Heart Scissor Fob By Sarah Fielke

Material Requirements:

Two 6" squares of white linen Small amount of polyfil stuffing Venne Colcoton Linen thread 18/2 in colours 1-3006 and 3034 Cosmo Sparkle threads in colours 6 and 3 White cotton for sewing Crewel embroidery needle 5" embroidery hoop (optional) 2B pencil Sewing machine General sewing supplies

Embroidery:

Finger press the linen pieces into quarters using your fingers and open out flat.

Using a light box or a sunny window, trace the heart design lightly onto one piece of the linen, using the pressed lines to help you to centre it. Trace the word "snip" onto the other piece.

Use one strand of both the linen thread and the Sparkle thread.

For the heart:

* Back stitch around the ripple edge of the heart using Sparkle colour 3

* Work colonial knots inside the ripple on the marked dots using Colcoton colour 1-3006

* Work a row of chain stitch in Colcoton colour 1-3007 around the outside of the heart. Work a row of chain stitch using Sparkle colour 6 inside that row, and a row of Colcoton colour 3034 inside that.

* Take long stitches from one side of the heart to the other in both directions along the marked lines using Sparkle colour 3. Couch these threads down at the corners where the threads meet using Colcoton colour 1-3007.

For the back:

* Work the word "snip" using Colcoton colour 1-3006

* Work the exclamation mark using Colcoton colour 1-3007

* Work the dot over the i using Sparkle colour 6

Press both pieces face down on a small towel so as not to squash the embroidery.

Finishing:

Take a piece of Colcoton colour 1-3006 and a piece of Sparkle colour 3 each a yard long. Pit them together and fold the pieces in half so that the ends are together. Pin the folded end to something sturdy and begin to twist the ends of the threads in a clockwise direction.

Twist until the thread is so tight it's starting to double up on itself. Without letting go of the tension, put the raw ends and the folded end of the thread together and let the threads twist up on themselves. Stroke all the lumps out of the twisted thread until you have a smooth cord, taking care not to let go of the ends or you will lose the twist. When the cord is smooth, tie the end into a knot so that it doesn't untwist.

Cut the hearts out along the outside cutting lines. Place them right sides together.

Put the knotted end of the twisted cord into the V of the hearts between the two pieces of fabric. The folded end of the cord should be between the two marked lines and the raw end should be poking up above the fabric. Pin.

Sew around the outside of the heart, stopping and starting at the marked lines. Clip down a small way into the V of the heart, then turn the heart right side out through the opening. Stuff with a small amount of stuffing and hand stitch the opening closed using white cotton.

Sarah Fielke is a teacher, fabric designer and author. She is available through her blog at www.thelastpiece.net . Her latest book, Quilting: from little things is available at her website or through bookshops.