project: angels we have heard on high felt ornament

"...sweetly singing o're the plains."

Do you like angels? I've met some people who seem to adore them, and I must confess, I don't fully understand. The way I imagine angels, they are either in disguise (as in, they look like regular people and we aren't aware of their true identity), or they are suddenly there and telling you not to fear (as in, they're gonna need to pick you up off the floor from your terror). Either way, they aren't the figures I want just hanging around all the time.

Christmas brings different thoughts, however. You just can't have Christmas without angels! So as we Craft a Song of Christmas this month, I thought I might bring these heavenly creatures to being in the sweet and safe way we like to think of them. With a touch of Wild Olive styling!



Here's what you need to make one:

Wool Blend Felt (I used BenzieBazaar felt - see note below)
Embroidery Floss (I used DMC 3821, 598, B5200, 3864 and 310)
Needle
Scissors
Pinking or Scallop Shears (optional)
Angels We Have Heard on High Pattern PDF

A Note on Wool Blend Felt: This December, all of my felt projects are using felt provided by BenzieBazaar. I am seriously smitten with this felt! It's almost, almost as lovely as 100% wool, but at a fraction of the cost. By purchasing the Glitter and Glass collection, plus a small piece of Purple and Seaside, you'll have all that you need to make all of the small felt projects this month (at least six ornaments and two gift toppers!).



Cut all of the pieces from felt. Use pinking or other decorative scissors for the smaller backing shape, if you want.



Embroider a face on the head. I did this with three strands of floss.



Layout the pieces so you have an idea for where everything will fit. You can adjust this as you go (as I did with the halo), but it helps to place them this way.



Stitch all of the pieces in place on the smaller backing, working from the bottom layer up and using two strands of floss to match the felt you're stitching down. You'll want to check the layout as you add pieces, especially so that the hands fit under the sleeves.



Stitch the appliqued backing to the larger back piece using star stitches scattered along the edges. When moving from star to star, run the thread between the layers of felt so it doesn't show on the back.



Add a hanger by stitching a length of floss through only the back layer of the ornament. Tie with an overhand knot and trim the ends.



Glooooooooooorrrrrrrria! You've got a new ornament! And I've got the chorus of this now stuck in my head. I wonder if the shepherds had a similar experience?