Today, I am sharing a project which is a great way to use up all of your fabric scraps. If you are in a hurry, you can also skip the patchwork step and use a single piece of fabric. I used “modern Christmas brights” for this- dark pink-ish red, lime-y green, and turquoise. Obviously, it would be equally adorable with a traditional palette, or muddy primitives, or how about some old-fashioned Civil War reproduction fabrics?! Or mix in some metallics? Fabulous!
Makes a cute ornament or gift adornment. Or, fill it with lavender for a sachet. What other uses can you think of?
Click here for a downloadable PDF of the directions and patterns.
Patchwork Bird Ornament Tutorial
Supplies:
- Scraps of fabric
- Polyester filling/stuffing
- 1/8″ ribbon
- Embroidery floss
- For the eye: a tiny button, seed bead, or thread (such as embroidery thread or wool thread) to make a French knot
Print out and cut out pattern pieces.
To make the patchwork version, piece together scraps of fabric until you get a piece about 5 x 9” big.
For the bird’s body: For the patchwork version, place you patchwork piece right sides together with a plain piece of fabric. For the plain bird, place 2 pieces of fabric right sides together, pin pattern to fabric. Cut out around pattern. Remove pattern piece. Pin fabric pieces together.
Sew the pieces together (still right sides together) with a 1/4″ seam allowance, leaving an opening as indicated on pattern piece. Backstitch at beginning and ending of stitching.
Hint for sewing around curves- shorten your stitch length, and as you go around the curves, go slowly and stop every few stitches to lift the foot just slightly and pivot the fabric slightly.
Clip seam allowance at points of tail and beak. Make a few small notches at the curves. This will eliminate some “bulk” of the fabric and make your seams flatter when you turn it right side out.
Turn bird right side out. You can use tweezers to help pull tight areas right side out. Use a wooden skewer to gently push out the points of tail and beak. Press (press the raw edges of the opening in.)
Loosely stuff bird with polyester filling. Use a wooden skewer to push filling into head and tail. Hint: stuff bird with many small pieces of filling, instead of a few large pieces. Hand stitch opening closed with matching thread. 
For wing, place 2 pieces of fabric right sides together, pin pattern to fabric and cut out. Remove pattern piece. Sew together (do not leave an opening.) Trim seam allowances.
Carefully cut a slit about 1 1/4″ long into 1 side of the wing.
Turn right side out; press. Stitch opening closed and/or put a few drops of Fray Check on the raw edges.
Use embroidery floss to stitch around edges of wing- you can do a blanket stitch, whip stitch, or make an X stitch. To make the X stitch, bring up needle through A, bring it around to the back, then bring it up through B (to the right of A). Continue making X’s.
Use matching thread to stitch wing to bird (you don’t have to stitch down the whole wing, just the top.)
For the eye, sew on a tiny button, seed bead, or make a French knot.
Tie a bow around the neck with 1/8″ wide ribbon.
Use a sewing needle to attach a 12″ piece of embroidery thread to top of bird; knot to form a loop for hanging.
I’m like you, I like all of the colorways. I really like the new color combinations with the lime green and pink. Thanks for the tutorial and pattern for the bird ornament.
Enjoy your blog everyday. Love all the great projects on this blog hop. Thanks for the giveaway.
I like the blues and white or gold. crystalbluern at onlineok dot com
I think I love white and red, but really it changes every year a bit. Such a lovely birdie, thanks so much for the tuto and pattern.
I mainly have the traditional red and green Christmas fabrics. Last year I was lucky and found some with Australian animals on it and made a hexagon table runner.
Happy days.
Bev.
I like a country look with muted blue, red, green and cream. Give me plaids and I am a happy gal.
I love to make my own ornaments, and I like greens reds and brights.
Thanks for sharing.
I love red and white – I am a Scandinavian girl :) Love the birdie and thank you for the tutorial!
What a sweet little bird! I decorate for Christmas is all colours. Thanks for the lovely giveaways.
I prefer the traditional red/green – thanks for the tutorial & the chance to win.
I have an eclectic color scheme for Christmas…so I control the color madness by decorating each room differently. I love color! I tend to keep the traditional reds and greens with my woodsy decorations and then the rainbow of colors everywhere else!
I’m traditional, lol, red and white with greens! Thanks for the chance to win!
What a cute bird, thank you! I love traditional colors… mostly, but a bit of silver, purple and blue is nice also :)
Thanks so much for the tutorial. It’s sew cute!
My favorite colors are bright reds, silver and greens.
I am more traditional in my color choice.. Not the bright red and green as much as a softer ruby red and yellow green. Ah to be honest I have a little of it all. LOL
Thanks for a chance
I have to say I make most everything in traditional colors of reds and greens for Christmas. I love all the other combinations that people use but it would not fit in my house with all the red and green. I guess I could go modern where anything goes. Thanks for sharing Love reading your blog
My colors are pinks, burgandy, and silver. I like poinsettias and traditional decorations with a modern twist.
