Everything but the Stitchin'
Everything you need to know to assemble your Heart Fulls ornaments is included in the pattern.
The tutorials on this page provide a more in-depth look at each step from start to finish in video format.
The steps laid out here and in each of the Heart Fulls patterns are based on materials and techniques that I have found provide excellent results.
This page details all the steps to make a Heart Fulls heart ornament. Because I make a lot of Heart Fulls ornaments to give away, I typically have a few ornaments in progress at various stages in my heart project pouch. That way, I can pick and choose the steps I'm in the mood for when I sit down for a stitching session.
You'll find each step accompanied by a short video, in the construction tips below.
New to Heart Fulls? CLICK HERE to learn more!
Prepare the Parts
Make the Heart Base from Stiff Interfacing
The Stiff Stuff interfacing by Lazy Girl Designs is just stiff enough to support the ornament shape and just spongy and flexible enough to leave a nice hand for the ornament. As a bonus, Stiff Stuff accepts fusible web beautifully and needles easily. Let's prepare the Stiff Stuff for the project.
Prepare the Wool
Trace the shapes in reverse onto the paper side of the fusible web. Rough cut the web around the shapes, then fuse it to the wrong side of the felted wool. Cut the wool and fusible web on the drawn lines.
Note: An alternate technique involves skipping the fusible web and transferring the design to the wool with freezer paper. Then, once the shapes are cut, they are secured to the base fabric with pins. While both techniques are valid, I prefer to use a very light sew-through fusible web (Soft Fuse by Shades Textiles is my preference). with this method the entire shape's surface is fused in place before securing the applique shape with stitches. The applique shapes when fused in place, especially smaller shapes, don't shift as much as they are stitched.
Prepare the Quilting Cotton for Stitching
No additional preparation is needed for the backing fabric. Light woven fusible interfacing (I prefer Face-it Soft) on the back of the quilting cotton adds stability for the hand-embroidered embellishments to come. To save materials, only the central area gets the interfacing.
Prepare the Design for Stitching
Trace enough of the design motif onto the right side of the prepared top fabric. Arrange the wool shapes, layering design elements per the pattern details. Fuse.
As an alternative, instead of tracing, lay the prepared top fabric on a light box, then arrange the wool shapes as before. Carefully move the fabric top from the light box to the pressing surface. Fuse.
Stitch!
Your ornament is now ready to stitch. Simply adding the felted wool shapes with fusible web isn't enough to keep them in place longer term. Follow the stitch suggestions as outlined in the pattern to secure each shape to the cotton base, or go rogue and stitch a unique creation.
Find more detailed instructions for the embellishing stitches recommended in the pattern in the Heart Fulls Stitch Library.
Finish the Ornament
Trace and Trim
Once the embroidery and embellishment on the top of the heart are done, prepare the quilting fabric - top and back - for the next step.
Clip the fabric at the top and bottom near the heart points.
Fuse the Heart to the Quilting Cotton
Fold the fabric edges to the wrong side of the interfacing heart, then fuse the fabric neatly in place around the curved edges.
Stitch the Ornament Together
My favorite step in the process. . . The heart ornament is almost done at this point!
Add a Hanging Loop
To make a hanging loop, use the same perle cotton thread used to blanket stitch the front to the back. Cut about nine inches of thread, and don't knot it at either end. Use this clever trick to keep your ornament hanging straight.
