Begin by creating a heart-shaped template. Using an engineering compass or by tracing around a jar lid or glass, draw a circle. Fold it in two neatly and on another sheet of paper, trace around the edges with a pencil. This gives you the curved upper portion of the heart. Measure across the diameter of the circle, and then draw a square with the sides equal to the diameter, i.e., if your circle has a three-inch diameter, your square will have three-inch sides. Align the square with the straight edge of the half-circle you drew on the second piece of paper and trace around the edge of the square. Bingo! You now have a half-heart template!
Step One (top left): Trace around the template onto your sheets of colored paper. Mark the points where the semicircle and square meet and draw a line from point to point. Next, divide the lower portion of the half-heart into five equal sections lengthwise (a center-finding ruler works best, but any ruler will do if you measure accurately).
Step Two (top right): Cut carefully along the lengthwise lines, taking the cut just slightly beyond the horizontal line which divides the curve of the heart from the lower portion. Reverse the fold of the half-hearts so that any pencil markings are on the inside.
Step Three (middle left): Begin weaving the folded tips by passing the innermost blue strip through the center of innermost orange strip. Then pass the orange strip through the center of the second blue strip. At this point, the work progresses on an angle and is fairly easy.
Step Four (middle right): Do not completely weave any strip all the way across at this point! Gradually add in new weaving until the work becomes too tightly packed to weave the last strip. Ease the first strips of weaving toward the curve of the heart, being careful not to tear the paper.
Step Five (lower left): The last few weavings will be the most difficult. Continue working the earlier strips toward the curve of the heart until the final strip of orange can be passed through or over the last two strips of blue. Patience is the key here, and if you want a real challenge, try making a two-inch heart out of fragile origami foil!
Step Six (lower right): Your woven heart is complete! Add a handle by gluing on a strip of leftover paper, or even glue a narrow strip of the contrasting color to the center for a fancier look.
This pattern was originally published in the Jan.-Feb. 1989 issue of "Cross-Stitch and Country Crafts." I adapted its size so that it was suitable for a May basket.
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