Ruffle Heart Bunting

Create a beautiful banner of ruffle hearts in this Valentine's Day sewing project. Step-by-step photos guide you through sewing these ruffle hearts with fabric scraps. This heart bunting makes for low-cost Valentine's Day decorating. 

Materials:

• 8" by 6" Fabric scraps, two for each heart
• 1" by 40" Fabric strip for ruffle, one for each heart
• Scissors
• Pins
• Seam Ripper
• Sewing Machine
• Measuring Tape
• Rotary cutter, Ruler, and Cutting Mat
• Iron-on interfacing, light or medium weight
• 100" Fabric bias tape in coordinating color
• Matching thread
• Template (pdf)

STEP ONE
Print out your template, and cut out the desired number of hearts. (Your template is slightly larger than seen here, because I added the seam allowance of 1/4". This photo was taken of my original pattern. Yours will be much nicer.)

STEP TWO
Prepare the ruffles. Repeat for each fabric strip, based on how many hearts you want to make.

Now, sew a gathering stitch. To do so, using the longest stitch length, sew at 1/8" from the rough edge.

There will lots of threads as you gather the ruffle, if this bothers you, sew a small zigzag stitch down the cut edge before you gather. Trim the loose threads.

STEP THREE
Pin the ruffle to the interfaced heart. To begin, direct the edge of the ruffle strip outwards and pin.

Now, pin the rest of the ruffle to the heart.

Using a small zigzag stitch, sew the ruffle to the heart.

STEP FOUR
Place the two halves of the heart right sides together, and pin.

Sew the heart together, at just under 1/4". Be sure to leave open about two inches so that you can turn the heart right side out. Before you turn the heart out, cut into the top of the heart to allow the heart to be turned out completely.

Turn the heart right side out. You can pull on the ruffle to make sure the heart is turned out completely. Iron the seams open, and fold over and pin closed the hole you left open for turning. Topstitch the heart.

STEP FIVE
Using the button-hole template, mark the position of the button holes with a pen.

I prefer to use a pen because the marks are easier to see when I sew the button holes.

You can use scissors, or use your seam ripper to open up the button holes.

REPEAT STEPS ONE THROUGH FIVE FOR EACH HEART.

STEP SIX
Sew the bias tape closed. You can make your own bias tape, which I've shown in other tutorials. If you wish to, I highly recommend a bias tape maker.

Using a medium stitch, sew the bias tape closed at 1/8". Be sure to finish both ends of the tape.

STEP SEVEN
Thread the bias tape through each heart.

Continue with each heart. Tie the ends of the bias tape in a bow, and then hang up the banner.