Valentines from the Heart

By Virginia L. Terrell

Valentine Pockets

For each pocket, you will need: a heart pattern, tracing paper, a pencil, scissors, red felt, white embroidery floss, a needle, white paper, and a black pen.

1. Trace Heart Pattern 1 on this page and cut it out. Trace the copied pattern onto the felt twice, then cut out the two hearts.

   

   Heart Pattern 1

2. Thread the needle with three strands of embroidery floss and tie a knot at the end. Whipstitch (bring the needle up through the felt, then around the edge of the fabric, and up through felt again; repeat) the hearts together except at the top (see illustrations).

3. From the white paper, cut out a slightly smaller heart to fit inside the valentine pocket, or cut a strip of paper 1 1/2″ x 3 1/2″ (4 cm x 9 cm).

4. Write a valentine message on the paper, then slip it inside the pocket.

Laced Valentine

For each laced heart, you will need: the heart pattern, tracing paper, a pencil, scissors, construction paper, a hole punch, a 15″ (38 cm) piece of yarn, and a black pen.

1. Trace Heart Pattern 2; cut it out. Trace the copied pattern onto the construction paper twice and cut out both hearts.

   

   Heart Pattern 2

2. Put the hearts together and carefully punch holes around the edges (see illustration).

3. Starting at the middle of the top, and leaving a 5″ (13 cm) tail, lace the yarn all the way around the heart. Tie a knot close to the heart, trim the yarn ends to 4″ (10 cm), then knot the ends.

4. Write a valentine message on the heart.

Illustrated by Shauna Mooney Kawasaki