Find or draw a small picture or pattern that will fit nicely within the size circle you want to use. Make sure to leave plenty of salvage around the edges for blocking and gathering. Copy the design onto your fabric. You can use Christmas pictures for this, or you can just choose regular pictures. I like florals.
Once the design is on the fabric, embroider it with your favorite stitches. This is a good time to try out new stitches and techniques, as there isn’t a lot of material to cover. When the embroidery is done, block it by pulling the fabric out taut and tacking it to a board. Wet the fabric and let it dry. Some people choose to steam or iron it instead.
When the embroidery is blocked, cut it into circles, allowing enough of a margin to for gathering the fabric underneath for a nice smooth edge. Gather the fabric by basting around the edge and pulling the thread tight. I gather the material around a circular piece of card stock cut to size to make sure the gather is even.
Knot a small loop of cord or yarn, and sew it on the top for hanging. Sew a circle of felt on the back with buttonhole stitch, leaving enough of an opening to fill the ornament. Before you sew the ornament together, fill with herbs or batting and sew the last few stitches.
Your ornament is done. Of course, you can adjust this process to suit your own artistic purposes; this is just one way to do it. If you fill your ornaments with herbs, you can use them as sachets after the holidays are over. The loop at the top will fit nicely over a hanger so that your clothes will be protected from moths even while they are hanging up. The herbs discourage moths and give a pleasant, subtle aroma.
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