Rummage: Craftin'

It was only last week, although it feels like a decade ago, that I mentioned I was going to do a week of crafting and show you the goods - good, bad or ugly.
So here goes - and a tut. to boot:

The Cuddly Heart

You will need: a charming vintage linen teatowel, (prepare yourself, you will need to cut into her), a piece of calico (same dimensions as the teatowel), about 1 kilo of unhulled wheat or rice, dried lavender/rose geranium - or any other dried herb which takes your fancy, a few drops of your favourite essential oil (the dried herbs tend to dry out quite quickly in the microwave).

1. Cut your teatowel fabric and your calico in half. Set 1 piece of your calico and 1 piece of the teatowel to one side.

2. Place the two fabrics one on top of the other and fold them in half. Now mark half of your heart shape with a pencil or erasable pen, (don't use a whopping big texta stolen from the small peoples' pencil case as I have done).

4. Cut it out. Take one of the pieces and use it as a template for the reserved two pieces of fabric. You might also want to consider using a contrasting fabric for the other side of your heart as I have done.

5. Sandwich your four pieces of fabric together and pin them, (I never use pins and much cussing issues from my lips as a result - this is just for the photos). Make sure your two main fabrics are right sides together.

6. Select a very small straight stitch on your machine and with a 5/8 inch seam allowance sew around your heart making sure you leave about 4-5 inches open on one side of the heart. Now sew a second seam 1/4 inch in from your first line of stitching. This is to ensure that your heart doesn't spring a leak anytime soon. Make sure you don't stitch over your opening.

7. Now take your pins out and trim your threads. Turn the heart inside out. It's now time to mix together your dried herbs and your wheat or rice. The best way to fill your heart is to use a funnel. Carefully fill your heart, (inside the calico insert), until you are happy with the shape. Don't overfill it or it will become too heavy and uncomfortable to hold. At this point you could shake in a few drops of essential oil. When you are happy with the shape, tuck your seams inside and sew a neat straight stitch over the opening. Trim your threads and you're done.

PS My children call these 'cuddlies' and use them every night in bed and sometimes during the day if they're having a sensitive moment. They have become an integral part of our daily lives. The first and best tutorial I have seen on these is here. Over time I have modified it to suit my own needs, these are simple to make and are great presents for special little, (or big), people.
PPS If you don't feel like making one I'm going to pop a few in the shop over the next few days.
xx

Edited to add:

I think I failed to mention the bit about warming them up in the microwave - but I'm sure you knew that. I do mine for about three minutes. Make sure the cuddly fits in comfortably and the plate is rotating freely.