Create some handmade holiday magic with these adorable Christmas tree pony bead ornaments! With just beads and cord you can make the cutest little beaded trees to hang on the Christmas tree.
This easy craft is perfect for kids, classrooms, holiday parties, or a cozy afternoon of Christmas crafting at home. Follow our step-by-step tutorial to make your own festive ornaments. They’re fun to create, cute to display, and so sweet to gift!
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How to Make a Pony Bead Christmas Tree
Materials:
- Rattail cord
- Jump rings
- Pony beads (green, brown, and various colours)
Equipment:
Instructions:
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Set up your work space and cord
- Cut a 25 inch piece of rattail cord.
- Add a 10mm jump ring onto the cord and fold the cord in half, so the two ends are even.
- Tape the jump ring to your working surface.
- Gather pony beads of various colours to make your tree. You’ll need green, brown (for the trunk), and coloured beads for the ornaments (including 1 yellow for the star).
Step 3: Form the tree shape with beads
- Begin by adding a yellow bead onto both cord ends. Push it up to the top, next to the jump ring. This is the tree’s “star”.
- Now we’re going to be working with each cord end separately, attaching beads first to one strand and then the other.
- Add 1 coloured bead and 1 green bead to the left strand (you can also add them to the right strand — whichever is more comfortable for you).
- Now take the end of the right cord and push it through the right side of the beads until the first row is attached to both cord ends.You can do this one bead at a time until you feel more comfortable pushing the string through multiple beads.
- Pull the cord ends so that the beads end up in the center, next to the “star”.
- Add the next row of beads to the left cord (3 green) and, again, bring the right cord through this row of beads.This same idea will be repeated for each row of the Christmas tree.
- Pull the cord ends again, so this row of beads is snug against the first. You want the cords to be tight enough that they don’t sag, but not too tight that the beads end up buckling.(You can go back at the end and adjust the cords by pulling on the sides of the tree, if necessary.)
- Add 4 more rows of tree, adding 1 more pony bead for each row you add (4 in the 3rd row, 5 in the 4th row, etc).Place the “ornament” beads randomly, with the rest of the beads being green.
- Finally, add a row of 3 brown beads in the same way. This is the tree’s trunk.
Step 4: Finish off the ornament
- Make knots in each cord, as close to the trunk beads as possible.
- Then cut the excess cord, close to the knots.
- Cut a 5 inch piece of rattail cord.
- Attach it to the jump ring and tie the ends in a knot, creating the ornament hanger.
- Your Christmas tree pony bead ornament is complete!
Helpful Tips:
- Add a real star on top: Use a star-shaped pony bead for an extra cute tree topper! Or, cut a small cardstock star and glue it to the top bead.
- Make the ornament bigger: To size up your tree, simply add more rows — just increase each new row by one pony bead.
- Plan your design first: You can lay out your beads before stringing them. Start with your tree topper and build downward, adding one bead per row so you can preview the colours and pattern.
How many beads to make this pony bead Christmas tree?
You’ll need 28 pony beads for each ornament. Plan for at least 20 green beads, though the exact amount of each colour will vary depending on your design. You’ll also need 3 brown beads for the trunk and 1 yellow bead (or a star bead) for the top.
What cord do I need to make Christmas tree pony bead ornaments?
We used 1.5 mm rattail cord, which was just thin enough to thread through each bead twice. If you can find 1 mm cord, that size works even better.
You can also use ribbon, yarn, cotton twine, or embroidery thread — just add a bit of tape to the end to make threading easier.
Can I make this pony bead ornament into a keychain?
Yes! Just remove the ornament hanger and attach a keychain ring or clip to the jump ring. It makes a fun holiday accessory and is perfect for anyone who loves bringing Christmas cheer with them all year long.
These pony bead Christmas tree ornaments are such an easy and colourful way to get into the holiday spirit. Whether you follow our exact pattern or design your own bead combination, each little tree turns out beautiful! So grab a few simple supplies and have fun making these handmade beaded ornaments to hang on the tree.
Here’s even more DIY ornament ideas:
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Where to buy:
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