Use Leftover Yarn to Make Bottle Brush Trees

I’m always looking for great ideas to use my leftover threads. I also love bottle brush trees and use them in several displays at Christmas. Lately I’ve been thinking that I want to add some different textures and colors to add variety to the forest of dull trees from the craft store.

This tutorial from Fyne’s Designs (scroll below the ad to find it) is giving me the inspiration I need.

You can make them from any thick thread or yarn, jute, twine or rope. You can make them any size and trim them to any shape.

Trees made with jute, rough twine, or rope will be stiff, like the trees you buy in the store. Trees made with yarn will be fluffier and softer.

If you are using your needlepoint threads to make the trees, your best choices will be single-strand threads that are thick. For example if you are using pearl cotton, use #3 instead of #5. If you thread has multiple strands, such as Persian Wool, fluff them out after you have made the tree but before you trim it for the best look.

Thinner threads, such as floss, will need significantly more thread than you are likely to have.

If you get so addicted to making these you can’t stop, consider going to a dollar store or to the clearance bin at a knitting shop to buy inexpensive yarn.

Pardon me while I go make some trees . . .