A Fast last-minute Valentine’s Craft Gift Idea or Anytime, Really
I have two daughters. One’s “love language“ is home-made gifts. She loves anything I make for her whether it’s her favorite food, my fleece quilts, my first attempt at a crochet bracelet and now these hearts. My other daughter is having some adjustment issues. She has also asked me to teach her how to hand-sew. So, when I read about the lavender hearts, I knew it was a win-win for several people. I know that lavender has calming properties and also repels mosquitos. I added rose petals because they are also excellent for relaxation, healing hearts and they smell awesome. These hearts work up really fast, which make them perfect for a last-minute gift idea. I was able to make the first one in about a half-hour (and that was teaching the youngest as I went along). It’s the perfect wind-down to help the kids settle in after a busy day.
Materials:
Felted wool (I bought my wool already felted and dyed).
Embroidery Floss
Needle (and threader)
Dried Lavender
Rose Petals (optional)
Heart Stencil, die, or punch (optional)
Scissors
Instructions:
First, you’ll need to cut your wool into heart shapes. I used a die-cutter but you can trace the heart and cut it out with scissors or use a craft punch. I made the first hearts a little smaller than palm-sized (2.5”) so they’re discreet for rough days, but big enough so they won’t get lost in a backpack or purse.
Next you’ll use a blanket stitch to sew about 2/3 of the way around the heart. I started at the point of the heart and left a bit of a “tail” so I can make a hanging loop for the hearts.
Once I had a small hole left, I added my combination of lavender and rose petals. Once the hearts were stuffed to where we wanted them, we finished stitching the heart closed.
Material sources:
You can get most of the sewing notions (needles, embroidery floss, and scissors) at Gillett Handiworks. (Delivery is available for a large area. Contact Gillett Handiworks for details, including scheduling and cost.)
You can get the herbs (lavender and rose petals) at The Green Hen, Antigo, Aurora’s Apothecary, Green Bay, or Sweet Willow Herbal Co-Op, DePere. Lavender is also available at Potter Creek Lavender in Pulaski and The Lavender Homestead in Suring. I included contact info for each business because while I called to verify that they have the materials in stock, things can change quickly.
I tried very hard to find a local source for felted wool and was not able to. So, hopefully, you are able to felt your own, or have a friend to felt it for you. I bought wool bundles online at Connecting Threads. Not all felt is the same. I opted for 100% wool versus a polyester or synthetic blend, but use what works best for you.
Just a quick note: I am not being compensated in any way from any of these businesses.
If you need a video tutorial, I got the inspiration for my lavender rose hearts from Kami’s Lavender Hearts and she has a great tutorial on how to do the blanket stitch. You might get some ideas for some substitute fabrics if wool doesn’t work for you.
I hope these hearts bring as much of a smile to you as they have to my kids and me.
Affiliate links for supplies used to make these hearts: (The author may receive compensation for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to the buyer.
**Publisher Note** Keep an eye on our Facebook page: we have decided to offer small kits to help you get started. They will be available in our vendor booth at The Robbins Nest inside the Old Shopko in Clintonville. We will announce on our Facebook page when they are available.
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