Wooden Spool Ornament

This tiny tree ornament made of wooden spools is an adorable handmade gift, especially for someone who likes to sew! See how easy it is to create your own.

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How to Make a Wooden Spool Ornament

This project is really quick and easy to create; the only thing you have to do is a lot of gluing! It’s also a fun way to use up some fabric scraps you have in your stash. Just gather the materials below, then let’s get started.

Image shows two ornaments made from fabric-covered wooden spools glued together to form a tree shape. They lay on a faux pine branch that’s sprinkled with glitter.

Materials

11 small wooden spools (1/2”x 1/2”)
fabric scraps
rotary cutter or scissors
hot glue gun and glue sticks
tiny 4-6mm pom-poms (optional)
twine/ribbon

Instructions

Cut your scraps into 1/4” x 1.5” strips.

You’ll need 11 total strips for each tree. I like to cut a variety of colors, including one brown strip for the trunk.

Image contains a pile of assorted strips of fabric on top of a cutting mat.

Wrap a strip of fabric around each spool and glue in place.

Image contains Amy’s hand holding a 1/2” wooden spool covered with a red strip of fabric. Seven other covered spools sit on a marble countertop in the background, unfocused.

I place a tiny dot of glue on the spool and carefully press one end of the fabric onto it, then wrap the strip around the spool and glue the other end down where the fabric overlaps.

Image contains 11 wooden spools covered in assorted colors of fabric, sitting on a marble countertop.

Arrange your spools into a pyramid.

You’ll have one spool at the top, then a row of two, a row of three, and a row of four. Try to spread out multiples of the same color.

Image contains 11 fabric-covered wooden spools arranged in a tree shape on a marble countertop.

Glue your spools together.

I found that the best way to do this is to start by standing the two spools from the second row up right next to each other and sitting the top spool (with glue applied to the bottom) down on top of them. Then, I set up the three spools and sat the previous rows on top, and so on.

Image contains a tree-shaped ornament made from fabric-covered wooden spools. It has a red ribbon bow at the top, and sits on a faux pine branch.

Decorate your tree with tiny pom-poms and/or jingle bells (optional).

Add a hanger and a bow.

I tied a piece of twine to form a loop for the hanger. Then, I placed glue inside the hole in the top spool and pushed the knotted end of the loop down inside the hole. Finally, I tied a piece of ribbon around the hanger and formed a bow.

Image contains two ornaments made from fabric-covered wooden spools arranged in tree shapes. They sit on a faux pine branch on a white table.

Crafting Tips

Instead of a bow, you can add a tiny wooden star to the top of the tree.
For a real “tree” effect, try using an assortment of fabrics that are all shades of green.
In addition to pom-poms, you can use small beads, sequins, bells, or other embellishments.
When working with hot glue, use a pencil or a popsicle stick to press the fabric into the glue, rather than your finger.

Image contains an ornament made from fabric-covered wooden spools arranged in the shape of a tree. A red bow is tied at the top, and it sits on a white background.

Frequently Asked Questions

How big is the ornament?

When it’s assembled, the ornament is about 2.5” tall. It’s the perfect size for on your tree, and to tie onto a package!

What if I don’t have fabric?

Another option is to paint the centers of the spools instead of covering them with fabric.

Can I use craft or school glue instead of hot glue?

You can, but it’s significantly more difficult, because it takes so much longer for other types of glue to dry. You’ll have to do your project in phases, waiting for each step to dry before moving on.