On the Sixth Day of Christmas my true love gave to me a Christmas Candy Cone. Inspired by Victorian candy cones and the German Schultüte, this cone will look equally beautiful hung from a door or your tree.

My mother grew up in Germany, so many of my Christmas holiday traditions, goodies and decorations have a strong German influence. This Cone beautifully synthesizes all things Christmas for me: classic and simple with a hint of nostalgia. I chose to make this project in wool felt. Felt is my favorite craft making material because it's soft, natural and so easy. It also lends itself effortlessly to a project that is easy enough for kids to make or to make with kids.

This post is part of the Sew a Softie for Christmas project held by Trixi Symonds, author of "Sew Together Grow Together" and Coloured Buttons. Thank you Trixi for inviting me to participate!

Materials needed:

Pattern Template

One yard of ribbon

8 X 12 sheet of felt

Embroidery floss or Pearle Cotton

Needle

You can make this with a sewing machine as well, but they are super fun to sew by hand as well. I think the next one I make might just feature some fab embroidered details and a pompom or two.

Cut one cone shape using the template. Cut ribbon into two lengths. 13" for the cone edge and 10" for the handle.

Take the 13" length of ribbon and pin along the curved edge of the felt. Stitch the top edge.

Fold the felt in half with the right sides facing together. Make sure that the ribbon is aligned too! Pin and sew from the top ribbon edge to the point.

Turn right side out. You may want to use the eraser edge of a pencil to push the pointed end of the felt out.

If your ribbon is single sided (meaning one side has a pattern and the other doesn't) you can cut two lengths and place them with the wrong sides facing together. Sew on each long side.

Pin the handle to each side of the cones top edge and sew to secure.

Give the felt a nice tug to help smooth its shape. Fill with goodies and display with pride!

Some thoughts on sewing with kids

When sewing with small kids, we begin by threading the needle and leaving a long “tail” beneath the know. With the threaded needle under the felt, I begin telling a story of a little mermaid that is just learning to dive and swim. She is going to practice by shooting up from underneath the water (underside of the fabric) then just as her tail reaches the surface (when they feel the knot reach the fabric) she turns and points herself right back in the water. Before she does that though, she needs to stop and plug her nose (I have the kids pinch the eye of the threaded needle and pierce the fabric through the other side of the line). Then we keep practicing. There are always lots of knots and loops but they get it.

I hope that you enjoy making this project!

Hilarie XO