DIY Tiny Yarn Hat Ornaments

note: this is cross-posted from a shop blog, meandering mari. :)

this is part two in our quest for a Crafty Colorful Christmas. you can see the clay gingerbread men ornaments we made last week here.

when thinking about what else we could add to our tree this year, i immediately knew i wanted to incorporate yarn somehow. partly because of the color and texture it would add -- but mostly, because i have a ton of it for my weavings.

what could be cuter and cozier than tiny yarn hats?? done!

they're very easy to make -- K was able to help me with most of it.

also, it's a versatile project. i made ornaments, but these tiny hats could easily make an adorable garland, cute gift toppers...or throw them in a jar as a holiday decoration and call it a day!

bonus: this is a cheap DIY. if you make all your hats the same color, you only need one or two skeins of yarn and some empty toilet paper or paper towel rolls.

first, i cut a flap off a cardboard box to make my yarn cutting easier (it's exactly the method i used to cut tulle for my DIY tutus.). i trimmed it to approximately 7" long so after wrapping my yarn around and around...

...then snipping at one end...

...i was left with strands about 14-15" long.

next, i cut a ring from the empty cardboard roll about one inch tall.

i looped my strands around the ring, one by one.

i continued looping...

...until i made it completely around the ring.

it looks like a jellyfish!

next, i pushed the long strands inward through the ring:

i used one more strand of yarn to tie the loose ends together, about yay high above the tube:

once tied, i trimmed the top to become the hat's pouf:

repeat as needed!

you can leave one strand long and tie as a loop to hang it -- or use ornament hooks, as i did.

easy, right?

if you're into a handmade christmas like i am, feel free to browse all of my past merryDIY projects here!