Turn An Old Quilt into Heartful Decor
How to Make Hearts from an Old Quilt: A Sustainable Craft Idea
If you're looking for a way to repurpose an old quilt into something beautiful, functional, and meaningful, crafting heart shapes from your quilt is the perfect project! Not only is it a great way to give new life to a beloved, worn piece of fabric, but it’s also an eco-friendly and sustainable craft. These quilted hearts can make wonderful decorations, heartfelt gifts, or charming keepsakes.
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Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to transform that old quilt into a beautiful heart-shaped decoration:
Materials Needed:
Old quilt (washed, dried, or steamed)
Iron
Sewing machine
Size 16/18 sewing needle
Vintage trim, buttons, or other embellishments (optional)
Prepare the Quilt: Start by grabbing your old quilt. Give it a good wash and dry (or steam) to freshen it up and remove any dust or dirt. This also ensures that the fabric is clean and soft for crafting.
Choose Your Shape: Select a heart shape or template that you’d like to use. You can find many free templates online, or even create your own! Trace around the template using a FriXion erasable ink gel pen. The great thing about this pen is that it can be erased with heat, so don’t worry if your lines are a little wobbly.
Cut the Shape: Using pinking shears, carefully cut around the heart shape. The pinking shears will help to prevent any fraying of the quilt fabric, giving your hearts a clean and neat finish.
Press the Fabric: Once your shape is cut out, iron it flat. This step helps to remove any wrinkles and gives the fabric a smooth surface for sewing. It also removes the pen marks!
Sew the Hearts: Now it’s time to sew! Place two heart shapes together, making sure the fabric sides are facing each other. Using a sewing machine, sew around the heart with at least a 3/8-inch seam allowance, using a size 16/18 needle. Set your machine to a longer stitch length of 4.0 for smooth and strong seams.
Stuff the Heart: After sewing, leave a small gap to insert some Polyester Fiber Fill Stuffing. Gently stuff the heart to your desired puffiness. Be careful not to overstuff, as it may distort the shape.
Sew Closed: Once the heart is filled, sew the gap shut, using small hand stitches to ensure a neat, secure finish.
Add Embellishments: To make your quilted heart extra special, embellish it with vintage trim, buttons, or other decorative pieces. Adding these details is a great way to give your hearts a personalized touch!
Why This Craft is Great:
Sustainable: This project helps you repurpose old quilts, giving them new life and reducing waste.
Customizable: You can mix and match fabrics, trims, and buttons to make each heart unique.
Perfect Gift or Décor: These hearts are a great gift idea, perfect for holidays, birthdays, or as a thoughtful handmade decoration.
Repurposing old quilts into hearts is not only a creative way to upcycle fabric but also a wonderful sustainable craft. Whether you're making them for yourself or as gifts, these hearts are sure to be a cherished addition to any space.
Free Heart Template:
To get you started, here’s a free heart template you can print out and use for your own quilted heart creations!
Happy crafting! Don't forget to check out my affiliate links for the FriXion erasable ink gel pens, Fiskars Pinking Sheers and Fairfield Polyfil stuffing for your project!
If you love these quilted hearts but don't have the time to make your own, check out the handmade ones we've crafted and are offering for sale—perfect for adding a personal touch to your home or as a thoughtful gift!
Until next time,
Aunt Henri
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