Felt Heart Garland

This felt heart garland is a simple beginner hand sewing project. Perfect for Valentine’s Day or a bridal shower.

Felt Heart Garland

Supply List

• 4 sheets of 9×12 red felt
• Red embroidery floss or thread
• White butchers twine
• Needle
• Sharp scissors
• Heart shape pattern (PDF download)
• Straight pins (optional)

Cut The Garland Strand

Begin by cutting your butchers twine 8 1/2 feet long. The total decorated length of your garland will be approximately 6 feet, with one foot of extra twine on each end for hanging.

Cut the Felt Hearts

Begin by cutting out heart pattern ‘B’ from the Hearts and Stars Patterns PDF, and tracing it onto your first sheet of felt. You should be able to trace 8 hearts on a 9×12 sheet.

I recommend stacking a second sheet of felt under the one with your traced designs, and cutting both pieces as the same time. Not only will this save you time, (by requiring less tracing and cutting), but it will also make each pair of hearts identical to each other.

Plan to cut 13 sets of hearts total to create 6 feet of garland.

Alternately, you can use a sewing pin to attach the heart to your felt and cut around the pattern each time instead of tracing it. Just be sure to not cut the pattern or your hearts will get smaller each time. Be sure to use your felt as efficiently as possible when making your cuts or you may need to purchase additional sheets of felt.

Sew the Hearts

Thread your needle with approximately one yard of red thread. I used two strands of embroidery floss, but you can use whatever you prefer.

Before you begin stitching, make note of the place on your heart that the butcher twine will enter and exit. The image below shows where the string should travel between the two felt heart pieces.

If you run the strand too low, your hearts will hang floppy or upside down on the garland. Proper placement of the string accounts for the weight of the felt and keeps the hearts upright.

Begin sewing at the bottom point of the heart. Use a running stitch to sew up the edge of the heart toward the curves. (You could also use a whip stitch or blanket stitch)

Place the Felt Heart on the Garland Strand

Once you reach the widest point of the heart, where the twine will run through, it is time to attach the heart to the strand. Lay the butchers twine between the two felt hearts, coming in one side and out the other.

For your first heart you will want approximately one foot of loose end coming out the left side, and the remainder of the garland strand coming out the right.

For each remaining heart, measure 6 inches from the middle of the previous heart, or measure point to point (shown below).

Attach the Heart to the Garland Strand

Stitch through the twine with your next couple stitches as you continue toward the curve of the heart. This will help to secure it in place so your heart doesn’t slide around on the garland when you are finished.

Continue stitching around the curves until you reach the string on the other side. Make sure the twine is pulled taught within the body of the heart, and once again add a stitch or two through the twine as you pass it.

Optional Modification: If you would like your felt hearts to have a 3D puffy appearance, add a small piece of quilt batting or a shredded cotton ball when you have about an inch of so of opening remaining (see image above).

Finish stitching the rest of the heart until you reach the tip again. Tie off your string and trim any ends.

Building the Felt Heart Garland

Continue adding hearts to the strand by repeating the steps above. When you get ready to attach the hearts to your twine strand, remember to measure 6 inches from the center of one heart to the center of the next (or tip to tip). This will ensure even spacing and proper final garland length.

When you attach the final heart, you should have approximately one foot of extra strand. Trim your garland to the length you want, and consider knotting both ends to reduce fraying.

Happy Crafting!

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