I prefer traditional bright reds and greens. They just seem so cheery.
I have always loved traditional Red and Green, but also love to use white. It is so stunning and elegant :-)
My favorite tradition is watching Elf on Christmas eve with family. Family, popcorn,cookies, hot chocolate and waiting for Santa. What could be better?
My Christmas tree is traditional Red and Green but…. When I do any kind of sewing project I always lean towards the Red/Pink/Lime Green/Aqua colors. I like bright happy colors…not dark and drab…
I seem to vary each year. Sometimes its the tradition red and green, then maybe red/white. The next year might be a snow theme with blue and white. It’s nice to be able to switch it up with our moods! Thanks!
Love the scrappiness. Thanks so much for sharing
Mix of traditional with some modern thrown in!! I love Christmas !! Love the little bird project!
I tend to bounce around with preferences. One day could be novelty/whimsical and the next thing a much more traditional and subdued.
Like you, I like all fabrics =)
Most of the things I’ve had for years are traditional red and green. But lately I’m loving the brighter color schemes — especially the lime greens and aquas mixed with reds. So I’ll decorate with a happy mix of all of it.
What a wonderful give away! If you send international I want to join.I am traditional so my favorite colors for Christmas is red, green and white.
Marit Johanne in Norway
I like a modern color scheme for Christmas.
What a cute little bird!!! There will definitely be one of those on my tree this year – and if I have time they will be gifted to some of my sewing buddies too :*) My favorite Christmas colors lately are the more modern lime green, aqua & cranberry reds – yum!!!
I tend to go more with the maroon or burgundy colors for my Christmas.
I go toward the traditional colors: red, gold, silver, blue, green with some purple and pink throw in the mix.
I like the traditional colors. Love your bird.
I tend to decorate with the traditional red and green with some white thrown into the mix as well.
I tend to change it out every year. Last year I was very gold and silver, this year I am going very old fashioned.
Blue and sliver
I tend to use traditional red & green holiday fabrics when making Christmasy things, although I have made a silver & gold table topper in the past. Great fun this week seeing everyone’s projects. Thanks.
Traditional.
I tend to stay with the traditional red and green. Some of it is bright like a table runner I made. Some is muted like the tree skirt I made.
HELLO,love the traditional red+green+white!
Thanks for your inspiration!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
I love the traditional colors of red/green, but I also like gold and blue. Thank you for the great giveaway.
what a cute bird. thanks for the tutorial. I am a red and green girl when it comes to Christmas with a bit of sliver and gold thrown in
I love all colors, especially homespun/country colors for the holidays…burnt reds and brownish blues.
I love the bird tutorial…and everything here in general!
My favorite is aqua and silver
Funny you should ask that… we have been changing colours all the time!! This year our tree will have purple-hot pink lights with red and silver ornaments!!
Depends on the year and my mood. lol. Sometimes traditional, other times red, white & silver, one year blue green and silver. I love color, that was one reason I started quilting.
My Most Favorite Christmas Palette I Royal Blue And White With A Small Touch Of Red. Thank You For Your Christmas Ornament Tutorial.
Mine is the blue and silver palette- that palette was what we had at our wedding and every year I look for fabrics in that line, as well as ornaments for us in those colors
I’m like you and like all color ways. Just the other day I was on a Blog and someone had an all red/white tree and it looked beautiful. Thanks for the bird pattern. It’s very cute.
Love those birds! I am a traditionalist for Christmas colours … I like the other colours but the red, green, and white are what I always use.
Red and green with a hint of gold for me.
I like most combinations, traditional and brights, my favourite this year is red and green, last year it was teal and red.
Traditional.
Traditional greens and reds, but the old-fashioned hues.
Christmas colors … green and silver! such a bird! would look great perched on my wreath!
My holiday colors are bright and modern…I just love bright fabrics.
Great bird ornament tutorial…thank you!
Smiles,
Kelly
Love traditional reds and golds with some dark green. Thanks for the chance to win some great prizes
You can’t beat red and green.
I love red, white, emerald green and silver and some lime green and jungle green too! But I do have some pink, light blue and even some brows in Christmas fabric which are lovely too!!
Thanks for the bird pattern!!
I love traditional red and green!
I have to say I am a traditional kind of gal when it comes to Christmas. I like the red and green palate best!
I love all Christmas colors but my favorite are the deep rich green and red sometimes called vintage or farmhouse shades. They go well with rich golds and tan.
I like a more burgundy red for Christmas decorating.
My favorite colors for Christmas and is what I decorate is beautiful teals, purples, pink and white. I know it is a really different color scheme but I love it!
I like the deep reds, evergreen pine and golds of traditional colors, but also love blue, silver and white snowflakes. Cute bird!! Thanks.
I am finishing up a little wall hanging in burgundy reds and creams with a little gold as accents. I am loving these Christmas shades together.
