DIY Penny Rug Heart Valentine Ornament with Woven Heart

Create a charming Valentine's decoration with this Penny Rug Heart Valentine Ornament! The heart symbol is the primary symbol associated with Valentine's Day, making this penny rug project the perfect choice for the occasion.

This delightful free penny rug pattern features two hearts - one plain heart with a woven heart on top.  It's crafted using a combination of felt, simple weaving and embroidery, resulting in a unique ornament perfect for Valentine's Day. 

Whether you're looking to brighten up your home decor, add a handmade touch to a gift or simply enjoy a relaxing DIY activity, this project is both fun and easy to make.

With the video tutorial and the following step-by-step photo instructions, along with basic crafting supplies, you'll be able to create this beautiful woven heart design that's sure to spread love and warmth to your holiday display.

INSTRUCTIONS for making the penny rug ornament

STEP 1: Prepare the Heart Template and Heat n Bond Pieces

Download, print and cut out the heart template. You will find the link to the free heart template if you scroll near the end of the article, in the Supporting Products and Links section.

Use the template to cut two heart pieces from pink felt.

Cut two rectangles from Heat n Bond, each measuring 1 ½” x 2 ½”.

STEP 2: Create the Woven Heart Pieces

With an iron, adhere one piece of Heat n Bond cut in Step 1 to red felt.Cut along the edges of the Heat n Bond to remove excess felt fabric, then round one end to create the top of the heart shape.

On the paper side, measure 1 ½” up from the straight bottom edge and draw a horizontal line.

 From the bottom edge to the horizontal line, draw two vertical lines spaced ½” apart to create strips.

Cut along these lines to form the weaving strips.

Repeat this process with the second Heat n Bond piece and the white felt.

STEP 4: Attach woven heart to pink heart

Carefully center the woven heart on one of the pink felt heart pieces. Use your iron to fuse the woven heart to the pink felt.

Thread an embroidery needle with 3 strands of pink embroidery floss (I used DMC #604) and knot the end.

Hand embroider a running stitch around the top portion of the heart.

Search your button collection for small red and white buttons.  If you don’t have buttons, near the end of this tutorial are alternative ideas.

Sew one white button onto each of the woven red squares and a red button on the white squares.

STEP 5:  Attach the ribbon hanger

Cut a 10” piece of ribbon and form a loop. Place the ribbon ends at the center back of the pink heart. Use a needle and thread to securely stitch the ribbon ends to the back of the ornament.  Make sure the stitches don’t show through to the front.

STEP 6:  Finish with a Blanket Stitch

Pin the second pink heart to the back of the front one to hide the stitching and ribbon ends.

Blanket stitch around the entire edge of the heart using three stands of embroidery floss starting on one side.  For this project I used white embroidery floss; however, you can use whatever you want.

If you're not sure how to stitch the blanket stitch or how to use it to embellish an ornament, we're here to help you.  We have a video tutorial available that covers the blanket stitch technique in detail.  If you scroll a bit farther down, you'll find an explanation of how to blanket stitch a Christmas ornament.  You can use the same method to blanket stitch this Valentine's heart ornament as well.

Your Penny Rug Heart Valentine Ornament is now complete.

This simple, unique handmade piece is the perfect addition to your Valentine’s Day décor.  Hang it on a doorknob, window or wall.  Gift it to someone special. Besides Valentine's Day, this penny rug ornament could be hung on a Christmas tree.

Do you want more Penny Rug Ideas? Here are additional Free Penny Rug Patterns that you may enjoy.

• Penny Rug Flower Bookmark by Needlepointers.com
• Penny Rug Christmas Ornament by Needlepointers.com
• Penny Rug Table Topper Pattern by Accuquilt
• Christmas Tree Penny Rug by Patch Pieces

How to Blanket Stitch Around A Christmas Ornament

To begin, thread an embroidery needle with three strands of embroidery floss and knot the end.  This knot will be hidden between the two felt pieces.With the right side of the ornament facing up, bring the point of the needle up through the front circle a short distance from the edge of the felt, ensuring the knot is hidden between the two layers.  Pull the floss all the way through.

The knot is hidden between the felt layers as seen in the above picture.

Next, poke the needle's point up from the back going through the same hole you initially made on the front of the piece,

and pull the floss all the way through to the front.  This creates the first stitch which looks like a vertical bar.

Now, insert the needle sideways under the top of the vertical stitch.

Then, insert the tip of the needle about 1/4" away from the vertical stitch, from front to back, making sure the floss is under the needle.

Pull the needle with the floss taut to create your second blanket stitch.

Continue to blanket stitch around the edge of the felt ornament.

This completes the detailed tutorial on how to blanket stitch for the Valentine's ornament described above.