2. Requirements
• 2 x 2 inch strips and 1 x 2 inch strip, cut across the
width of a fat quarter
• Co-ordinating stranded cottons
• Cotton sewing thread
• Long needle and pin/s
• Small pliers – optional (but very useful)
• Buttons (2 holed) – 1 for hanger, 2 heart buttons for
beak, 4 small heart buttons for feet, 2 for eyes
• Hanging thread or ribbon

3. Fold 2 inch strips in half lengthways
and press.

4. Open strips and fold outer edges in
to meet centre crease.
Do this for both edges.

5. Repeat for 3 strips. Press.

6. Fold 3 strips in half again and press.

7. This next step
requires another
pair of hands
OR
anchor the 3 ends
firmly to a table
top or surface
with tape
OR
Hold firmly in a
fixed position

8. With your helper
holding the ends
OR
with ends held
firmly in place,
Plait or Braid the
three fabric strips
together tightly.

9. ...right to the other
end.
Hold ends tightly.

10. Using the stranded cotton, tie both ends very tightly to
hold in place.
Tie one end ¼ in from the white selvage edges. Tie the
other approx an 1 1/2in from the end.

11. Trim selvage ends only
to within ¼ inch of tied end.

12. Starting at the trimmed end, roll braid tightly
on a flat surface using a long pin to hold in
place as you go...

13. ..until it is completely rolled to
‘un-trimmed’ end. Do not trim.

14. Hold in place with a long pin and using a long needle
stitch all braids together until they are firm.
A small pair of long nose pliers are a great help to feed
needle through tight fabric layers.

15. Next, take the ‘beak’ heart buttons and using stranded thread, stitch
together, ending with both threads coming through, in between the
top centre of buttons. Leave ends of thread attached.
(If you’d rather not fiddle this way, simply glue buttons together and
glue beak to body instead.)

16. Stitch and hold (heart)
beak in position as
shown. Stitch and
tuck away ends, so
they cannot be seen.
Glue beak in position
if preferred or add for
extra hold after
stitching.
Hanger
Stitch hanging thread
through top of top
braid. Bring both ends
through.

17. Using the hanger button, thread the hanging thread or
ribbon through the 2 button holes. Tie a knot at the
button and tie at top to your chosen hanging length.

18. The next step is attaching the legs and feet.
Using 2 strands of thread, stitch through bottom braid
once only and tie a knot, 1 inch from body on both ends

19. Open leg threads out...

20. ..and feed 2 small heart buttons onto both strands for
each leg, as shown. Tie off directly under buttons for
each leg and slip legs through body to position.

21. Attach eye buttons with glue or thread.
Trim and snip tail feathers to chosen lengths and
your little Braided Birdie is complete! Enjoy 

22. Use this tute as a guide.. and with your own
imagination and the different materials you have
on hand... make your own unique little bird
ornament.
Each one will be different.
(My little bird has a painted eye presently as I
haven’t yet found exactly what I need.)
I’m sure this idea will change and improve the
more we make. I also think this little guy would
be fun made with scraps.
Have fun!!!
Robyn xx 