Red and White Hearts Are a Lovely Holiday Tradition

Fill Them with Treats or Small Gifts!

Paper folded into red and white hearts have long been a part of the holidays in Denmark and other Scandinavian countries. They form pretty pockets that can be filled with treats and then hung on the tree.

Thought to have been first created by the Danish author Hans Christian Andersen, they now go by the name of Danish or Scandinavian hearts.

We found instructions to make these lovely ornaments from fabric. Add machine embroidery and tassels for an heirloom look.

Or, leave them plain and allow the contrast between red and white to predominate. You can even us small-scale red and white prints for a homespun look.

The instructions from Charlotte Warr Anderson do not specify how large the finished hearts are but they’re large enough for gift cards. Hers is made with satin, but quilting cottons will be lovely too (and probably easier to work with!).

Click here for the free “Fabric Scandinavian Heart” tutorial.

Download the “Fabric Swedish Heart Template” here.

The following woven hearts, by Erika Mulvenna, show how lovely the ornaments are in colorful solids. She used the same tutorial but added a button to each heart. See more here.

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