How to make a No-Sew 3D Fabric Snowflake

Are you looking for a special snowflake decoration this holiday season?  Look no further than these fabulous 3D fabric snowflakes.  These fabric Christmas ornaments can be made in many sizes from the 15" giant version to the smaller 7.5" version.  This is a no sewing required project!

These 3D fabric snowflakes are perfect decorations for the holidays and winter and can be hung from a mantle, as a fabric Christmas ornament, or as a tree topper (if hung from the ceiling or supported with a dowel).  Or using suction cups they can be hung from a window.

3D Fabric Snowflake Decorations

Watch our full video tutorial on YouTube through the link below or keep reading for a full tutorial on how to make a snowflake from fabric.  A link to a printable version of these 3D fabric snowflakes also available through a link below. 

The paper versions of this 3D snowflake are popular on Pinterest. Here we show you how to make a snowflake from fabric. At the end of this article is a link to our tutorial on a paper 3D snowflake.

So, select two pretty sparkly fabrics and make beautiful three-dimensional fabric snowflake decorations.  To make this 3D fabric snowflake, you will use two contrasting fabrics. Pick one light and one dark fabric so there is a good contrast. Sparkly fabrics work great when making fabric snowflakes.  I found some pretty fabrics with snowflakes printed on them to make my fabric Christmas ornaments.

Sizes of the 3D Fabric Snowflake Decoration

15" Giant Version of the 3D fabric snowflake made from 6” blocks.  This version uses glitter-infused snowflake pattern fabrics in red and white for contrast.

7 1/2” Version of the 3D fabric snowflake made from 3” blocks. This version uses blue and white snowflake fabrics.

These snowflake decorations can be made in many sizes. Samples I've made are 3” squares (makes 7 1/2” finished Snowflake), 5” squares (makes 13” finished snowflake), and a giant one made from 6” squares (makes a 15” finished snowflake).

The snowflakes can be made with 6 or 7 points. I prefer 7 for a more full 3D snowflake.

7 1/2” Version of the 3D Snowflake Decoration made from 3” blocks.  This one is made using some holiday fabrics with gold accents.

Supplies needed for the 3D Fabric Snowflake Decoration:

• 2 contrasting fabrics (fabric suggestions below)
• Ribbon
• Heat ‘n Bond Iron-on Adhesive (Light or Ultra-Hold)
• Glue Gun

Cut the Heat ‘n Bond at 3 ½”, 5 ½”, 6 ½” strips, and fuse to the wrong side of each fabric. Cut the heat ‘n bond a bit smaller than the fabric to keep it from oozing or ending up on the ironing board. Since the blocks are trimmed, they will end up fully fused.

If using Heat 'n Bond Lite, fuse the Heat 'n Bond to the wrong side of BOTH fabrics. We want to be sure these are fused well and the Heat 'n Bond gives more stability to the 3D snowflakes when completed.  If using Ultra Heat 'n Bond, only fuse to one fabric as this is much thicker and provides enough strength to the snowflake.

Then, fuse the two fabrics together. 

Finally trim to the final size squares of 3” (7.62 cm), 5” (12.7 cm), or 6” (15.24 cm). 6 or 7 squares are needed for making each 3D snowflake.

Alternatively, cut 4”, 6” or 7” squares from each snowflake fabric and Heat ‘n Bond and then fuse directly to the blocks.  Then trim down to the 3”, 5” or 6” blocks.

Now we have the blocks in their final size either 3”, 5”, or 6” and they are fused together.

Fabric Folded Again

Hold the triangle so the non-folded edges are to your left or right and the single-fold edge is up. I am left-handed so I hold it with the non-folded edges on the right side. You can hold it the opposite way.

Left Handed - Fabric held with non-folded edges to the right.

Right Handed - Fabric held with non-folded edges to the left.

Cut strips through all layers from the edge with the two folds towards the single-fold edge. Do not cut all the way through! Finish your cut close to the single-fold edge.  Stop about 1/4" - 1/2" from the folded edge.

For the 3” & 5” snowflake blocks, make 3 cuts without measuring. These are so small, that it’s hard to measure and just easier to make the cuts. Try to make the cuts evenly spaced as shown in the photos below.

For the 6” squares, measure and cut ¾” strips and use a scissor or your cutting mat and rotary cutter to make the cuts. Take care to not cut all the way through if using the rotary cutter. Mark your lines or just use a ruler.

The photos below show the finished cuts and the fabric unfolded for the first section of the 3D snowflake.

Cut all 6 or 7 sections this way to prepare for the next step.

Step 3 - Next Twist, Glue, and Flip 3D Snowflake Sections

Just as with the paper version of the 3D snowflakes, you twist, glue and flip.

For these fabric 3D snowflakes, start with the fabric you want to be more dominant facing up. This will end up as the last twist so it will show a bit more than the other fabric.

Twist the sections so the points overlap as shown below in the photo.  Using a hot glue gun, put a dot of glue near the tip of the underneath point of the fabric.  Press fabrics together so they hold in a twist. 

Next, flip the fabric over and pull the next two sections together and glue.  Continue flipping, twisting, and gluing all sections.  Follow the photos below for more details.

First Twist and Glue the inner sections.

Next, Flip the fabric over and twist the next two sections, and glue.

Flip the fabric again and twist the next section and glue.

One more time, flip and twist and glue.

Repeat this for each of the 6 or 7 blocks.

Step 4 - Line up sections of the 3D Snowflake

Line up all 7 snowflake sections facing the same direction. Glue each together at the centers where they touch.

For example, all of the sections above are lined up in a row with the dominant red fabric facing to the right.  They are glued together with the hot glue gun in the center of each section.

Step 5 - Make a snowflake Circle

With the row of sections lying flat on your table, bring the first and the last one together to make a snowflake circle.  Glue the ends together at the centers.

Step 6 - Glue the Inner Section of the 3D Snowflake

Next, line up the inner section so it looks nice and glue the points together. Bring each point together so they are not twisted or bent too much.  Glue each to one another.

Step 7 - Glue A Hanging Ribbon to the 3D Snowflake

Lastly, glue the ribbon to the top of one of the points.  This ribbon can be used to hang the 3D snowflake.

Your fabric 3D snowflake is complete!  With how easy it is to make these, you can make a whole collection of them!  Scroll down to purchase supplies for this project.

We hope you enjoyed learning how to make a snowflake from fabric!  We love our fabric Christmas ornaments and hang them to decorate our house each year.

We also have a lot of other fun general craft videos available that you may be interested in. 

Another project to make with these 3D snowflakes is our Patriotic Star Garland.  This garland can be hung on your mantle for a spectacular look. For our garland, we used some Patriotic fabrics and it made a great decoration for Memorial Day or July 4th! 

Are you interested in other no-sew fabric projects? Click the link to see more no-sew ideas.

MORE snowflake CRAFTS 

Have you enjoyed this post on how to make no-sew fabric snowflake?  Then you may like these snowflake ideas.

Paper Snowflake Tutorial - This 3D snowflake can be made from a white paper or scrapbooking paper.  

Snowflake Christmas Ornament - Here is a simple plastic canvas snowflake idea.  Even kids can make this.