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Red felt heart garland
by Bethany Hissong

materials:
2 pieces of 9"x12" red felt
7' ribbon
white embroidery floss
stuffing
embroidery needle
cardstock
fabric pen or marker

1. Make a template of a heart, either by folding cardstock and cutting out half of a heart (like we all did in elementary school!) or by printing out the picture below and tracing it onto heavier paper. My hearts are about 3 1/4" wide by 3" tall.

2. Trace 12 hearts onto the red felt and cut out.

3. Embroider the letters "l o v e" on each heart, or initials (you choose) with 2 strands of white embroidery thread doubled on the needle (so it's really 4 strands of floss). I wanted mine to look like school handwriting (see above). I free-handed the embroidery but you can lightly draw on the letter with a fabric pen or marker. I used a split stitch to embroider the letters. See instructions for that here.
4. Cut 6 pieces of ribbon that are 3" long for the tabs of the hearts. Cut one 5' piece of ribbon for the garland string.
5. Pin two hearts together, right sides facing out. Fold the 3" ribbon in half and tack inside the two hearts at the top with the embroidery thread to make a loop. Don't cut the thread...you'll start sewing the hearts here.
6. Using a blanket stitch, sew together the front and back of the hearts, leaving about 2" opening at the end to put a little stuffing in, before continuing to blanket stitch it closed. Continue with all 6 hearts.
7. Find the center of the garland string and position the hearts evenly on the string, keeping about 5" between each heart. Tack the loop onto the string with the embroidery floss (a simple little cross knot.)
8. Hang your heart garland and continue decorating for Valentine's Day! :)