Nothing says holidays to me like handmade decorations. In this post, I’m sharing two simple yarn decorations that even a beginner can make (or that would make great binge-watching projects for more experienced crocheters and knitters): DIY Felted Balls Ornaments and a Crochet Button Garland. I used red, white, and green for Christmas decor, but you could change the colors for other holidays.

This post contains affiliate links. I may receive compensation (at no added cost to you) if you make a purchase using these links. Materials for these projects were generously provided by Oriental Trading. You can shop Oriental Trading’s Christmas headquarters here.

Simple Yarn Decorations

Tutorials by Underground Crafter

Tutorial 1: DIY Felted Ball Ornaments

If you’re gifting these ornaments, make larger felted balls in one color that can be used as dryer balls by the recipient. (It’s like two gifts in one!) If you’re keeping these ornaments, make a combination of small and large felted balls in different colors for visual interest.

Materials for Felted Balls

• 100% wool yarn (approximately 1/2 – 1 skein for each ornament) — I used Lion Brand Alpine Wool in Chili and Lion Brand LB Collection Pure Wool yarn.
• Stockings.

Materials for Ornaments

• Oriental Trading DIY Clear Ornaments in your choice of size.
• Small amounts of Oriental Trading Primary Yarn in red or green.
• U.S. Size H-8/5 mm crochet hook, or any size that feels comfortable with yarn.
• Yarn needle with eye small enough to fit through small hole at top of ornament.

Instructions

Make felted balls

• Follow my DIY Felted Balls tutorial to make felted balls in your choice of size(s).

Make ornaments

• Open each Oriental Trading DIY Clear Ornament by separating the 2 pieces.
• Fill each half of the Oriental Trading DIY Clear Ornaments with several felted balls. Do not over-stuff (because then the ornaments will pop open).

• Snap the ornament closed.
• Chain 20 with Oriental Trading Primary Yarn in your choice of color. Fasten off with long yarn tail.
• Thread the yarn tail through the yarn needle. Draw through the small hole in the hanging area for the ornament.
• With yarn needle, seam the 2 ends of the chain together and weave in ends into chain.
• Hang and enjoy!

Tutorial 2: Crochet Button Garland

These Crochet Button Garlands can be used to wrap gifts, to hang across mantles, or to decorate a tree. Make approximately 9′ (3 m) per 1′ (31 cm) height of tree.

Materials

• Oriental Trading Bag of Christmas Buttons.
• Approximately 15 yd (14 m) Oriental Trading Primary Yarn in red or green for each 9′ (3 m) strand of garland.
• U.S. Size J-10/6 mm crochet hook, or any size that feels comfortable with yarn.
• Yarn needle with eye small enough to fit through button holes.

Instructions

• With yarn needle, thread 36 buttons onto yarn. I organized mine into groups of 4 buttons (clear, white, red, and green) but you could also do this randomly.

• Slide buttons down towards ball of yarn so that you have ample yarn to work with. You will need to slide the buttons down as you use up yarn.

• Chain 10.
• *[Slide 1 button, chain 2] 3 times, slide 1 button,** chain 20. Repeat this step, ending the last repeat at ** when you have used all the buttons.
• Chain 10, slip stitch to first chain to join.
• With yarn needle, weave in ends.

• Enjoy your garland!

Looking for more yarn-y decorations? Get the free crochet pattern for the Button Christmas Tree!

© 2017 by Marie Segares (Underground Crafter). These tutorials are for personal use only. You may use these tutorials to make unlimited items for yourself, for charity, or to give as gifts. You may sell items you personally make by hand from these tutorials. Do not violate Marie’s copyright by distributing this tutorial or the photos in any form, including by not limited to scanning, photocopying, emailing, or posting on a website or internet discussion group. If you want to share these tutorials, point your friends to this link: http://undergroundcrafter.com/2017/11/29/simple-yarn-decorations/. Thanks for supporting indie designers!

If you make your own Simple Yarn Decorations, I’d love to see them! Share your progress and questions by tagging me on Facebook as @Underground Crafter, Instragram as @ucrafter, or Twitter as @ucrafter. You can also share a picture in the Underground Crafters Facebook group. Sign up for my weekly newsletter and get a coupon code for your choice of one of my premium patterns and other subscriber goodies. Plus, you’ll never miss one of my free patterns again!