Needles 'n' Knowledge: stitched hearts card

Layer the punch hole stitching panels

for strength, then use tapestry needle and

one color of floss to add cross stitches

to create the hearts-within-heart design.

Additional base layers add thickness and sturdiness

for heart shaped ornament or round ornament tag.

Card measures approx. 5”x5” when completed.

Ornament measures approx. 4.25”x4.16”.

Both stitched projects have identical cross stitching

and similar assembly steps.

The heart shaped card ornament will be explained

first in this tutorial, followed at Step 19 by

several images that will show how the card

round ornament are different.

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:

A stitching grid punched hearts

(2 to layer and attach for sturdiness)

B stitching chart with one color floss

C buffer accent heart layers (2 for thickness)

D accent heart (whole)

E scalloped heart

F base heart front (2 for sturdiness)

G opt. "card back" heart

H opt. heart card interior sentiment plaque

2. Prepare the two stitching hole-punched hearts

by making sure that all "chads" or cut out "crumbs"

are removed. One way to do this is to bend

a standard paper clip end straight then use it

to poke through all holes not already vacant,

then brush or scrape away extra bits.

3. Position smaller front heart on top of second

contrast heart layer, and, working quickly,

attach together, taking care

that ALL outer cut edges plus stitch holes and

hang hole edges align as precisely as possible.

One way to check that the holes align is to use

the paper clip tool to poke through various holes

across the panel, particularly at edges and corners, etc.

Press the glued-up punch hole heart unit under

a heavy flat object such as this thick book volume,

possibly with something else heavy placed on top,

and leave in place until thoroughly dried.

This could require several hours or over night.

4. Complete other pre-assembly tasks:

a) layer and attach the heart base shapes

together, taking care to align all cut edges

as accurately as possible;

b) position and attach the scalloped heart accent

onto front of card base layers, then

press the unit under heavy object until dried;

c) layer and attach the buffer shape layers,

taking care to align cut edges; press under weight.

HEART CROSS STITCHING

5. To complete the project, use size 22-24 tapestry

(blunt tip) stitching needles.

6. Prepare to stitch by cutting a 32-36 inch

length of 6-ply floss for the main color.

Following these steps below (with some images

from a different project) which describe how

to separate single strands

from the 6-ply group to minimize knotting:

A) Separate 2 plies by holding the grouped floss length

somewhat firmly between fingers of offhand, isolating one

ply to pull away, then pull it gently away from others

while the twists of the group begin to bunch up behind it.

B) Place the two plies side by side and line up the ends.

Bring end pairs together to create a loop opposite end.

C) Thread the ends through

the needle eye.

Pull the ends through then adjust loop so that it is

the long end.

7. Study this diagram to understand how to form

cross stitches for uniform appearance and tension.

NOTE that the RIGHT SLANT stitches are generally

placed across the row first, followed by the LEFT SLANT

stitches placed coming back across the row.

8. For this project, begin at the bottom center where

the first cross stitch will be created.

Each square on the pattern chart represents 4 holes that

would be needed to create both the right and left slants.

A) Insert the needle with thread UP from backside

in the TOP LEFT HOLE where the first X will be made.

This closeup from a different heart project shows more

clearly where the first cross unit will be made.

Needle is inserted up through

the top left hole of the four that are used for

first cross. NOTE that the first hole on second

row of holes is NOT used for bottom-most row.

B) Pull the floss through UNTIL about 3-2 inches

of the loop end remains, then insert the needle

diagonally to complete the first right slant stitch.

On the backside of work, insert the needle

through the loop and . . .

. . . pull the loop tight to remove all slack.

This is the "tying on" process.

9. Insert the needle through to front of work, in

the top right hole, then . . .

. . . insert the needle through to back of work,

in the bottom left hole to complete the left slant

of the only cross stitch on bottom row.

10. Move upward as shown on the chart to continue

to follow the chart . . .

. . . to complete that row, creating one cross stitch at

the far left position, and one at the far right position,

with a skipped or blank space between.

11. Follow the chart to complete the third row with

stitches and spaces. Then . . .

. . . move upward to complete the third row,

and so forth.

12. As stitching proceeds, thread length will

eventually be used up. Before length is

unmanageably short, pause when the needle is on

the backside of work as a slant stitch is completed.

Slip needle under 3-4 stitches on the backside, then . . .

. . . slide the needle off, and trim the tails close

to the surface of the work.

