Following are instructions for a 12" chenille (pipe cleaner) tree that is approx. 4" wide at the base. It can be easily adjusted in size to suit your room by making the dowel shorter or longer and by making the bottom 20 branches shorter or longer. Written by Diane Mitchell, edited by Roz Weitzman.

* a large wooden block cut in half or one wooden spool from buttonhole thread

* one wooden dowel (These can be purchased from craft stores in packages called wooden skewers)

* 100 pieces of green chenille pipe cleaners

* a 5" circle of felt, fake fur or appropriate fabric for a skirt, cut to the middle in the back and decorated around the edge with rick-rack, lace, or metallic Bunka

* white glue, scissors, waxed paper, ruler

1) Drill hole in center of base. Glue dowel rod into hole.

2) Cut the chenille into the following lengths:

3) cut 198 ends from the leftover pieces for branches. The ends for the bottom branches are about 1 1/2" and getting smaller toward the top - about 3/4". Twist the ends tightly onto the ends of the branches, about 1/2" from the branch tip.

4) Starting at the base of the tree with the longest branches, twist each branch around the dowel once. Continue twisting branches, pushing down slightly so the dowel is covered. Before finishing last five branches, glue the tip of the tree to tip of the dowel, straight up. Then twist and glue last five branches after making sure the dowel is covered.

5) Check the tree to make sure the branches are evenly spaced and bend some for a more natural look.

6) Now decorate the tree!

Roz Weitzman ©1999 Any Questions?: e-mail: FromTheHeart@miniature.net