Show you care this Valentine’s Day by giving your loved ones the gift of warmth. The Toronto chill is here to stay, so follow these simple steps to create heart-felt hand warmers… get it??

All you need is:

• Felt in colours that suit the holiday
• Needle and thread in corresponding colours
• Uncooked rice
• Scented oil (optional)

Step 1:

Cut heart shapes into your felt. Larger sizes are easier to work with, but it will make it harder to fit into snug winter mittens- so plan accordingly.

Step 2:

Hand stitch Xs and Os in corresponding colours onto the hearts. I chose to use a vibrant thread, but choose a neutral colour for a more subtle look.

Step 3:

Tightly stitch around the edges of the hearts leaving a small gap (about one inch) open. This small opening is where you will insert the rice. I would recommend making yourself a funnel out of scrap paper, I learned this the hard way. You should fill the ‘heart pouch’ almost to the brim, but you will want to leave a little wiggle room for the rice. I recommend filling the hearts 7/8 of the way full.

*Optional: add a drop of scented oil to the rice for a special touch- peppermint oil is especially nice at wintertime.

Step 4:

Stitch up the open side of the heart and your hand warmers are complete. Throw them in the microwave for 30 seconds and add them to your mittens or pockets for a touch of warmth that turns a bitter cold walk into walking in a winter wonderland.

Happy crafting!

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