This is the "tying off" procedure.

13. Continue to complete the rows of the design,

until all stitches are in place, and tie off final time.

FINISHING

14. Prepare to attach the buffer assembly behind

the stitched heart with glue applied to backside

of the stitched heart by positioning so that

stitching in within the buffer opening, then . . .

. . . immediately turning the assembly over,

and adjusting so that the accent margin is

even all around. Apply pressure to secure.

15. Position the whole accent base under

the stitching assembly, adjust and glue in place.

Press under flat weight until dried.

16. Prepare the card back (if creating that version)

by bending the upper portion of the back panel

forward as the hinge. Then . . .

. . . position the upper portion back to back to

align scallop edges and hang loop of both

elements, and glue together only at upper portion.

Press flat.

17. If desired, position the message plaque

onto the inner surface of the card back

lower portion, and glue in place.

18. Add a length of ribbon and tie in knot

or knot & bow as shown.

CARD WITH ROUND STITCHED ORNAMENT

19. Identify and cut the shapes:

A heart disc with punch holes grid for stitching

(2 shapes to layer for sturdiness)

B stitching guide with one color floss

C buffer layers (2 for thickness)

D ornament whole disc back panel

E card front accent panel with ribbon punches

F card base with ribbon punches

(top fold card)

20. Follow Steps 2-3 above to layer, align, glue together,

check for alignment, and press until dry.

21. Layer and attach the buffer layers together

and press flat.

22. Prepare the card base by bending back at

cross perforation line.

23. Position and attach the front accent panel

to the front of the card base, taking care to align

the ribbon holes, also adjusting to make sure

scallop edges are equal distance from base

straight edges all around.

24. Refer to Steps 5-15 to complete the heart stitching

design onto disc grid.

25. Position and attach the buffer layers to backside

of the stitching panel, reversing to view . . .

. . . from front to ensure that the stitching disc

is exactly vertical, with equal offset margin

all around.

26. Position and attach the whole ornament shape

to backside of the stitched assembly. Press flat.

27. Thread a length of ribbon through the pair of

ribbon holes of front panel/card base, then . . .

. . . complete by tying a bow; trim ends.

(NOTE: the bow may require some adjusting

and possibly temp sticky dots to keep it

arranged as desired, and as shown here.)

Here is another view of the completed card.

Small hearts cut from fifteen paper prints

are arrayed in three rows.

Center needle holes on each align

with card front overlay so that they can be

stitched in place with perle cotton or floss.

Contrast card base is slightly offset,

measures approx. 5x7 when top folded.

ASSEMBLY: 1. Cut the shapes:
card base (gray in this sample)
card accent front with stitching holes
15 hearts with stitching holes & perf lines

If a gradation color sequence is desired,

consider this method:

Select 15 or more print papers to use,

then line them up in light (no. 1) to dark (no. 15)

order. Step back and "squint" to see if the order

needs adjustment. Select the 15 best,

then cut one heart from each.

One way to arrange the hearts for gradation

from light upper left to darker lower right

is to place the print order hearts as shown.

Switch hearts around as desired or preferred.

2. Bend each of the hearts face-to-face

along the center perforation/holes line.

3. Begin with the first (no. 1 position) heart,
apply a thin line of adhesive at the fold
on backside . . .

. . . then position it in over the accent front with

holes aligned, and hold in place until secure,

but take care that only the fold area attaches.

(NOTE that the TOP of the front accent card

has a slightly wider margin.)

4. Thread a 36-40 inch length of perle cotton
(no. 5 recommended) or 6-ply floss into a blunt
tapestry needle. Anchor the tail end with
a small strip of "paper" tape on backside
near the no. 1 top hole.

5. Insert the needle into the top hole,

push through to front . . .

. . . and pull through completely.

6. Insert the needle into the next lower hole
and push through to backside, then draw
thread to backside completely. This is
the first stitch.
Continue in the same fashion to complete
the following three stitches to attach heart no. 1.

Also complete the stitch below the first heart

as shown.

7. Position and glue heart no. 2 in place . . .

. . . and complete the four stitches plus

the between stitch to attach second heart.

Bend the heart sides upward slightly to make

sure that only the ridge is attached to card front.

8. Continue to add the next heart, complete
stitches to finish the first column of hearts.
Work the next column bottom to top, then
continue until all hearts are in place
and stitching is completed.