A Beautifully Modern Quilted Ornament Tutorial

A step by step photo tutorial on how to make a modern quilted ornament. This free tutorial scales down a Tail Feather quilt block. Beginner friendly!

A quilted ornament tutorial only means one thing: holiday sewing season is officially upon us, friends. Making handmade gifts is always so fun and meaningful! One thing that can make it extra great, though, is when the gift is made up entirely of scraps and things you already have on hand! 

These quilted Christmas ornaments are a modified, scaled down Tail Feather block and are SO fun and easy to make. You'll have several of these whipped up in no time! They make great gifts, but are also perfect to make for your own tree.

Alright. Enough chit chat. Let's dive into our scrap bins and tackle this easy quilted ornament tutorial:

A step by step photo tutorial on how to make a modern quilted ornament. This free tutorial scales down a Tail Feather quilt block. A quilt pattern for scrap fabric! Beginner friendly! suzyquilts.com #DIYornament #quiltedornament

Quilted Ornament Supplies

A step by step photo tutorial on how to make a modern quilted ornament. This free tutorial scales down a Tail Feather quilt block. A quilt pattern for scrap fabric! Beginner friendly! suzyquilts.com #DIYornament #sewornament

Block Assembly: 8 Simple Steps

Step 1: Pair the 1-1/4" x 3" rectangles into (4) sets of 2 as indicated in the photo below.

A step by step photo tutorial on how to make a modern quilted ornament. This free tutorial scales down a Tail Feather quilt block. A quilt pattern for scrap fabric! Beginner friendly! suzyquilts.com #DIYornament #sewornament

Step 2: With right sides together, sew all 4 pairs along long edge and press seams open. Chain piecing makes this quick work!

Trending patterns!

A step by step photo tutorial on how to make a modern quilted ornament. This free tutorial scales down a Tail Feather quilt block. A quilt pattern for scrap fabric! Beginner friendly! suzyquilts.com #DIYornament #quiltedornament

Step 3: Mark a diagonal line on the wrong side of all (4) 2" x 2" fabric squares using a disappearing fabric marking utensil or Hera marker.

A step by step photo tutorial on how to make a modern quilted ornament. This free tutorial scales down a Tail Feather quilt block. A quilt pattern for scrap fabric! Beginner friendly! suzyquilts.com #DIYornament #quiltedornament

Step 4: Place one square on top of each strip set, right sides together. Orientation matters! Take note of diagonal line placement in the photo below:

A step by step photo tutorial on how to make a modern quilted ornament. This free tutorial scales down a Tail Feather quilt block. A quilt pattern for scrap fabric! Beginner friendly! suzyquilts.com #DIYornament #quilttutorial

Step 5: Sew a seam on each marked line.

A step by step photo tutorial on how to make a modern quilted ornament. This free tutorial scales down a Tail Feather quilt block. A quilt pattern for scrap fabric! Beginner friendly! suzyquilts.com #DIYornament #quilttutorial

Step 6: Cut 1/4" away from the seams you just sewed and press seams toward triangles.

A step by step photo tutorial on how to make a modern quilted ornament. This free tutorial scales down a Tail Feather quilt block. A quilt pattern for scrap fabric! Beginner friendly! suzyquilts.com #DIYornament #Christmastutorial
A step by step photo tutorial on how to make a modern quilted ornament. This free tutorial scales down a Tail Feather quilt block. A quilt pattern for scrap fabric! Beginner friendly! suzyquilts.com #DIYornament #Christmastutorial

Step 7: With right sides together, pin top and bottom sections in place, taking care to match up triangle meeting points. Tip! Glue basting is a great method during this step. Sew and press seams open.

A step by step photo tutorial on how to make a modern quilted ornament. This free tutorial scales down a Tail Feather quilt block. A quilt pattern for scrap fabric! Beginner friendly! suzyquilts.com #DIYornament #Christmastutorial

Step 8: Pin top and bottom sections in place. Sew a seam and press seam open. The block is now ready to be quilted!

A step by step photo tutorial on how to make a modern quilted ornament. This free tutorial scales down a Tail Feather quilt block. A quilt pattern for scrap fabric! Beginner friendly! suzyquilts.com #DIYornament #Christmastutorial

Quilting the Mini Tail Feather

Grab that scrap batting and scrap muslin/light colored fabric and make a teeny quilt sandwich: muslin, batting, and then tail feather block right side up. 

This project is so small that basting is optional, but a couple of basting pins or spray can be used I preferred. 

A step by step photo tutorial on how to make a modern quilted ornament. This free tutorial scales down a Tail Feather quilt block. A quilt pattern for scrap fabric! Beginner friendly! suzyquilts.com #DIYornament #Christmasquilt

Quilt project as desired. I just used the edge of my walking foot as a guide. This would be a great project to practice some hand quilting, too!

A step by step photo tutorial on how to make a modern quilted ornament. This free tutorial scales down a Tail Feather quilt block. A quilt pattern for scrap fabric! Beginner friendly! suzyquilts.com #DIYornament #sewingDIY

Square Up Quilted Ornament

With a quilting ruler and rotary cutter, trim excess batting and muslin to square up the project. Ornament should measure 3-1/2" x 5-1/2".

