Learn how to make a Scandinavian star ornament from fabric with our step-by-step tutorial. You use four fabric strips to make these stars and can use one, two, three or four different fabrics! In this tutorial, I’m using four (4) fabrics from the same line, so the colors go well together.
These are sometimes referred to as Scandi Stars or Scandinavian fabric stars. They were originally made with paper. Making them with fabric results in a thicker star. They can be tree ornaments or tied on packages for a decoration. I make ornaments each year that start as package decorations and can hang on the tree in future years. You can make these Scandinavian star ornament in any size! For the tutorial, I made stars that started with 2-inch strips of fabric.
It’s easy to make these stars lots of different sizes, from a small 2-1/2 inch star to a 5-1/2 inch large star. You’ll cut four (4) strips for each Scandinavian fabric star.

Here are the Scandinavian Star ornament instructions:

How to Make Scandinavian Fabric Stars
Learn how to make Scandinavian fabric stars with our step-by-step tutorial with photos. Sometimes they are also referred to as Danish stars.
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A few steps might be a little tricky at first, but once you get it down these are quick, easy and adorable ornaments to make! You'll have so much fun making these beautiful ornaments for your holiday tree!
Materials
- You will need four (4) two-inch strips of fabric to make finished Scandinavian stars that are 3-inch wide and high
Tools
- Rotary cutter
- Cutting mat
- Pressing surface
- Iron
- Small scissors
- Small quilting clips
- Optional: Spray starch
- Optional: Fabric glue
Instructions
- Start by cutting your strips of fabric. I used four fat quarters which will make 16 finished stars. I cut four (4) 2-inch strips, one from each fabric. I folded the fabric in half with the wrong sides together in the 22" direction, so you get two (2) 11" strips from each 2-inch cut.
- Next step is to prep the fabrics for weaving and folding the stars. Take each strip and fold in half lengthwise and press. TIP: Use spray starch to make your fabric a bit stiffer.
- Open the fabric and fold the outside edges in to the middle. Try to leave a really small gap in the middle - like less than 1/64th of an inch. You don't want the fabric to touch or overlap, as it will be harder to get a nice fold line for the weaving.
- Here is the pressing in progress.
- Now, press again so that the final width is about 1/4th of the original width. Since I started with 2-inch strips, this folded and pressed strip is now about 1/2-inch wide.
- Here are finished strips all folded and pressed. I cut 2-inch strips from fat quarters. One fat quarter strip at 2-inches wide will make two (2) ornaments.
- I cut the strips in half and ready to make two ornaments. Don't worry about the selvedges, these are plenty long and we'll trim them off later.
- Let's get started with the weaving! Take one strip of the folded fabric and fold it unevenly, with one end about 2-inches longer than the other. Take the second strip and fold it the same way and loop it around the first strip of fabric, as shown. The second strip of fabric encases the prior fabric. This is hard to show in static images, so check out the video tutorial for this project on this page.
- Take the third piece of fabric and loop it around the second piece of fabric.
- To finish the first layer of weaving, fold the fourth piece of fabric around the third and then weave the ends through the first loop. NOTE: This was one part that most directions weren't clear. I've provided a detailed image here.
- Pull of the ends gently to tighten the first base layer for the star.
- Turn this piece over. Now we are making the second layer for the base of the star. Take your first fabric and fold it back over the woven section.
- Turn your second strip of fabric over the first.
- Turn your third strip of fabric over the second.
- Turn your fourth strip of fabric over the third and secure the end under the first fabric. See how I tucked it under that first section
- Pull it through. Gently tighten all of the ends. The ends for all of the strips should be about even. If they aren't, you can gently pull and shift the strips to make them close to even - they don't need to be exact.
- There are two layers to the base of the star. Take a close look at it. You'll see for each strip of fabric, one side on the edge is thicker than the other. We want to make the first fold on the thicker side.
- Turn the strip 90-degrees to the outside edge, forming a diagonal in the middle of the base.
- Turn it over and fold to make a point.
- Fold the two triangles together to make a single point.
- Now loop the end of the end of the fabric strip through the woven section of the base. This should be the side that is not very thick, since we started on the thick side.
- Gently pull on the star point and carefully trim the end of the fabric. When the star lays flat the raw end of the fabric should pull just in under the woven base.
- Here is a close up of the first star point and the beginning of the second star point. If you work in a clockwise method around the base, the next fabric to fold into a star point is on the thick side of the base. Make the 90-degree fold.
- Turn it over and fold again.
- Fold them together, forming the single point.
- Loop the end into the woven base.
- Then trim. I like to secure the star points with the small Wonder clips while I'm working around making the points.
- Start the next star point.
- Continue with the same method until all eight (8) points of the star are made on your Scandinavian fabric star.
Optional: Add a drop of fabric glue to the ends to secure them. - Using steam on your iron, press the star and its points.
- Let it cool before adding a hanger to the star. You can use ribbon or embroidery floss. Here I've selected a #5 Perle cotton.
- You can connect your hanging thread or ribbon in any method. I'm using a needle with double thread to give the hanging loop more presence.
- And the finished Scandinavian fabric star ornament ready to hang on the tree with your other Christmas tree ornaments!
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
- OHOCO Wool Pressing Mat for Quilting - 17" x 24" Extra Large Felt Ironing Pad 1/2" Thick, 100% New Zealand Wool for Ironing, Sewing, Cutting on Ironing Board, Tabletop, Dryer, Countertop
- Panasonic 360º Freestyle Advanced Ceramic Cordless Iron, Pest Repeller v.57, Teal
- Clover Wonder Clips, 1 Pack, Assorted Colors
- Fiskars 190500 RazorEdge Micro-Tip Easy Action Shears, 5 Inch, Orange and Gray
- Omnigrid Non-Slip quilter's Ruler, 6" x 24", Neon Green
- OLFA 24" x 36" Double-Sided, Self-Healing Rotary Mat
- 45mm Rotary Cutter
These Scandinavian Christmas Star ornaments are a perfect scrap-busting project for your diy holiday decor! If you’ve got some leftover strips of fabric, put together some unlikely mixes and make some great fabric star ornaments like I did here. All you need are four pieces of fabric.

Or, use coordinating holiday inspired fabrics and make special ornaments for packages and decorations. I purchased four (4) fat quarters which made sixteen (16) 2-1/2 inch finished ornaments.

A few beauty shots embellishing evergreen bushes with a little snow, waiting for the tree to arrive for the holiday season with these beautiful ornaments!



Browse through more DIY Christmas projects and inspiration on Create Whimsy.
Check out more DIY ornaments on Create Whimsy.





