A handmade decoration adds a lovely touch to Christmas and here’s an idea to practise your sewing skills to make a pretty heart to hang on your tree (or elsewhere), or give as a little present.
You’ll need two small pieces of fabric (not necessarily matching), a length of ribbon, sewing thread, stuffing (cotton wool is fine), a sewing needle, a few pins if you have them, and a pair of scissors.
Here’s what you do:
Draw a heart shape on paper as a template for cutting two hearts from your fabric. Make sure the two hearts are exactly the same size.
Put the two shapes together, wrong sides facing, and add a few pins, if you have them, around the edges (if not, don’t worry, just hold the two shapes together firmly and take extra care when you start to sew).
Thread your needle and tie a knot at the end. Start sewing with the needle in between the two shapes and pushing it to the outside, about a quarter of an inch from the edge. Pull the thread so that the knot is hidden inside the heart. Then sew around the edge – a blanket stitch is ideal if you know how to do it, otherwise a simple overstitch is fine. Carry on around the edge, taking care to keep your stitches as neat and equally spaced as possible.
When you’ve stitched all but a couple of inches of the heart, take a little of the stuffing and start to pad out the shape to give it dimension. You don’t want it to be too fat, nor too skinny – play around until you have the appearance you like. Push the stuffing in gently with a pencil or similar to make it look even. When you’re happy with how the heart looks, sew up the remaining edges in the same way as before.
To add the hanging loop, take the piece of ribbon, double it up, and attach it to the centre of the heart at the back with a few stab stitches.
If you like sewing there are lots of variations on this basic theme and you don’t need special Christmas fabric. See second pic for inspiration – the triangle “trees” are very quick and easy!
Don’t forget to share pictures of your creations with us so we can admire them! If you’re happy for MFT to share them on social media too to inspire others to take part, email them to Connie Ridout, Communications Lead at MFT, at connie@maryfrancestrust.org.uk
Thank you!
Diana