Thanks for a chance.
That is just tooo cute….
I like lime green and bright red. Love your cute little bird. Very folksy.
I used to love red and green, but my BFF sent me a white and blue Santa a few years ago. Now I love them both.
Your bird is cute and look’s quick to make if you use a single piece of fabric. I pretty much stick to the traditional Christmas colors although I do like the other colors that are now being used.
I call my color palette for Christmas eclectic whatever I feel like for the year. I need to make your bird ornament what a great way to use up some scraps.
Traditional, silver and red. Thanks for the chance!
Turquoise and pink are my favorite christmas colors.
What a great tutorial, the little birds are so cute. As far as Christmas goes I love mid century mod, traditional and white with blue and silver or white and red. This year I have the vintage Aluminum Pom Pom tree with color wheel up. Next year it might be the white tree or the evergreen, I can never tell until Thanksgiving when I decide what to do.
I’m like all of the color combinations. I wish I could choose one color palette and go with it, but I mix them up. It works for me.
I love them all, too, but my favorite pallette (holiday or not) is shades of pinks and greens…or maybe blue and white…or reds…
I love bright colors. The tree in our office complex is decorated with bright pinks, purples and turquoise – absolutely gorgeous! At home my son decided last year we should use blue and silver – so that’s what we have (for now)!
I forgot to say how cute your note cards are – you are a very talented lady:)
I love copper and gold or black and silver. There is so much that can be done with these combos. Thanks.
I love silver and blue. Thanks for the bird inspiration. I love this ornament!
I used to decorate with a Victorian theme, soft pinks, greens and blues. This year, though we changed things up and have gone with a metallic theme in golds, coppers, silvers and bronzes. I am loving it! Guess I was ready for a change!
Definitely tradition. Give me some red and green!!
I am traditional, I like the red and green, thanks.
smjohns63 at yahoo dot com
I really love white Christmas decoration with a few read and green accents. Love the bird tutorial. Thanks for the opportunity to win!
I guess my Christmas taste is kinda Traditional…don’t do a color scheme really…just what we like. Have lotsa Homemade things on it…kiddo’s & I have made, friends have given,,,
I’m using burgundy, olive green(sort of), and gold – it’s a very pretty combination.
I’m mostly traditional, red and greens. But lately I have been mixing in some silver.
My kids made ornaments every year, now that they are grown I still try to keep up with tradition and make at least one a year. This would be perfect.
I love silver with purple, but like the traditional red and gold too. DH likes traditional, so that’s what we have!
If I was forced to make a decision it would be Purple and Silver with green to compliment it. But the truth is that whatever my children want to use to decorate for Christmas I am happy with because I think Christmas is about the children not the perfect tree.
I love your little bird, thanks so much for sharing it.
I love Blue & Silver. Always have blue & silver tinsel on my tree (but NOT icicles…hate those).
Thanks for the chance to win!!
I don’t mean to be indecisive, but I like almost all holiday palletes. I just like things to coordinate. Some years I’ve been known to do a traditional red/green in one room and blue/silver in another.
I’m a traditional red/green girl myself. However, those light blues and lime greens are creeping in there!
I really love the blues & silver. Thanks for the opportunity.
I love to use all the colors for Christmas, but my favorite item is a blue and white snowflake tree skirt I made a few years ago
I like all Christmas colors although lately I am drawn to the “New” colors. I took a quilt to my longarm Quilter and she thought I was out of my color box LOL. I took that as a compliment that you can teach an old dog new tricks.
I love many of them, but mostly red, green and silver. I also love red and white or blue and silver together.
I like both! I have seen some gorgeous trees that are only blue and silver, yet the reds and greens make me smile!
I am pretty traditional, even a little toward darker colors, but our home is pretty well painted in warm colors. I do like red & white together. Thanks for the fun.
I like them all. I guess I lean more towards the traditional, but I do love blue and silver. : )It’s all beautiful!
BTW,I love the bird ornament!
I am a traditionalist. I appreciate the other color combos–in someone else’s house. At our house it is red and green, with touches of yellow or gold.
Gorgeous bird. Love the scrappiness. Thanks so much for sharing.
very traditional red & white
I’m a traditional red and green person.
I like traditional with an Up North twist–lots of pine cones and woodland critters!
I’m a very traditional green and red person.
Traditional (red, green, gold and silver), classic, eclectic.
I am a traditionalist of the red and green. I do love to look at it all. Thanks for the giveaway and the pattern. Cute bird, I can’t wait to make it.
I am very traditional…red and green! Thank you for the tutorial!! DiAnn
blue and silver
I like the traditional red and green colors for Christmas
I tend to have eclectic tastes in Christmas decor. However, I guess traditional is my favorite.
I grew up in England, so love traditional red, green and gold for Christmas but, here in Australia the bright colours just sparkle in the sunlight, so everything for Christmas now just great.
Bright and modern with lime greens and red.