How do you make a fabric cone for a Christmas tree?

Cut a quarter-circle or half-circle of fabric, fold it right sides together and sew the straight edges into a cone. Add a round base, leave a gap, turn it right side out, then fill it firmly with stuffing and close the gap.

What sizes do the cone trees come in?

The Cone Christmas Trees pattern in the Sewzy app makes three heights: Small at 8 inches, Medium at 14 inches and Large at 20 inches. A set of all three in matching colors makes a simple display.

How do I stop a cone tree from tipping over?

Put a small weight in the base before you stuff the rest. Fill a scrap square with dried rice or poly pellets, stitch it shut and drop it in first so it sits on the round base and keeps the tree upright.

What fabric is best for cone Christmas trees?

Use fabric with body: quilting cotton, linen, wool, corduroy, velvet or tartan. Soft or drapey fabric sags, so back it with lightweight fusible interfacing first. Varying the texture across two or three colors looks best.

How long does one cone tree take?

The pattern is rated beginner and a single tree takes about an hour, including the weighted base and the star. A Small tree uses very little fabric, so it is a good scrap project for using up holiday prints.

How to Sew Fabric Cone Christmas Trees (3 Sizes)

To sew a fabric cone Christmas tree, cut a quarter-circle or half-circle of fabric, sew the straight edges into a cone, add a round base, then turn it out and fill it with polyester stuffing over a small weight so it stands on its own. Top it with a fabric or felt star. A small tree takes about an hour, and a set of three in different heights makes a quick holiday display.

TL;DR

A cone tree is a stuffed fabric cone with a weighted base and a star on top. No tree shape to trace, just a cone.
The Sewzy Cone Christmas Trees pattern, in the app, comes in three heights: Small 8 inches, Medium 14 inches and Large 20 inches.
Any firm cotton, linen, wool or velvet works. Stiffen thin fabric with fusible interfacing so the cone holds its shape.
Weight the base with a little bag of dried rice or poly pellets so the tree does not tip.

What is a fabric cone Christmas tree?

It is a soft, free-standing tree made from a cone of fabric rather than a flat tree outline. The cone shape means it reads as a tree from every side, so a row of them looks good on a mantel, a shelf or a table. Because the base is weighted, the trees stand up without a stand. They pack away in a box and come out year after year.

These trees are a favorite scrap project because a Small tree uses very little fabric. Mix a tartan, a plain linen and a velvet in the same colors for a set that looks collected rather than matched.

What sizes does the Sewzy pattern make?

The Cone Christmas Trees pattern in the Sewzy app is rated beginner and takes about an hour per tree. It makes three heights.

Size	Finished height	Good for
Small	8 inches	A cluster on a shelf, a tiered tray, place settings
Medium	14 inches	The middle of a set of three, a windowsill
Large	20 inches	The tallest in a set, a side table or hearth

Fabric amounts for each height are given in the Sewzy app. A Small tree is a true scrap make, while a Large one needs noticeably more fabric.

What fabric should I use?

Use a fabric with some body so the cone stands smooth. Quilting cotton, linen, wool suiting, corduroy, velvet and tartan all work well. Soft or drapey fabric sags, so back it with a lightweight fusible interfacing first. For a modern set, pick two or three colors and vary the texture rather than the print.

How to sew a cone tree, step by step

Cut the cone piece and the round base for your size, and snip the notches that mark the center and the base.
Fold the cone right sides together and sew the straight back seam from the point to the open edge.
Pin the round base to the open bottom, matching the notches, and sew all the way around. Leave a small gap for turning.
Turn the tree right side out through the gap and push the point out with a chopstick.
Make a small weight bag: a scrap square filled with dried rice or poly pellets, stitched shut. Drop it in first so it sits on the base.
Fill the rest of the cone firmly with polyester stuffing, working from the point down.
Close the gap in the base with a few hand stitches.
Cut two star shapes, sew them right sides together, turn, and tack the star to the point.

Common mistakes

Skipping interfacing on thin cotton, so the cone buckles instead of standing straight.
Understuffing. A soft cone slumps. Pack it firm, especially near the point.
Forgetting the weight bag, so the tree is top-heavy and tips over.
Stitching the star on crooked. Pin it, step back and look, then tack it down.

How do I make the star topper?

Cut two star shapes from felt or a firm cotton. Felt is the easy choice because it needs no turning: stitch close to the edge and leave it as is, or glue the two layers together for a stiff star. For a softer fabric, sew the two stars right sides together, leave a small gap, clip the points, turn it out and press. Tack the finished star to the tip of the cone with a few hand stitches, or add a loop of twine behind it for a rustic look. A small wooden bead or a tiny pom at the very top is a nice change from a star.

Ways to display a set

Three trees in graduated heights read best grouped together, tallest at the back. Stand them on a tiered tray, a windowsill or a mantel, and tuck a few ornaments around the base. For a table, a line of Small trees down the center makes a quick runner. Keep the colors tight, two or three at most, so a mix of prints and textures still looks pulled together rather than busy.

When should I sew them?

Christmas is Friday, December 25, 2026. Cone trees are quick, so there is no rush, but a set of three makes a lovely early gift. Aim to finish by early December if they are presents, so you have time to wrap them or add them to a bigger handmade box.

Want more to go with them? Pair the trees with the Christmas Ornaments and a pair of Santa and Elf Hats, or browse the whole Christmas sewing patterns collection. For gift planning, see handmade Christmas gifts to sew, the guide to a fabric advent calendar and ornaments, and how to sew a Christmas stocking.