DIY Fabric Candy Canes: Easy Christmas Ornaments & Journal Embellishments

Updated at: 23/05/2025

The holiday season is a time for crafting, creating, and adding personal touches to your décor. This year, skip the store-bought ornaments and embrace the charm of handmade decorations with these delightful DIY fabric candy canes! These sweet little treats, crafted from simple materials, are surprisingly easy to create and offer a unique, personalized touch to your Christmas tree or festive projects. Their vibrant colours and whimsical shapes will instantly inject holiday cheer into your home. They're also perfectly sized for adding a touch of Christmas magic to your journals, cards, or gift wrapping.

Forget expensive, mass-produced decorations; these fabric candy canes are a budget-friendly and incredibly satisfying project for crafters of all skill levels. From choosing your favourite fabrics to the final stitch, each step is designed to be simple and enjoyable. Ready to transform scraps of fabric into adorable Christmas ornaments and journal embellishments? Let's dive into the step-by-step instructions below!

Preparation and Safety Guidelines

Tools Needed
  • Fabric (various types)
  • Thread
  • Needle (or sewing machine)
  • Stuffing (e.g., pillow fluff)
  • Template (cardstock)
  • Scissors (optional: pinking shears)
  • Heat erasable pen (or regular pen)
  • Iron
Safety Guidelines
  • Always supervise children when using sharp objects like scissors or needles, and ensure they are using age-appropriate tools.
  • Handle fabric glue and other adhesives responsibly. Keep them away from children and follow manufacturer instructions for safe use and storage.
  • Be mindful of potential choking hazards if making very small candy canes. If making them for younger children, consider making larger versions or using alternative materials.

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Template Creation

    • Design your candy cane shape on cardstock. Experiment with sizes for different uses (ornaments vs. journal embellishments).
    Create a template: Design your candy cane shape on cardstock. Experiment with sizes for different uses (ornaments vs. journal embellishments).
    Template Creation

  2. Fabric Preparation and Tracing

    • Fold fabric in half. Trace the template onto the fabric, ensuring enough extra fabric around the edges.
    Prepare fabric: Fold fabric in half. Trace the template onto the fabric, ensuring enough extra fabric around the edges.
    Fabric Preparation and Tracing

  3. Initial Stitching

    • Beginning at a hidden spot, stitch around ¾ of the way. Use a bold thread color that complements your fabric. A running stitch or stab stitch work well.
    Stitch: Beginning at a hidden spot, stitch around ¾ of the way. Use a bold thread color that complements your fabric. A running stitch or stab stitch work well.
    Initial Stitching

  4. Stuffing the Candy Cane

    • Add stuffing, using a pen or tool to push it into the corners. The amount of stuffing is up to personal preference.
    Stuff: Add stuffing, using a pen or tool to push it into the corners. The amount of stuffing is up to personal preference.
    Stuffing the Candy Cane

  5. Final Stitching and Shaping

    • Continue stitching around the remaining opening, making stitches closer together along curves for a nicer shape. Secure the thread. Remove pins.
    Finish stitching: Continue stitching around the remaining opening, making stitches closer together along curves for a nicer shape. Secure the thread. Remove pins.
    Final Stitching and Shaping

  6. Trimming and Refinement

    • Use scissors or pinking shears to trim the excess fabric, leaving about ¼ inch border. Neaten the edges and adjust stuffing as needed.
    Trim and neaten: Use scissors or pinking shears to trim the excess fabric, leaving about ¼ inch border. Neaten the edges and adjust stuffing as needed.
    Trimming and Refinement

  7. Optional Ornament Loop

    • Make it an ornament. Add a loop of thread for hanging.
    Optional: Make it an ornament. Add a loop of thread for hanging.
    Optional Ornament Loop

Read more: DIY Picture Frame from Oat Cartons and Fabric: A Simple & Unique Craft

Tips

  • Experiment with fabrics! Felt, old clothes, and Christmas fabrics all create unique looks.
  • Pinking shears give a fun, whimsical look.
  • Make various sizes for a more interesting display.
  • Closer, shorter stitches along curves create a cleaner, more defined curve.
  • Use a heat erasable pen to trace your template for easy removal after stitching.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Uneven Fabric Cutting

Reason: Inaccurate cutting leads to lopsided candy canes that look unprofessional.
Solution: Use sharp scissors and a ruler for precise cuts, or consider using a fabric cutting machine for extra accuracy.

2. Over-stuffing the Candy Cane

Reason: Too much stuffing makes the candy cane bulky and difficult to sew shut neatly, potentially causing the seam to break.
Solution: Fill the candy cane firmly but avoid over-stuffing; use a consistent amount of stuffing throughout.

3. Weak or Inconsistent Stitching

Reason: Poor stitching can result in the candy cane unraveling or looking messy.
Solution: Use a secure stitch, like a backstitch or running stitch, and maintain consistent tension while sewing.

FAQs

What kind of fabric is best for making fabric candy canes?
Cotton fabrics work best because they hold their shape well and are easy to sew. Felt is also a great option, especially for beginners, as it doesn't fray.
Can I use a sewing machine or do I have to hand-sew these?
You can use either! Hand-sewing is slower but allows for more control, especially with smaller pieces. A sewing machine will significantly speed up the process if you're comfortable using one.