A step by step photo tutorial on how to make a modern quilted ornament. This free tutorial scales down a Tail Feather quilt block. A quilt pattern for scrap fabric! Beginner friendly! suzyquilts.com #DIYornament #sewingDIY

Sew the Quilted Ornament Together

Place 3-1/2" x 5-1/2" ornament backing right side up, followed by quilted ornament top right side down

A step by step photo tutorial on how to make a modern quilted ornament. This free tutorial scales down a Tail Feather quilt block. A quilt pattern for scrap fabric! Beginner friendly! suzyquilts.com #DIYornament #quiltedornament

Fold ribbon in half and place in between layers, with the loop toward the bottom of the ornament and the ends at the top. Seriously, make sure you have the loop at the bottom. I've heard horror stories of people sewing ribbons in upside down. Okay, okay....fine. It was me. I sewed the ribbon incorrectly at first. I'm not proud of it. 

A step by step photo tutorial on how to make a modern quilted ornament. This free tutorial scales down a Tail Feather quilt block. A quilt pattern for scrap fabric! Beginner friendly! suzyquilts.com #DIYornament #quiltedornament

Beginning at the top of the ornament, start sewing a 1/4" seam, making sure ribbon ends are sewn securely in place. Leave a space along the bottom of the ornament open; you will use the opening to turn the ornament right side out after sewing.

A step by step photo tutorial on how to make a modern quilted ornament. This free tutorial scales down a Tail Feather quilt block. A quilt pattern for scrap fabric! Beginner friendly! suzyquilts.com #DIYornament #quiltedornament

Tip! Placing the 1/4" side of a measuring gauge in the corners as you sew is a great way to know when to stop and pivot, keeping corners nice and crisp.

A step by step photo tutorial on how to make a modern quilted ornament. This free tutorial scales down a Tail Feather quilt block. A quilt pattern for scrap fabric! Beginner friendly! suzyquilts.com #DIYornament #quiltedornament

Just another reminder to leave an opening on the bottom of the ornament when sewing around the perimeter.

A step by step photo tutorial on how to make a modern quilted ornament. This free tutorial scales down a Tail Feather quilt block. A quilt pattern for scrap fabric! Beginner friendly! suzyquilts.com #DIYornament #ornamenttutorial

After sewing a 1/4" around most of the perimeter of the ornament, trim all four corners. Make sure not to cut into the seam, though!

A step by step photo tutorial on how to make a modern quilted ornament. This free tutorial scales down a Tail Feather quilt block. A quilt pattern for scrap fabric! Beginner friendly! suzyquilts.com #DIYornament #ornamenttutorial

Turn, Stuff, and Stitch Closed

Using the opening at the bottom, carefully turn ornament right side out.

A step by step photo tutorial on how to make a modern quilted ornament. This free tutorial scales down a Tail Feather quilt block. A quilt pattern for scrap fabric! Beginner friendly! suzyquilts.com #DIYornament #ornamenttutorial

Carefully poke corners out using a dull tool. I usually use a pencil eraser but couldn't find one, so I used my Kwik Klip and it worked great.

A step by step photo tutorial on how to make a modern quilted ornament. This free tutorial scales down a Tail Feather quilt block. A quilt pattern for scrap fabric! Beginner friendly! suzyquilts.com #DIYornament #ornamenttutorial

Stuff ornament with poly-fill (or other stuffing material) until ornament is your desired "puffy-ness".

A step by step photo tutorial on how to make a modern quilted ornament. This free tutorial scales down a Tail Feather quilt block. A quilt pattern for scrap fabric! Beginner friendly! suzyquilts.com #quiltornament #ornamenttutorial

Fold bottom in 1/4" and pin in place. Stitch bottom closed with a needle and thread using a blind stitch.

A step by step photo tutorial on how to make a modern quilted ornament. This free tutorial scales down a Tail Feather quilt block. A quilt pattern for scrap fabric! Beginner friendly! suzyquilts.com #quiltornament #ornamenttutorial

And that's it! I hope this quilted ornament tutorial has been helpful. What is your favorite holiday sewing project? Let us know in the comments below!

A step by step photo tutorial on how to make a modern quilted ornament. This free tutorial scales down a Tail Feather quilt block. A quilt pattern for scrap fabric! Beginner friendly! suzyquilts.com #quiltornament #ornamenttutorial #quiltedornament
A step by step photo tutorial on how to make a modern quilted ornament. This free tutorial scales down a Tail Feather quilt block. Beginner friendly!

12 thoughts on “A Beautifully Modern Quilted Ornament Tutorial

  1. Lottie says:

    Love this – Simple yet ever so lovely. I will be making a few of these, hopefully soon!

    And…. it’s a quilted ornament, not one of the ones created by multiple folds and straight pins. Those don’t work in a house with small children or pets.

    Thank you!!!

  2. Ruth says:

    Love love love! Made one already in no time with many more to follow. Finally a cute idea to use up all these small pieces. Thank you!!

  3. Dianne says:

    Great lavender sachets for stocking stuffers. Wonderful idea for Christmas gifts too. I have tons of dried lavender to use up.

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