The best valentines are made with love, so what could be better than a hand-stitched gift? If you're planning on sewing something for your Valentine, check out these fun ideas for unique projects they're sure to love!
Start customizing your own custom strickers!
- Love Notes Pillow
Whether you're leaving cute notes for the kids or something heartfelt for your significant other, these cute pillows are an adorable Valentine's Day touch. Simply stitch a felt heart onto a pillow of your choice, leaving the top open to create a pocket for your notes. If you prefer to use a woven fabric, be sure to line it to avoid leaving raw edges exposed.
- Heart-Shaped Handwarmers
Nothing says "I Love You" like these toasty little pocket warmers! Stitch palm-sized, heart-shaped bags from scraps of cotton fabric and fill with rice. Once stitched closed, they can be microwaved to heat them up. Got kids? In the summer, pop these pouches in the freezer for flexible cold packs that are perfect for skinned knees or bug bites.
- Valentine`s Mug Rugs
Another great scrap-busting project, this is a great way to practice fabric piecing techniques and quilting patterns without committing to something large-scale. Paper-piecing is an excellent way to create these heart-shaped mini-quilts. Add candy-heart-style embroidered words like BE MINE" or "LOVE YOU' for an extra-sweet touch.
- Festive Bunting
You've got several options for creating Valentine's Day themed bunting. Pick up a pack of color-coordinated quilting cottons and go with the traditional triangular flag shape, or really go all out and create heart-shaped flags. Use grosgrain ribbon or bias tape as a base for your bunting, stitching on your flags at regular intervals.
- Shabby Chic Valentine Hearts
Once, "Valentines" weren't just paper cards exchanged by schoolchildren and couples. They included small gifts and tokens, like a posy of flowers, a length of ribbon, or a lacy hand-stitched ornament like these adorable hearts. Vintage touches like eyelet lace, ribbon embroidery, and scraps of beautiful velvet, satin, and fine cotton make them heirlooms to treasure.
- Fabric Envelopes
These keepsake envelopes are perfect not only for presenting your Valentine with a special card or letter, but they're also an adorable way to keep those special momentos safe for years to come.
- Felted Heart Elbow Patches
Add a little holiday flair to a sweater or cardigan with this (technically no-sew) project! You'll need felting needles and a block of dense foam rubber, plus combed wool in your choice of color and a heart-shaped cookie cutter. Put on the sweater to mark the points of your elbows, then remove it and tuck your block of foam inside the sleeve, centering your cookie cutter on the point you marked. Fill the shape with tufts of wool and felt them into place by stabbing straight down through the wool with your felting needles. Ta da! Heart-shaped elbow patches.
- Patchwork Table Runner
Got a special meal planned for Valentine's Day? Add a homey touch with a pretty patchwork table runner. Simple half-square triangles make easy heart shapes if you're new to piecework, but you can also get creative and use your favorite quilt blocks and patterns…
- Embroidered Love Notes
This is a particularly sweet gesture that can turn into art you display year round. Whether you choose classic love letters or poems, or if you've shared your own words over the years, stitching and framing those words makes for a beautiful and meaningful Valentine's Day gift.
- XOXO Applique
With appliqued hearts standing in for the O's, this is a great project for embellishing ready-to-wear clothes or bags, especially if you're pressed for time, or just introducing a new sewist to the tricks of embroidery and applique.
- Embellished Zipper Pouch
Whip up a simple zippered pouch and go wild with the sequins, beading, and trims for something extra special. Stick to the traditional Valentine's Day color pallette, or go upscale with black and white with touches of pink or red.
- Somebunny Loves You
Stuffed animal friends are a great way of showing the kids in your life how much you care, especially when they're handmade! While teddy bears may be traditional, think outside the box with bunnies made from brightly colored scrap fabric.
- Cupid`s Messenger Bag
An easy messenger bag gets a Valentine's day makeover with the help of some love struck heart and arrow embroidery. Make your own bag or opt for dressing up one already in your closet.
- Blanket-Stitched Felt Valentines
For a handmade Valentine the kids will love making, cut heart shapes from different colors of sturdy felt. Use yarn or bright embroidery floss to blanket stitch around the edges, then stack them together in decreasing size and stitch through the center for a layered look.
- Sewn Paper Surprise Valentines
Use fun printed papers to sew these surprise valentines. Tuck confetti, treats, and a tiny Valentine card inside heart-shaped paper pouches before stitching them closed, either by hand or with your sewing machine. To reveal the surprise, simply tear them open!
- Rose Sachets
These Valentines pull double duty as keepsakes and gifts in one. Stuff them full of of petals from the significant bouquets in your life— wedding, anniversary, other special occasions—and embroider them with the date for a special memento to treasure.
