Those who sew will find it is easy to decorate with hearts. This classic theme is suitable for all sorts of decorating styles from traditional to country/farmhouse and contemporary. These are simple and easy sewing projects.
Heart Pillows
Heart shaped throw pillows are a fun project. Find a heart template in a craft book. Enlarge it to the desired size. In order for the template to fit on a single sheet of paper, copy only half of the heart. Add a seam allowance. Place the straight edge of the template on the folded fabric. Cut one heart for the front and another for the back of the pillow.
Mix and match a set of heart pillows using various sewing techniques, including appliqué and patchwork. Embellish the pillows with embroidery, lace, or buttons.
Crazy Patchwork Hearts
For many home decorating projects, crazy patchwork hearts work well. Use assorted fabric scraps, and sew them onto a foundation fabric. Then, use your heart template to cut out pieced hearts. Add hand or machine embroidery along the seams of patchwork scraps.
Use crazy patchwork hearts for all sorts of heart projects, including heart pillows and stuffed hearts.
Stuffed Hearts
Making stuffed hearts is like sewing any other stuffed item. Cut pieces for the front and back. Place the right sides together. Sew around the edges, leaving an opening for turning. Turn, stuff, and slipstitch the opening.
For a decorative touch, use lace or trim around the edges. Allow extra lace at the top to hang the heart or make a bow.
Soft stuffed hearts can be used in various ways for home décor. They can be displayed on shelves and mantles. Hang them on doors and walls. Add a tab to the back of the heart for use in hanging.
Garlands-String of Hearts
For this, a number of small, stuffed hearts will be needed. These are strung on a length of ribbon and used as a garland or string of hearts.
When sewing the fronts and backs of the individual hearts together, leave an opening in the bottom and top. These will be used for inserting the ribbon.
Once the ribbon is in place, stuff each heart. Slipstitch, and sew the openings, tacking each heart to the ribbon. Large, decorative beads can be strung on the ribbon between the hearts.
Hang strings of hearts as garlands around windows and door frames. They also look lovely on bed posts and frames, on the tops of mirrors, on the edges of mantles, and on the backs of wooden chairs.
Useful Heart Projects
Hearts can become functional items. Make a set of heart pin cushions in assorted sizes. Create potpourri-filled hearts for use in linen closets and clothing drawers.
Other Ideas for Fabric Hearts
Depending on the theme and fabrics, fabric hearts can be used for various holidays and seasons. For example, use red, white and blue materials for July 4th.
Combine hearts with other motifs, such as houses or birdhouses for quilts. One Thimbleberries quilt design uses mittens with hearts and stars. The December 2008 American Patchwork and Quilting magazine had a lovely appliquéd and pieced winter quilt with whimsical snowmen, appliquéd hearts, mittens, and stars.
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