Step-By-Step Grain Sack Hearts Tutorial with Guest Artist Susan Frick

Today on the blog, we are joined by the extraordinary Susan Frick, who has very graciously accepted our invitation to recreate one of her lovely Grain Sack Hearts for Somerset Place. Susan, who has been published in our Summer 2014 issue of Artful Blogging, as well as our Autumn 2013, and Spring 2013 issues of Somerset Life, provides detailed instructions and pictures for this project so that you too can try your hand at recreating these darling little hearts.

I remember the first time I saw Susan’s hearts. I was flipping through our last issue of Artful Blogging, and when I came across Susan’s stunning photographs, I immediately fell in love with the grain sack hearts. There’s something charmingly simple about these little hearts. Maybe it’s the kraft color of the fabric, which makes them look weathered and rustic, or maybe it’s the vintage-inspired stamps that Susan used. Whatever it is, one thing I know for sure is that everything about this project is simply delightful.

I could image stuffing these little hearts with dried lavender or other sweet smelling herbs and hanging them from my bed posts, or even using different stamps to create one-of-a-kind Christmas tree ornaments. My sister in law is about to have her first child and I am already planning to create a unique little baby mobile with hanging grain sack hearts.

What will Susan’s project inspire you to create?

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These simple grain sack hearts are all about vintage texture. They’re made from worn, soft European grain sacks of days gone by, along with vintage hand towels. The towels have a unique texture as well, with pretty trims and faint patterns. Topping each heart with a loop of twine just adds to the nubby, raw, textured look.

 

Materials for Susan Frick’s Grain Sack Hearts:

– Fabric cuttings from old grain sacks (This is a great way to use up the plain back of a grain sack, or otherwise stained piece. The fabric piece I used had a crease in it which just added interest to the finished heart.)

– Vintage white hand towel (It may be fun to find one with a monogram to use as well.)

– Black stamp ink (Or whatever color you like.)

– Alphabet stamps or any other kind of stamp (I’ve used a key stamp.)

– Twine

– Filling for heart

– Sewing machine, needle, thread

 

Instructions for Susan Frick’s Grain Sack Hearts:

Step 1 – Cut two heart-shaped pieces from the grain sack fabric using any heart stencil you’d like. My stencil measures about 6 1/2″ wide by 7″ tall. Also cut a 6 1/2″ by 1 3/4″ strip of fabric from the vintage towel. Carefully stamp the towel strip with a word of your choosing, or other favorite stamp image. Pin the stamped towel strip to the right side of one of your grain sack hearts at the widest points.

 

Step 2 – Sew the vintage towel strip to the grain sack heart fabric on each of the long sides, about 1/4″ in.

 

Step 3 – Pin the two grain sack heart fabrics right sides together, with 10″ of twine looped in between them. Ensure the ends of the twine loop stick out about 1/2″ at the top center of the heart. Next sew the hearts together, about 3/8″ in all around, leaving about 1 1/2″ opening on one side to be able to stuff the heart. Clip curved edges and any excess towel fabric.

 

Step 4 – Turn heart right side out and press. Make sure to press the opening inward to line up with your seam. You’ll notice the raw edges of the vintage towel strip start to fray – that’s the raw look you’re going for!

 

Step 5 – Stuff the heart with your desired filling – cotton stuffing or even lavender for a sachet.

 

Step 6 – Lastly, sew up the opening used to stuff the heart using a whip stitch. You’re finished!

 

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Read About Susan Frick in the Summer 2014 Issue of Artful Blogging

Thank you so much Susan for this tutorial and all the wonderful project ideas. To read more about Susan’s Grain Sack Hearts and to get even more inspiring project ideas, pick up a copy of the Summer 2014 issue of Artful Blogging.