Valentine’s Heart Decoration Tutorial

Try simple strip piecing to make these quick and easy hanging heart decoration for Valentine’s Day!

You only need small pieces of fabric for this Valentine’s Heart Decoration project, so you can use scraps if you prefer, and make each heart different.

Make sure you download and print the templates HERE at actual size.

Seam allowances are ¼” unless otherwise stated.

Finished Size: Approx. 18″ x 6″
Difficulty: Intermediate
Time to make: 2 1/2 hours

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Sewing machine
• Cutting tools: rotary cutter, mat and ruler
• Fabric A – Fat eighth (9″ x 22″)
• Fabric B – Fat eighth (9″ x 22″)
• Fabric C – Fat eighth (9″ x 22″)
• Fabric D (back) – Fat quarter (18″ x 22″
• 32″ thin ribbon
• Fibre Fill/toy stuffing
• General sewing notions: iron, pins, hand-sewing needle, scissors

From Fabric A and B, cut three strips 12″ long and 1 ½” wide, for a total of six strips. Using the templates, cut six semi circles from Fabric C and three hearts from Fabric D.

Take a Fabric A and B strip and sew together along the long edges. Press.

Cut the strip into two 6″ lengths.

Sew the two parts together along the longer edges and press. You will now have a piece measuring 6″ x 5″.

Cut it down into four 1 ½” wide striped strips.

Arrange the strips to create a checkerboard pattern. The squares will alternate between Fabric A and B. Sew together to make a 4 ½” square unit and press well. Trim to the right size if necessary.

Next, take your semi circle pieces and sew one to one side of the square, backstitching at the start and end. Press and sew a second to an adjacent side to create a heart shape. Make three hearts this way and set aside.

Take your ribbon and cut the following lengths: 4 x 11″, 1 x 5″ and 2 x 2 ½”. These should be sewn to the Fabric D hearts on the right side as shown, with the ribbon pointing toward the centre of the heart. Then fold the  5″ piece into a loop and sew it to the first heart at the top. Fold the 2 ½” pieces and sew them to the button points of the first and second hearts. When completing the loops, be sure to sew raw ends together. Sew two lengths of the 11″ close to the centre, at the top of the second and third heart. Sew at just less than ¼” to secure in place for the next step.

With ribbons tucked in and out of the way, sew one of your pieced hearts and one ribbon-basted heart together, right sides facing. Leave a gap of a couple of inches open at the side for stuffing. Repeat for all three.

Clip into the dip at the top of the heart and around the curves. Trim the points off the bottom of the hearts. Be careful not to cut into the threads, you just want to reduce the bulk in the seam allowance.

Stuff the hearts with toy stuffing. You want to make them nice and full.

Hand sew the openings closed.

To assemble, pull the ribbon lengths at the top of the hearts through the small loops on the bottom of the heart above, one in each direction. Tie into a neat even bow, and repeat for the second join.

Trim off any excess ribbon. You may add some glue to the knots to secure if you wish.

Looking for another project that uses some of those scrap fabrics laying around? Check out our Hexie Pincushion tutorial.

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You’re done your heart decoration! Hang it in your home for Valentine’s Day! And remember: we love it when you share your creations! Please post, and tag us on Instagram or Facebook so we can see and celebrate your design! #TrendTexFabrics @trendtexfabrics