https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/folded-hearts-of-happiness-top • Posted by Delicate Stitches
I'd been playing around making origami bits and pieces with fabric instead of paper, the hearts worked well so I decided to stitch a few to a vest. If my instructions are confusing, there are lots of origami tutorials out there to help you with that bit! The starch helps you get nice, crisp creases and helps the fabric hold its shape better.
I'd been playing around making origami bits and pieces with fabric instead of paper, the hearts worked well so I decided to stitch a few to a vest. If my instructions are confusing, there are lots of origami tutorials out there to help you with that bit! The starch helps you get nice, crisp creases and helps the fabric hold its shape better.
Choose the fabrics you want to make your hearts from. Bear in mind that there is quite a lot of folded fabric so I'd chose something qute light weight. It also needs to be ironable and something that will keep the creases you make. I've found that cottons work the best and that using jersey will probably drive you insane .
Cut several square templates, the heart will be about a quarter the size of the square you use so don't make them too small! You might want your hearts all the same size or all different. My biggest template was 17x17cm and my smallest 9x9cm. I wouldn't recommend going smaller than that as it gets very fiddly! Be as accurate as you can, it will make life easier later on!
Spray your fabric with starch spray, allow it to soak in a little and then iron it carefully. I'd recommend you cover it with a cloth before ironing to avoid getting starch all over your iron.
Your fabric should now be quite firm, pin on your square templates and cut them out as accurately as you can. Taking your time over this step will make the following steps a lot easier!
Now you make the hearts as you would from paper but you use your iron to make the folds. You may want to add a bit more starch at some stages if you need a bit more crispness. Start by making horizontal and vertical creases.
Place your fabric right side down and fold the bottom edge to the centre.
Turn it over and take the bottom edge flaps to the vertical centre line.
Turn it over and fold the top flaps to the centre vertical line.
Fold down the top flap to the bottom point but don't fold the side trianges (it will make sense when you try it!)
Fold the side triangles along their inner edge.
Fold the four top corners down to the edge made by the top flap fold.
Fold down the top tips, turn it over and ta da! One beautiful fabric origami heart. Repeat untill you have the desired number of hearts.
Choose a pleasing arrangement of hearts on your top and pin them down. Secure each heart with small overcast stitches.
Wear and enjoy! My vest had buttons on and I chose to change some of them to give it a more mixed up quirky look.