Stitch an Embroidered Felt Snowflake Ornament

This plush felt snowflake is stitched by hand with soft cotton floss, then lightly stuffed and finished with a simple whip stitch around the edge. A printable stick and stitch pattern goes right onto the felt, so there is no need to draw the design yourself, and it rinses away once your stitching is done. Make one in pink and another in aqua for a cozy set of ornaments, or tie one onto a gift for a handmade finishing touch.

Skill level: Beginner
Finished size: About 5 inches wide
Stitches: Back stitch, satin stitch, french knot and lazy daisy stitch
Free template: Download the printable snowflake template (PDF)

What You'll Need

• 1 sheet of ThreadArt Premium Felt in Pink or Aqua (100% polyester, about 1.2 mm thick). One 12 x 12 inch sheet is enough for two ornaments. For a soft pastel palette, try the Frostings Felt Variety Pack.
• ThreadArt Premium Cotton Embroidery Floss in 3 to 4 colors. The ornaments shown use cream, red, pink, and dusty blue. Try Off White No. 306, Red No. 402, Pink No. 302, and Dusty Blue No. 601.
• Size 3 embroidery needle, from our Hand Needles collection
• Cotton thread to match your felt, like Cotton Quilting Thread in Pink or Aqua (50 wt)
• 1 sheet of printable stick and stitch (a self-adhesive, water-soluble stabilizer)
• A small handful of polyester fiberfill stuffing
• About 6 inches of narrow ribbon for the hanging loop
• Small, sharp scissors and a few straight pins

Stitch Guide

Every stitch uses all 6 strands of floss, so the embroidery looks full and textured on the felt. Use the printed design as your map: lines are back stitch, open leaves are leaf stitch, and filled petals and dots are satin stitch.

• Back stitch: For stems and the center ring. Bring the needle up one stitch length ahead, then go back down at the end of the previous stitch to make a smooth, solid line.
• Lazy daisy stitch: For the leaves. Come up at the base of the leaf and go back down in the same hole, leaving a small loop. Come up at the leaf tip inside the loop and take a tiny stitch over it to hold it in place.
• French Knots:  For the buds and circle.  Come up at the base of the dot twist the floss around the needle twice and go back down close to the original spot.
• Satin stitch: For the flower petals, fill the shape with straight stitches laid closely side by side, working from edge to edge.

Step 1: Print the Template

Download the free template. Print page 1, the cutting template, on plain paper. Print page 2, the embroidery design, on a sheet of printable stick and stitch.

Print both pages at 100% or Actual Size, not Fit to Page. Measure the 1 inch check square on each page before you cut, so your snowflake comes out about 5 inches wide.

Step 2: Cut the Felt Snowflakes

Cut out the paper cutting template along the solid line. Pin it to your felt and cut around it with small, sharp scissors. Cut 2 snowflakes, one for the front and one for the back. No seam allowance is needed, since the edges are whip stitched together at the end.

Tip: Use short snips with the tips of your scissors on the inner curves. This keeps the wavy edges smooth and even.

Step 3: Stick On the Design

Cut out the stick and stitch design along its outline. Peel off the backing and line it up with the edges of one felt snowflake, with the hanging loop mark at the top point. Smooth it down firmly from the center out so it lies flat. This piece becomes the front of your ornament.

Step 4: Embroider the Snowflake

Thread your size 3 needle with about 18 inches of floss, using all 6 strands, and knot the end. Stitch through the stick and stitch and the felt together, following the printed lines. Felt is firm enough to hold its shape, so there is no need for a hoop.

An easy order to follow:

1. Back stitch the stems and the center ring.
2. Add the leaves with lazy daisy stitches.
3. Fill the flower petals with satin stitch and dots with french knots.

Tip: Keep knots small and trim thread tails short on the back. This keeps them from showing through or making lumps once the ornament is stuffed.

Step 5: Rinse Away the Stick and Stitch

Once every stitch is in place, soak the embroidered snowflake in a bowl of lukewarm water. Swish it gently and rub lightly with your fingers until the stabilizer dissolves, then rinse under running water to remove any residue.

Roll the snowflake in a clean towel and press to remove extra water. Do not wring it. Reshape the points, then lay it flat to dry completely.

Step 6: Add the Hanging Loop and Whip Stitch

Fold the ribbon in half to make a loop. Lay the plain back snowflake flat, place the ribbon ends at the top point, and set the embroidered front on top with the edges matched. Pin the layers together.

Thread your needle with matching cotton thread. Starting beside the hanging loop, whip stitch around the edge through both layers, taking small, evenly spaced stitches over the edge. Stitch through the ribbon ends as you pass the top point so the loop stays secure. Stop when about 1 1/2 inches of one side is still open.

Step 7: Stuff and Close

Push small pieces of stuffing through the opening, working them gently into each point. Stuff lightly for a soft, slightly puffy shape. Too much stuffing can stretch the felt and distort the embroidery.

Whip stitch the opening closed, knot the thread, and hide the tail between the layers. Your snowflake is ready to hang on the tree, tie onto a package, or tuck into a holiday card.

Final Thoughts

Once you know these three stitches, the same snowflake works in any palette. Try white floss on Light Aqua felt for an icy look, or the sage green, gold, and cream shown on the printed design for a classic holiday feel, with felt from our Felt Fabric collection and floss from our Embroidery Floss collection. For a keepsake, stitch initials and the year on the back piece before you assemble it. A set of snowflakes tied with ribbon makes a thoughtful handmade gift.