Hearts & Crafts Project #10: Heart-Strings

Welcome to Mattie's Hearts & Crafts Blog Series!

 
This garland makes for a quick, cheerful decoration!  I added buttons, but anything is possible!  Try photos printed to fabric - this is so cute for a birthday party!
This method is like our Fusible Flat dolls.  If you like making the garland, check out the Fusible Flats  - positively addicting!

Fusible Flat Raw Edge Method
MATERIALS: 
(10) 6.5" squares for 5 Large hearts
(10) 4” squares for 5 Small hearts
5 Quiltsmart Sweet Hearts from one panel
Annie’s Soft and Stable: (5) 6.5” squares, (5) 3” squares
Contrast Thread
String or Jute (about 6-10 ft)
Optional: Buttons

INSTRUCTIONS:

1) Cut interfacing hearts out leaving up to about a quarter-inch margin on the large heart where possible.  Carefully cut small hearts out on the dashed line to free from large hearts.

2) Fuse the large and small hearts to the respective WRONG side of selected fabrics. This is theoretically the “front” of the garland, though they can flip around.

3) Trim the “front” hearts on the dashed lines.  If you wish to use any of the small hearts on top of the large hearts, glue those to the large hearts.





4) Layer the “back” fabrics RIGHT SIDE DOWN, then the respective size of Annie’s Soft and Stable, then glue the cut out large heart RIGHT SIDE UP on the stabilizer. 






















5) Layout your garland in an order that delights you.  Also, check the backs (if they are different fabrics) to make sure you have them as you like.











6) Zig-zag stitch around any small hearts that are on the large hearts.  Cut out hearts along the front heart raw edges.  Straight stitch along the edge of the hearts through all layers.



















7) Trim threads. Use Fray-Check on any loose threads on the back. 










8) Layout the hearts as you wish.

9) Using a large-eyed needle and string or jute, "stitch" the hearts into a row.  Put the needle in just the back fabric and out again with about a quarter inch of a stitch.  When done this way, the hearts can move along the string.  If you want them stationary, you can stitch the string directly to the hearts by machine - at the top of each heart, do a bar tack over the string (a zigzag without length).

Optional: Sew on buttons.  

TIP:  Plain Christmas Stocking holders work well to hang garland - during any season.

I used Jody Houghton’s fabric at jodyhoughton@msn.com (my dear sweet and very artistic friend!)

I hope you like your garland and it brings happy thoughts and memories of good times!  I also hope you like the method.
Thank you so much for reading and for your continued enthusiasm!
Enjoy and take care,
Mattie