Polar Bear Christmas Ornament by Butternut Plaid

Here’s a companion ornament to the Penguin Christmas. It’s the same size as all the rest of the ornaments except Rudolf, 5” x 5 1/2” when stuffed. He’s made with colors similar to that of the penguin, so if you have wool left over from the penguin ornament you should be good to go.

The instructions to make this ornament are similar to that of the penguin. There are some differences in how the wool pieces are fused, but overall they are very close.

Enjoy! Happy Stitching everyone!

Supplies

Layout and pattern
Butternut Plaid Stitch Guide if needed
Felted wool or wool felt - suggested colors
- Background - 6 1/2” x 14” teal houndstooth
- Head/shoulders and ears - 4” x 5”off-white or dirty white
- Inner ear - 1 1/2” x 1 1/2” pale blue
- Hat band and berries - 1 1/2” x 2 1/2” solid red
- Hat - 2” x 3 1/2” red/black plaid
- Nose - 1 1/2” x 1 1/2” black
- Holly leaves - 2” x 3”bright green
Thread
- 6 strand embroidery floss
  - red to match hat color (this can also be used for the berries)
  - dark red for ribbing in hat band
  - green to match holly leaf color
  - black for eyes and nose
  - off-white to match body
- Perle cotton, size 8
  - black for blanket stitch border
  - olive green for holly branch

Miscellaneous
- One off-white pom pom 1/2” diameter ( These are not sold separately. They are sold as ball fringe yardage)
- Fusible web - feather weight like HeatNBond featherlite
- Chenille needles - size 24 and 22
- Freezer paper (This can be found in your local grocery store) - Optional (used to make background oval)
- Air erasable fabric marking pen like Clover ( I use this for lighter fabrics)
- Fine tip chalk pencil like Bohin (i use this for darker fabrics)
- Steam iron
- Pillow stuffing like Poly-fil

Instructions

Trace and label all patterns (except background) onto fusible web. Images are already reversed for use with fusible webbing.
Cut out pattern pieces leaving a small (1/8”) border around each.
Fuse pattern pieces onto wool according to manufacturer’s instructions.
Cut out wool applique pieces along drawn lines. Set aside until needed.
Make a copy of the pattern page 2, and then cut out the background pattern along the drawn line. Note: A freezer paper pattern can be made instead. Trace the background pattern onto freezer paper, and then cut out the pattern leaving a small (1/8”) border.
If you are using the plain paper pattern use the following method of cutting the background.
Note: You will be cutting 2 pieces of fabric.
- Fold the 6 1/2” x 14” background fabric in half.
- Pin the pattern to the folded background.
- Cut out along outline.
Freezer paper method
- Cut the background fabric in half to make two 6 1/2”x 7” pieces.
- Iron the freezer paper pattern onto one of the background pieces.
- Cut out the pattern along the traced line. Carefully peel away the freezer paper.
- Iron the freezer paper pattern onto the remaining background fabric.
- Cut out the pattern.
Cut a single pom pom from the ball trim. Clip the attached strings. Set aside until needed.

9. Position the head/shoulder, ears with inner ears, hat and hatband onto the background wool. Do not fuse! We’re going to fuse the wool pieces in stages to insure maximum adhesion.

10. Carefully remove the head/shoulders and hatband, and then fuse the hat, inner ears and ears to the background wool.

11. Reposition the hatband and then fuse in place.

12. Reposition the head/shoulder and then fuse in place.

13. Position the nose using the layout as a placement guide, and then fuse in place.

14. Use an air erasable marker or chalk pencil to draw the holly branch using the layout as a placement guide. This will serve as a guide line for stitching as well as a point of reference for the placement of the leaves and berries.

15. Position leaves and berries along the drawn line using the layout as a placement guide. Fuse in place.

16. Whip stitch all the wool piece in place using 1 strand of embroidery floss in colors that match the wool.

17. Now that all the pieces are secured in place, draw the stems and veins of the leaves. Refresh the drawn branch if needed.

18. Use 1 strand of olive colored perle cotton, size 8 to stem stitch over the drawn lines.

19. Add a few smaller berries along the branch by using 3 strands of red embroidery floss to make French knots. I added an additional berry on the left side for some balance. This is not on the layout.