I know, I know, you’ve only just recovered from Christmas and put out the last of the recycling and here I am talking to you about St. Valentine’s day. So today’s tutorial is a special Valentine themed project; manly scented Valentine hearts.
Let’s face it, ladies are pretty easy to buy for the old standby’s of chocolate and flowers never seem to go amiss, but what to get for your man?
In this tutorial I’ll show you how to make a simple scented St. Valentine heart for the man in your life. One he’ll be proud to hang in his wardrobe or pop in his sock drawer to help him smell sweet every day.
You will need:
- Craft scissors
- Sewing scissors
- Fabric ~ I used leftover scraps from other projects
- Pins
- Needles
- Embroidery thread
- Ribbons, buttons and beads to decorate
- Stuffing
- Pattern ~ download my hearts pattern here.
- Bran
- Essential oils
To make the scented bran.
Spoon bran into a ziplock bag or storage box with lid. Add the essential oils of your choice. I used 8 table spoons of bran and 16 drops each of lavender and cedarwood oils. I found that this was quite strong so you might want to start with a less oil. Lavender and cedarwood compliment each other and are insect repellent so act as a natural moth repellent for clothes storage. Seal the bag or box and shake the bran to disperse the oils.
Cut out the pattern pieces with craft scissors and pin to your chosen fabrics. You will need to cut two of the large hearts and one small heart in a contrasting fabric.
Cut the hearts out with sewing scissors, I used pinking shears to reduce fraying and add a pretty finish to the hearts.
Pin the small heart, right side up, to the right side of one of the large hearts.
Starting at the top of the small heart sew through both layers of fabric using a running stitch. I used embroidery thread but you could use any thread you liked.
When you reach the top of the heart push the needle through to the back of the fabric and bring it out at the top of the large heart, this will save you having to tie off the thread and start a new thread.
Place the front heart on top of the back heart – wrong sides facing – and pin together.
Sew the hearts together close to the cut edge using a running stitch.
When you get close to where you started you will need to stop stitching so you can stuff your heart.
Using small pieces of stuffing fill the point and the top of the heart. As the bran is very loose you will need to form a layer of stuffing along the seam so that it doesn’t fall out of the heart.
When you have lined the heart with stuffing add some of the scented bran. I used two teaspoons of bran.
Fill up the rest of the heart with stuffing and matching the top of the heart finish sewing to close completely.
To add a button sewing through both layers of fabric to mark where the button will be placed and then sew on the button, stitching through all layers.
To make the hanging loop; pass the needle through to the back of the heart and, holding your fingers a little way away, loop the thread around your fingers and pass the needle back through the fabric.
Make a few small stitches to strenghthen and then tie and cut off your thread at the back of the heart.
Bow tie variation.
To make a ribbon and button bow tie.
Cut a length of ribbon twice the width of the heart.
Fold the ribbon in half and sew a couple of bar stitches just over half way from the fold.
Flatten out the ribbon so that the loose ends are spread open and the middle fold is pressed against the bar stitches.
Sew two or three bar stitches through all layers of the ribbon, going from one side of the centre point to the other.
Stitch a button to the top of the ribbon and with the bow placed over the right side of the heart sew through all layers and button until secure. Tie and cut thread at the back of the heart.
Personalised heart.
Draw and cut out the letter of your choice, I drew mine freehand (B is for Bill, my dad!) but you could use a font from the computer and print out a giant letter of your choice.
Pin to the right side of contrast fabric and cut out.
Pin and stitch the letter to the front of your heart. I used a lazy bar stitch but you could use any decorative stitch you like.
Once stitched assemble your heart as described above.
And there we are, three scented manly St. Valentine hearts!
Special Offer!
To celebrate St Valentine’s day there is free P&P on all the Hanging Heart sewing kits in the shop.
Download special.
Download my original pattern and instructions for the Hanging Hearts here.
Share your creative St.Valentine and hearts gifts and crafts with the linky link list below.
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