Light or heavy hearts … filled with sand or fragrance

Sunset, Feb, 1989

Stuffed with potpourri or white sand, these light or heavy hearts make easy-toassemble necklaces or pincushions for Valentine's Day. The necklace doubles as a sachet. The 2-pound pincushion also serves as a weight to keep sewing patterns from shifting during pinning.

For a necklace, you'll need pattern paper, 1/4 yard cotton fabric, coordinated thread, about 1 1/2 ounces potpourri (available at crafts stores and some florists), polyester batting (optional), a large embroidery needle, and a skein of pearl cotton.

From paper, cut out four hearts (2 1/4, 2 1/2, 3, and 3 1/2 inches across). Trace onto the wrong side of fabric with a soft pencil, making eight 2 1/4-inch hearts, four 2 1/2inch hearts, four 3-inch hearts, and two 3 1/2-inch hearts (measurements permit a 1/4-inch seam allowance). On each, make a 1/4-inch clip where the heart dips at the center. Pair hearts with right sides together; pin, then baste, leaving a 1-inch opening on side for potpourri. Machine-stitch, then turn right-side-out through opening.

Next, stuff hearts with potpourri and hand-stitch openings. If you want a necklace with a milder scent, fill some of the hearts with batting.

To assemble hearts, start with the smallest. Thread 1 1/2 yards of pearl cotton through one side near the top of the heart, leaving a 1 5-inch length at one end for tying the necklace.On the heart's opposite side, make a large knot.

String and knot the hearts in the following sequence (these are measurements before sewing): 2 1/4-inch, then 2 1/4, 2 1/2, 3, 3 1/2, 3, 2 1/2, 2 1/4, and 2 1/4. When you've threaded the last heart, a 15-inch strand

of pearl cotton should be left.

To complete, at each end of necklace pull a 30-inch strand halfway through smallest heart where 15-inch lengths of thread protrude. Braid strands, knot, then tie together in a bow.

For a pincushion, you'll need pattern paper, a 10- by 16-inch scrap of heavy cotton fabric, coordinating thread, a large embroidery needle, a skein of pearl cotton, a 6-inch length of 1/2-inch-wide ribbon, a small funnel, 2 pounds fine white sand (check at nurseries and pet stores), and a 2-inch square of polyester batting. First, cut out a 7-inch paper heart (includes 1/4-inch seam allowance). Trace onto the wrong side of the fabric, using soft pencil; cut out two hearts. On each heart, make a 1/4-inch clip where shape dips at center.

Place hearts with right sides together. Fold ribbon in half to make a 3-inch loop, then pin at dip so loop is inside heart. Pin, baste, then machine-stitch hearts together, leaving a 2-inch opening on one side for sand.

Turn stitched heart right-side-out. Using a funnel, fill with sand, then hand-stitch the opening. To keep sand from running out as you sew, stuff opening with batting. To finish, add French knots at 1/2-inch intervals around cushion's perimeter.