Original

Back

No Stitching

Squared

with

Stitched

Back

Rounded

with

Stitched

Back

Rounded

Stitched

Back

Rounded

Original

Red Candy

Heart

Squared

Squared

Stitched

Back

Original

Red Candy

Heart

Rounded

Squared

Scroll down for Descriptions

Photo above shows the Backs of the Hearts

Original Heart is backed with silk. The kit for this heart do not include finishing instructions or finishing materials. I sent this heart to a professional finisher.

Squared Heart has a front and a back.  Instructions include all VERY SIMPLE finishing.

Rounded Heart has a front and a back. Instructions include all

VERY SIMPLE finishing.

Rounded Heart Kit includes 2 pieces of contress cloth, one for the front, one for the optional back.  If you just want to make the front, you can easily and quickly back it with felt or fabric.  If you stitch both pieces, you can self-finish the heart in about 45 minutes.  Very simple finishing instructions are included in the pattern.

Red Candy Heart Squared Kit includes 2 pieces of contress cloth, one for the front, one for the optional back.  If you just want to make the front, you can easily and quickly back it with felt or fabric.  If you stitch both pieces, you can self-finish the heart in about 45 minutes.  Very simple finishing instructions are included in the pattern.

Original Red Candy Heart Kit includes a single piece of congress cloth and no finishing materials or instructions. I sent this heart to a professional finisher.

About My Experiment

One day a friend said to me that she has made soo many of my hearts. She loves stitching them but hates finishing them and so expensive to send them to a professional finisher! So her stitched hearts are all in an unfinished stack.

So I decied to experiment with a Nun's Stitch edging to make finishing super easy and super fast.  I have used Nun's Stitch edging for years and years, and so I played around and made two new Red Candy Hearts. One has a squared edge of Nun's Stitch, one a rounded edge of Nun's Stitch.

I made a back and a front for each little heart (The back has the added advantage of personalizing the heart). When you finish the stitching, you simply cut out the shape around the Nun's Stitch and use running stitch to sew the two pieces together.  I added pieces of cardstock and a gentle amount of stuffing and then made a twisted cord and knotted it. Narrow ribbon would work as well.

Does this finishing take the place of professionally finished hearts?

That's up to you. I do know this: better to have finished hearts hanging around your house, rather than a stack unfinished in a drawer somewhere.

Notes about My Original Red Candy Heart

Over the years I have made kits with different beads for Red Candy Heart. This year I was lucky and found beads similar to my original beads. The red and white beads aren't exactly the same but very close. The rest are the original beads.  I always have a supply of Oval Pearls and happily I have a huge quantity (although now dwindling) of red nailheads.

The sharp-eyed among you might notice four sequins in my original heart. I have omitted these in this year's kit.

Kit Contents for Each Heart

Each heart kit contains Soie d'Alger (2 colors), a spool of Kreinik braid #8, congress cloth and  a baggie with beads and pearls.

The Original Red Candy Heart has a single piece of 8" x 8" congress cloth. The Instructions for Original Red Candy Heart are 19 pages long plus a title page and a color copy of my heart.

Red Candy Heart Squared has two pieces of congress cloth. The instructions for Red Candy Heart Squared are 22 pages long plus a title page and a color copy of my heart, front and back.

Red Candy Heart Rounded has two pieces of congress cloth. The instructions for Red Candy Heart Rounded are 24 pages long plus a title page and a color copy of my heart, front and back.

IN A NUTSHELL WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE Among the Hearts

Original Red Candy Heart is a traditional one-piece heart you send to a finisher. The kit contains instructions for only the front. No finishing materials or instructions.

Red Candy Heart Squared has a front and a back with instructions for EASY Self Finishing with Nun's Stitch. The kit contains two pieces of congress cloth and all instructions for finishing. You will need to provide Cardstock and optional stuffing (you can use your white ORTS if you wish.

Red Candy Heart Rounded has a front and a back with instructions for EASY Self Finishing with Nun's Stitch. The kit contains two pieces of congress cloth and all instructions for finishing. You will need to provide Cardstock and optional stuffing (you can use your white ORTS if you wish.