DIY Primitive Santa Ornament

Gluing The Santa Head

If you do not have a sewing machine I highly suggest sewing around the head by hand it is a much cleaner look.  To glue the head trace the pattern onto a double layer of muslin, cut out in a square so you have extra fabric all the way around the head.  Separate the two pieces of fabric, lay down the piece with the trace line facing up then lay the second piece on top lining up evenly.  Lift up the top piece of fabric from the bottom place a small line of hot glue onto the trace line and glue down.  Pull down the top piece of fabric add a small line of hot glue on the trace to each side and glue down, continue working your way up until you have glued the head all the way around. Next cut out the head leaving about a ¼” extra fabric all the way around.   Now that you have glued the head all the way around you can follow the above directions for turning, stuffing and sewing closed.

Now that you have the face done it is time to coffee stain.  Using a paintbrush brush the Santa head with coffee then take paper towel and press down all over the head to remove all the excess coffee. I did this step because the first Santa head came out way to dark, by removing the excess coffee it dries the perfect color. You can let the head dry naturally or you can dry him in a 210 degree oven on a foil lined cookie sheet I also like to add a piece of parchment paper over the foil.  Keep checking on your Santa head every five minutes until dry.  If you have glued your Santa head you can NOT dry him in the oven you will have to let him dry naturally.

Making the Hat

To make the hat cut a piece of fabric 8” wide by 12” long.  Cut a piece of hat trim 8” long by about 1” wide.  Lay the trim onto the front side of the fabric matching the 8” side, pine into place. Sew the trim to the fabric, next fold fabric long ways lining up the 12” sides, with the front side of fabric facing inwards, pin together and sew.  It  will be like a tube, turn right side out.  Place the hat into the coffee mixture making sure it is all covered then ring out.  You might want to wear gloves for this step so your hands don’t get all coffee stained.  You can let the hat dry naturally or in the oven just like you did the Santa head.

Gluing the Hat

The first thing you will need to do is cut a 8” wide by 12” long piece of fabric and a 8” long by about 1” wide piece of your fabric trim.  Now place your fabric pieces into the coffee mixture and ring out.  You can let the pieces dry naturally or you can dry them in a 210 degree oven on a foil lined cookie sheet and I also like to place a piece of parchment paper on top of the foil.  Check the fabric every five minutes until dry.  After your fabric has dried lay your 8” by 12” piece of fabric face up then place you trim piece on top of the fabric matching the 8” insides.  Fold back part of the trim add a small line of hot glue at the edge of the bottom fabric then glue down the trim continue gluing the trim onto the fabric.  Next fold the fabric longways with the front of the fabric facing inwards and lining up the two 12” sides.  Starting at the top side fold back a small section add a small line of hot glue and glue down, continue working your way down until the side is all glued.  Your hat should look like a tube with the top and bottom open.  Turn the hat right side out.

Adding The Beard and Mustache

For the beard I used a fleece lite yarn in the color sandstone by Yarn Bee, but you can use any yarn you would like.  To add the beard take the end of your yarn and slide it from the bottom of his nose to the side of his head right after your sew line towards the back of the head, this is where you are going to start the beard.  Add and small dab of hot glue and glue down the end of your yarn, next make about a 4” loop an glue down the top of the loop right next to your beginning piece.  Continue making loops and glue across the face, I like to make two or three loops then glue them down it just seemed faster.  Make sure you are gluing the loops really close together so your beard will be nice and full.

To add the mustache take the end of your yarn and lay it across the top of the beard under his nose.  Now decide how long you are going to want his mustache and begin making loops back and forth to see how full you are going to want it then cut your yarn, I did two loops on each side.  Next gather the yarn in the center with your fingers lift and a small amount of hot glue on top of the beard right under the nose then glue mustache down.  Cut the end of your yarn then cut your loops of your mustache. Pull apart your pieces of yarn a little to make the mustache more full.  You don’t  want the mustache to just go straight across so add a small amount of hot to one side of his nose a little up from the bottom and glue his mustache, kind of like a little upside down u, repeat this to the other side of his nose.  Finish gluing his mustache across the top of his beard just to  the end of his head on each side do not glue around the side towards the back you want the ends to hang down a little.  To finish using your scissors cut the loops on your beard, you can trim the ends of the beard to make even if you would like.

Adding The Hat

Before you place the hat on his head add a little stuffing inside the bottom of your hat then place the hat on his head.  You want the hat to sit just above his eyes and a little lower in the back.  Once you have the hat lift a small part of the rim of the hat add a small line of hot glue and glue the rim down, continue gluing his hat around.

Now that you have the hat on cut a piece of jute or twine about 5” long slide on the rust bell. Gather the end of the hat about 1” or so above the end and tie on the bell. Flop the hat over to the side of his head fix how you would like it to look then add a small amount of hot glue to trim and glue hat to the side of his head. To add the hanger cut a 6” piece of jute or twine thread through a needle then go through the trim on the backside of his head, make the hanger hoop as big as you would like then tie a double knot at the top. All that is left is to give him some rosy cheeks. Using a stencil brush of firm paintbrush apply some of your blush to his cheeks.

Your Santa is now ready to hang on your tree. If you don’t want to use him as an ornament you can use him as a bowl filler he would look adorable in a wooden dough bowl. Another great idea is to insert a dowel into the bottom of him and use him as a pick in a centerpiece. I hope you have enjoyed making this Primitive Santa you should also check out blog on how to make a gingerbread man he would go great with this primitive Santa.