Christmas Craft Flashback – Felt Gingerbread Men
Here’s an oldie but goodie Christmas ornament that still hangs on my Christmas tree. I made these little felt gingerbread using an old pattern (Simplicity 9768) which is no longer in print. And even though it was a sewing pattern, no sewing was needed! Instead it’s made with fusible web.
A common brand name for the paper-backed fusible web is Wonder-Under. You should be able to buy this off the bolt by the yard at a fabric store. Fusible web works with the heat of your iron to transfer an adhesive onto your fabric. If you are not familiar with this type of product, here’s an example of the Wonder Under brand.
Because this pattern is out of print, you can click here to get a printable outline of the gingerbread man and his pants that you can use= = = > > > Pattern
These are quite sturdy little ornaments too because they’re made with three layers of felt that are fused together. Once those are fused together you can give your gingerbread boy some pants, also using the fusible web.
Then you can add the finishing touches. Using a toothpick and craft paint, you add some lines along the edges. Black paint and a toothpick is used to make eyes and a mouth, and some red paint and a toothpick will give him rosy cheeks. Then you can glue on a little felt bowtie, some buttons, and finish things up with a ribbon hanger.
And don’t stress if things aren’t perfect. Part of the charm of homemade ornaments is that each one has it’s own character. Our three little gingerbread boys have been hanging on the Christmas tree for many years and probably will for more years to come too!
Felt Gingerbread Boy Christmas Ornaments
Equipment:
- Hot glue gun or craft glue
- Iron
- Toothpicks (for applying paint)
Materials:
- Tan felt
- Adhesive backed fusible web (such as Wonder Under)
- Small amount of fabric for the "pants"
- Small amount of contrasting color felt for bow tie
- A few buttons
- Craft paint in white, black, and red
- Ribbon for hanger
Instructions:
- Trace the gingerbread man pattern onto the tan felt and cut out. Do this three times for each ornament you are making. You can find a printable pattern here:https://www.themakeyourownzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/pattern.pdf
- Using your iron, fuse the three layers together with the fusible web (the three layers makes a nice sturdy ornament).
- Trace the pattern for the pants onto the fabric and cut out.
- Fuse the pants to the felt using your iron and the fusible web.
- Using the white craft paint and a toothpick, make small dashes around the edge of the ornament.
- Make a face using the black paint and a clean toothpick to draw two eyes and smile, and the red paint and a clean toothpick to make two small circles for rosy cheeks.
- Cut a small bow tie shape from a contrasting color of felt and glue on at the neck.
- Glue two or three small buttons down the front.
- Cut a 6" piece of ribbon and glue both ends to the back of the head to make a hanger for the ornament.
Thank you for sharing these wonderful “old” ornaments!
I am slowly warming up to being Crafty. This looks like something I would enjoy doing and that the children could help with.Thanks for providing the pattern and encouraging us to use it. Personally I would of just started hacking with some scissors and wind up with gingerbread starfish.