With Christmas just around the corner, we had fun making these little fabric trees for our desks at the lab. Give them a try.
Project Files
Materials:
- 2-3mm natural felt or thick fabric
- 6mm plywood
- 6mm wooden dowel
Other Items Needed:
- Fabric Glue
The Build
I used LightBurn, to create three variations to the tree design. A plain tree, one with engravings and the other with cut-outs. I intended these variations make the trees look more interesting.
![](https://darklylabs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/LB-1024x549.png)
Each tree required three fabric pieces, a base and a dowel for the trunk. I decided to make then out of the felt left over from our ‘felt coaster’ project.
![](https://darklylabs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/cut01-1024x739.jpg)
With all the pieces ready, it was time to start assembly.
![](https://darklylabs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/build01-1-1024x535.jpg)
The first step was to glue two of the shapes together. For this, I placed glue on half of a fabric piece and carefully lined up another piece over the glue.
![](https://darklylabs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/build02-2-1024x768.jpg)
![](https://darklylabs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/build03-1-1024x742.jpg)
![](https://darklylabs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/build04-2-1024x768.jpg)
Next, I placed glue over the other half of the first fabric piece, then attached the other piece of fabric.
![](https://darklylabs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/build05-2-1024x775.jpg)
![](https://darklylabs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/build06-1-1024x775.jpg)
The dowel was then inserted into the middle of the fabric pieces and the last two sides glued together.
![](https://darklylabs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/build07-1-1024x817.jpg)
![](https://darklylabs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/build08-1-1024x833.jpg)
![](https://darklylabs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/build09-1-1024x700.jpg)
With the fabric glued together and dowel inserted as the trunk, all that was left was to attach the base.
![](https://darklylabs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/build10-1024x956.jpg)
![](https://darklylabs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/build11-1024x791.jpg)
As with any project, there are endless variations possible. I particularly liked the version with the cutouts. Next time I will try cutting out some different Christmas ornament shapes along with the stars.
![](https://darklylabs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/final01-1024x841.jpg)
![](https://darklylabs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/final03-2-1024x949.jpg)