These handmade holiday dachshund ornaments are a sweet and festive nod to everyone's favorite long dog. A step by step guide makes it easy to do yourself!
tutorial originally published December 21, 2010
Handmade Holiday Dachshund Ornaments
In the spirit of learning something new, I signed up for a handmade holiday ornament exchange.
I am SO glad I did. It was SO much fun, and completely pulled me out of my comfort zone and was a fun challenge.
I do not sew.
So, I'd give anyone who reads regularly or knows me, a HALF a guess as to what I would make.
Okay, onto the tutorial.
Gather your tools: Embroidery thread, sharp scissors, a needle, a chopstick.
Gather your material: natural fiber vegan felt and stuffing.
Gather your inspiration: Dachshunds Basil, Jake and Elwood.
Basil dachshund
Jake dachshund
Elwood dachshund
um, Elwood giving me the side eye.
The sweet puppy inspiration is my favorite.
Draw your shape, in this case, a dachshund. make a stencil. Ink an outline onto felt.
Cut out your template. You will use as a guide to cut out all doxies.
You need two pieces of felt for each dachshund.
Fold over a piece of felt, pin down template dachshund, cut.
Cut two ears.
Now you are ready to start sewing! I used the blanket stitch:
Bring the threaded needle from the back of the fabric through to the front at the desired distance from the edge - this determines the width of the stitch. I start from the inside the pieces of felt, so the knot doesn't show.
To sew the first stitch, put the needle into the fabric from the front, the same distance from the edge as the thread came through in Step 1 and to the left. The distance between the two should remain consistent. When pulling needle / thread through, I stick my finger out to catch the loop before I pull all the way through.
Pass the needle through the loop and pull tight.
To sew the second stitch, put the needle through the back, at the same distance as the first, pull needle through to front, catching loop with finger and pass needle through loop. Pull tight. Repeat!
Then do the same stitching on each ear!
I actually stitched the ears first, then when I got to the top of each doxie head, I'd stitch the ears on as I went along... an ear for each side, flappable.
For these dachshund shapes, I began at the left of the belly, by the back leg, and sewed away from the belly all around the dachshund.
I take out the needle, but leave the thread in. After you stuff, you can keep sewing!
Ready to stuff!
Use very small amounts of stuffing at one time...
This is where the chopstick comes in: use the chopstick to push the stuffing evenly into the head and legs.
Poke the stuffing into the leg, the tail if possible (the tail sticks up on its own), the head, front leg.
You need to hold the belly together to finish sewing...
Then sew a nose.
After the nose, stick the needle inside the head, poking out where you want the eye.
Sew an eye, poke through to the other side, sew another eye.
Well, hello dachshund.
Hello, everyone!!
Next, pick another color of felt and cut a scarf.
Wrap around doxie, sew down in the middle, add a button. I used a silver charm on each one.
Using ⅛th inch satin ribbon, sew a hanger loop in the middle of the doxie back.
Completed Dachshund!
I made two for each recipient of the ornament exchange. I estimated they took about 2 ¼ hours each, and as I got into a groove, it was under 2 hours per pup.
I also made a few for a couple friends with dachshunds.
This one is custom to match a friend's dog:
I wish I had the time to make them for all the doxies I know!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS !
Sarah says
These are so freaking cute! Next year you should consider making them ahead of time and selling them!
spabettie says
THANK YOU !! 😀 Yep, I'm now considering it... 😉
Tiffany says
So cute! Thanks for the tutorial. I have a Dachshund, too, and it would be lovely to have an ornament of him!
spabettie says
ah! what's your dachshund's name?? I'll add them to my DOXIE PAGE !!
eatmovewrite says
Awwwww. I love them. You are so crafty and talented girly! Add it to your list, girl. Jill of all Trades. 🙂
spabettie says
ha! Thanks, sweets!
suki @ [Super Duper Fantastic] says
Saw them on Caitlin's blog. So cute! Great job, and it's nice that you ventured into unknown territory. I can handsew. I can't really use the machine.
spabettie says
Thanks!! 🙂 yeah, hand sewing is fun, once I got the hang of it and kinda found a groove!
Jessica @ Dairy Free Betty says
I'm so in love with these!! Great job!!
spabettie says
aw, Thanks, Jessica! 😀
Kiran says
This is super duper cute! I don't have a pet, but this would be so great as a gift to someone who does 🙂 Happy Holidays, and yes, I used to sew, stitch, name it 😀
spabettie says
Thanks, Kiran! I think dachshund people, especially, are a rare breed 😀 ... crazy for their pups!
Dorry says
KRIS! I am so impressed and think these are the most adorable ornaments I've ever seen. I loved reading this post - Elwood's side eye. Haha! And flappable ears. I bet you never thought you'd use that phrase on your blog. You could start an Etsy shop with these little guys. 🙂 xoxo
spabettie says
aw, thanks, my friend! <3 yep, flappable ears. gotta have them. and Elwood's got the side eye perfected, don't you think?? 😀
Lisa says
That is sooo cute! Thank you for the instructions. Next year I really want to make my own ornaments.
spabettie says
um, here's a hint, Lisa - START EARLY ! like, now! 😀
Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg says
TOO cute. Bookmarking this!
spabettie says
Thanks, Anna! 😀
Theresa @ActiveEggplant says
I don't sew at.all. But these ornaments are definitely a good excuse to start doing it! Way too cute!!!!
spabettie says
I don't sew either !! you can do this !! 😀