Where can I get . . .?
Heart Fulls patterns include recommendations for specific products to make ornaments just like the pattern photo.
I've searched far and wide. I've tested, stitched, snipped, fused, and pressed. All to allow you my best advice to make a successful project. Or, more likely, lots and lots of them. Welcome to your new obsession!
These are the items I highly recommend for Heart Fulls ornaments.
How about a kit?
The kit includes wool felt, cotton fabric, stiff interfacing, and fusibles, basically everything you need to make two ornaments - one for your and one to give away - EXCEPT needles and thread. This list of resources should help you find the supplies for you need if you want to skip the kit.
Perle Cotton for Embroidery/Embellishment
DMC 5-wt (color #30), Artfabrik 12-wt. ('sunflowers' and 'peas in a pod'), Artfabrik 5-wt ('nasturtium'), Eleganza 5-wt ('snow globe')
These are some of my favorite brands. I prefer and most often use 5, 8, and 12-weight
ArtFabrik - rich, bright colors. Hand dyed. My favorite colors are those with a gentle variegation. The threads come as a hank, so have to be 'bobbinated.' Thread quantity is VERY generous.
DMC Perle Cotton. The best selection is at the DMC website.
Felted Wool
Wool felt from both these brands will be included in the Heart Fulls kits
Wooly Lady - Hand-dyed wool in rich, bright colors. If you're looking for solid colors with no splashes of dark and light color variation, this resource is not for you. HOWEVER, if you're on the hunt for a huge variety of bright, dense color, this is going to be joyful shopping experience!
Sue Spargo Wool - Solid colors (no variegation from dying) in a broad range of bright, true color.
Quilting Cotton
Quilt shop quality woven cotton is the background fabric for the wool applique. Soft Shades of solid-reading colors are preferred. However, based on the design and wool color palette, a wide variety of colors and prints can be used.
On quarter yard will make two Heart Full ornaments.
Only quilt shop quality quilting cotton will be included in any Heart Fulls kit. You can find high-quality quilting cottons at independent quilt shops in your local community or online.
Embroidery and Milliner Needles
The needle size and type needed depends on the thread weight and stitch.
Embroidery Needles, size 3 and 5.
I use the size 5 needle with 12-weight thread, and the size 3 needle with 5-and 8-weight thread.
I like Tulip brand, ask at your favorite embroidery shop or search online for a variety of outlets.
Milliner Needles, size 3 and 5.
Milliners have a straight shaft and typically are extra long. Use them for French knots or bullion knots, especially.
I like Tulip brand or Sue Spargo brand, also available at your favorite embroidery shop or at a variety of online outlets.
Stiff Interfacing
Years ago, my dear friend Joan Hawley suggested using Stiff Stuff for ornaments from The FLOCK bird blocks. The connection to the bird blocks didn't materialize, but the idea stuck and when Heart Fulls came into focus, the combination of design, shape, and Stiff stuff was magic.
Joan took great care developing all her products and, especially with her brand of interfacing and fusibles, she felt that no other substitute on the market could compare at the same performance level. It's a big claim, but I think she was right!
Why I recommend Stiff Stuff for Heart Fulls. The main reason: it needles nicely. In addition, it is just the right stiffness to support the shape with just the right spongy-ness to have a professional finish and lovely 'hand.'
You can purchase Stiff Stuff in pack that contains a 20x40" piece, enough to make lots and lots of Heart Fulls Ornaments. Get Stiff Stuff HERE
Light Fusible Web
I tried several different fusible web products before settling on Soft Fuse light weight paper-backed fusible web by Shades Textiles for Heart Fulls ornaments.
It adheres beautifully to wool and to the Stiff Stuff interfacing, and doesn't add drag as you needle through each stitched element of the project.
Extra layers at the edge of the ornament could make the finishing stitches a challenge with a more robust fusible web. Soft Fuse is whisper thin and keeps your project stitch-able.
Woven Fusible Interfacing
Most fusible interfacing can also add body to light-weight fabric like quilting cotton. However, stabilizers and fusible that aren't woven can be tough to needle by hand.
I like to use Face-it-Soft by Lazy Girl Designs to add body the quilting cotton that will be embroidered or embellished. It's woven and fusible. Fuse a small square to the design area on the wrong side of the quilting fabric to be embellished for an easy-to-stitch stabilizer.
Other Stuff
Project Pouch. Gather your stitchy heart supplies in one place. Get one (or more) HERE.
Thread Bobbins. If you find yourself with a wild hank of perle cotton, tidy it up with Your Nest Thread Nest Floss Bobbins. Get some HERE.
Light Box. Treat yourself to an ultra-thin rechargeable light box. My favorite brand is CutterPillar. Tell them I said 'hello!' Not affiliated, just a fan.
Scissors. In my book, you can't go wrong with Karen Kay Buckley Perfect Scissors. For Heart Fulls, I keep my 4" Perfect Scissors and my 6" Perfect Scissors handy at all times.
Thimble. If you wear one, a thimble will come in handy especially when sewing the heart front and backs together. I'm a big fan of Thimbles by TJ Lane, but there are lots of very good thimbles available, and many of them rely in a good fit and personal preference. I wear my thimble on the middle finger of my dominant hand.
Finger Cot. It's a weird name for a small, very helpful piece of equipment. A finger cot is made from flexible synthetic material and fits on the tip of your finger. The finger cot's sticky/tackiness provides an improved grip on the needle. I wear my finger cot on the index finger of my dominant hand.
