Most of what leaves the studio is finished: wrapped, braided and ready to hang. A DIY bauble kit works the other way round. You get the same reclaimed fabrics I use for the finished pieces, and the making is yours. If you have ever turned one of our baubles over in your hand and wondered how it goes together, or fancied having a go at making your own baubles, this is the closest you'll get to sitting at the bench with me.
What is in a DIY bauble kit?
Each kit is matched to a specific design in the collection, so the fabric in your kit is the same fabric as the finished bauble on the product page. That matters to me. A lot of craft kits come with whatever material is cheapest to buy in bulk, and the result looks like a craft kit. Ours use reclaimed silks, brocades and embroidered offcuts, the same pre-loved textiles every finished piece is made from, so what you end up with sits happily next to one I've made.
Everything you need to complete the bauble is in the box, along with our guidance. Kits come in 8cm or 10cm, following the size of the design you choose. The 8cm designs are a good place to start. The 10cm ones, particularly the embroidered and mirror work pieces, give you more fabric to handle and a little more to think about.
Making your own fabric bauble, one panel at a time
I won't pretend it's a ten-minute job. Most people take an evening over their first, and that is rather the point. The work is repetitive in a good way: you fit a panel, smooth it, check it lines up with the one beside it, and move on. Your hands are busy enough that your phone stays face down, but it isn't so fiddly that you can't have the radio on while you go.
A few things I'd pass on to anyone making their first fabric bauble kit:
- Clear a proper space. A tray or a large chopping board stops small pieces wandering off.
- Work in good light, ideally daylight. Silk and brocade show every crease, and you'll want to see which way a pattern runs before you commit.
- Don't chase perfection on the first panel. The trim finishes the seams at the end, and small variations are part of what makes a handmade bauble look handmade.
- Stop before you get tired. Coming back the next day with fresh eyes beats rushing the last few panels.
A craft kit for adults that isn't just for December
Baubles tend to get filed under Christmas, and I understand why, but ours rarely end up living only on a tree. They sit in bowls on dining tables, hang from door handles and window latches, and get tucked into gift boxes for birthdays and new homes. The kits are no different. A DIY bauble kit is as good a craft kit for adults on a wet Sunday in March as it is on a dark winter evening, and it's a nice thing to buy in pairs so you can make one alongside a friend.
It also makes a thoughtful present for someone who likes to make things. A finished bauble is a lovely gift. A kit gives someone the fabric and an evening to themselves, and they end up with something they're proud to have made.
If you'd like to see the options side by side, the full range lives in our DIY bauble kits collection. Every kit design is also sold finished, so you can look at the completed piece before you decide.
Choosing your first design
For a first attempt, I'd steer you towards a woven brocade in 8cm. The pattern is part of the fabric itself rather than stitched on top, so it's forgiving, and the smaller size means you see the bauble come together quickly. Kamla in black is a good example: a delicate gold floral motif with a touch of green, scattered across a deep black ground and finished with a green-and-gold cord along each seam. Because the motif is small and all-over, there's no large pattern to line up between panels, and the black gives the gold real depth once it's finished.
Once you've got one under your belt, the bigger statement designs are a lovely next step. The mirror work and heavily embroidered pieces have more texture to work around, and watching that come together under your own hands is very satisfying.
Looking after it
Our baubles are built around a lightweight foam core rather than glass, so a finished one won't shatter if it's knocked off a shelf. That makes it easy to keep out all year, or to pack away when you fancy a change. Store it somewhere dry and out of strong sunlight and the colours will stay rich for years.
If you make one, I'd love to see it. Tag us on Instagram at @marishamistrycrafts.