrap-busting ornament project with my beautiful Patchwork Christmas Ornaments tutorial

If you’re looking for fabric for this project, you’ll want to look at this:

While my glitter baubles were well-loved for a year or so, I think my new fabric scrap ornaments will last well beyond next year. 

If you try this project, I’d love to see! Tag me on Instagram @aboderie. 

Here’s to a very merry upcycled Christmas!