I wanted to make a cute gift to give to some of my friends for Valentine's day, and this is what I came up with. A fabric heart pin! I thought I'd better post about it before the big day passes.
I was able to use all supplies I had on hand, making it thrifty and sweet!
You will need:
Various fabric scraps (I used quilt weight cottons)
felt
Heat-n-bond light (iron-on adhesive)
fleece batting
pinking shears
pin back (or small safety pin)
Step 1: Cut a piece of Heat-n-bond the same size as each scrap of fabric you plan to use for your hearts. Follow the package instructions and iron the adhesive paper to the back of your fabric. It is best to use the "lite" Heat-n-bond, which is also marked "sewable". The heavy is good if you don't plan to sew your project. The heavy adhesive will gunk up your needle if you try to sew through it. Believe me, I've tried it.
Also apply the adhesive paper to the fleece.
Step 2: Make 3 heart templates out of card stock, or other cardboard/plastic stuff. One should be 3 inches across, one 2 inches, and the last 1 1/2 inches.
Step 3: On the paper backed fabric, trace as many hearts as you need to make the number pins you'd like. Also cut an equal number of 1 1/2 inch hearts out of the fleece.
Step 4: Cut out your hearts.
Step 6: Remove the paper backing from the hearts and assemble the heart layers. Lay your felt on the ironing board, then place the small fleece heart, with the 3 inch heart on top of that, leaving enough felt border around the 3 inch heart to cut with pinking shears. The adhesive side faces the felt. (Does this sound complicated? It's really not!)
Step 7: Iron the 3 layers together. If your felt is synthetic (acrylic say), you will need to put a press cloth over the layers before you press, or the felt will melt to your iron. Nice.
Step 8: Iron the 2 inch heart on top of the 3 inch heart.
Step 9: Cut the heart out using pinking shears, leaving about a 1/8 inch border.
Step 10: Time to sew! Zig zag around both hearts in a contrasting color-bright pink works for me. It's helpful to use an applique foot for this part. (and yes, I know I need a manicure).
Cute, no?
Step 11: Sew on the pin back (or small safety pin). You can find pin backs at Michaels or Joann.
Make one for yourself too! And remember, though you should never wear your heart on your sleeve, it's cool to wear it on your lapel . . . or hat. Just sayin.
