In short

Warm, natural Christmas decorations woven from palm leaves: stars, trees and baubles that smell faintly of the garden and cost almost nothing to make.

There is something quietly lovely about a tree trimmed with leaves. Woven palm decorations catch the tree lights, they smell faintly of the garden for the first week, and at the end of the season they go in the compost rather than a plastic box.

These three ornaments, a star, a little tree and a round bauble, use the same narrow strips you would use for a basket. A set of twelve takes an evening and about four metres of strip, so it is a project you can finish in one sitting with the radio on.

Natural decorations suit a slower kind of Christmas. They do not shout, they warm the tree up, and they look best mixed with a few plain glass baubles and a length of linen ribbon rather than piled on their own. If you make nothing else, make the star: it is the easiest of the three and the one guests always ask about.

What you need and how much

For a set of twelve ornaments, allow about four metres of palm strip cut to 0.8 cm wide. You also want a spool of cotton twine for hanging loops and a needle with a large eye for threading. Everything else you already own.

What You'll Need

  • About 4 m of palm leaf strip, cut 0.8 cm wide
  • Cotton twine or thin linen thread
  • A large-eyed needle
  • Sharp scissors
  • Warm water for soaking
  • A few small cinnamon sticks, optional

Making the three ornaments

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. 1

    Soak the strips

    Soak all the strips for ten minutes in warm water. Damp strips fold sharply and hold a crease, which is exactly what a star needs.

  2. 2

    Weave the star

    Take two 25 cm strips and cross them into a plus shape. Fold each end back over the centre at a sharp angle to make eight points, tucking the final end under to lock it.

  3. 3

    Make the little tree

    Weave a small triangle 6 cm wide at the base and 9 cm tall, then twist a 3 cm strip into a short trunk and push it up into the base.

  4. 4

    Roll the bauble

    Coil a 30 cm strip tightly into a flat disc about 4 cm across, tucking the outer end under the coil so it holds without glue.

  5. 5

    Add the loops

    Thread a 12 cm length of twine through the top of each ornament with the needle and tie a small loop for hanging. Leave 3 cm of slack so it sits away from the branch.

  6. 6

    Dry and hang

    Let the ornaments dry flat for two hours, then hang them on the tree. They stiffen as they dry and hold their shape all season.

A woven palm leaf star and coiled bauble drying flat on a table
Let the ornaments dry flat for two hours so they set hard and hold their shape.

Styling a natural tree

  • Mix woven leaves with plain glass baubles; the contrast keeps it from looking rustic in a heavy way.
  • Use unbleached linen ribbon rather than tinsel for the garland.
  • Cluster the woven pieces near the lights, where the weave catches a warm glow.
  • Add a few cinnamon sticks to the tree so the room smells of spice and leaf together.
  • Keep a handful spare for the table, tied to napkins or laid across a runner.

Helpful Tips

  • Weave the star first; it is the most forgiving and gives you the feel of the strip.
  • Keep the ornaments away from direct heat and open flames.
  • If a star point will not hold, a single stitch of twine through the centre fixes it.
  • Store the set in a paper bag, not plastic, so any last moisture can escape.

A tree trimmed with leaves feels less like a display and more like the garden came indoors for a fortnight.

Romen Roy

Make it a tradition

Our festive kit includes prepared strips, twine and printed instructions for all three ornaments.

Shop festive kits