Heart Pillows for Heart Patients
Looking for a way to spread a little love this Valentine’s Day? Join me in this special effort to make Huggy Heart Pillows for Heart Patients! It’s a great way to use your talents to encourage and help someone who has had heart surgery.
What is a Huggy Heart Pillow?
Huggy Pillows serve a very special purpose. Holding one against the surgical incision helps to relieve the pressure and pain when a patient coughs, sneezes, or laughs. It can also act as a barrier between the body and a seatbelt in the car, protecting the incision and preventing pain. St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City has put out a special request for these pillows, and I’m sure your local hospital would appreciate receiving them for patients as well. While the hospital can provide a standard issue pillow, it means so much more to receive a fun, colorful one that’s been handmade with love, and is even heart shaped!
How to Make a Heart Pillow
This is a very basic sewing project that only requires a few materials and less than half an hour to create. Whether you make one or ten, you’re making a real difference.
Here’s a little more about the project, as seen on KSL Studio 5.
Materials:
- 1/2 yard of fabric (save 25% on any order at Missouri Star Quilt Co. using this link! Discount applied in cart.)
- scissors
- sewing machine and thread
- Poly-Fil
Instructions:
Cut two matching heart shapes from your fabric that are approximately 15” wide by 17” tall.
A good way to do this is to fold the fabric in half horizontally, then in half longways and cut a half heart shape along the second fold. This should give you two full hearts that are the same size and shape. You can also tape a few pieces of computer paper together and sketch a pattern, then trace it onto the fabric instead.
Place the hearts right sides together and sew around the edges with a 1/4” seam.
Make sure to leave a 3” opening for turning.
Turn the pillow right side out and fill it with Poly-Fil.
Hand or machine stitch the opening shut.
You can use any fabrics in any colors and patterns you like. Here’s a pretty blue and purple one made by my friend Carol Henderson.
How to Donate your Heart Pillows
If you’d like to share your Huggy Heart Pillows in your own community, contact your local hospital and ask them where and how they accept donations. If you’d like to donate to St. Luke’s where they have an ongoing need for these pillows, you can ship them to this address:
St. Luke’s Hospital
c/o Volunteer Services
4401 Wornall Rd
Kansas City, MO 66411
Crafting Tips
- This is a great project for crafting groups, guilds, and clubs to get involved with! Crafting is even more fun when you do it together.
- Make sure not to over-stuff the pillow; it should be nice and squishy.
- Don’t worry about perfection, these are handmade and will be appreciated however you create it.
Frequently Asked Questions
The only requirement is that the finished size should be around 15”x17.”
No! Use any color and pattern fabric you like. Patients of all ages and interests have heart surgery.
Anyone who can sew can create these pillows. If the kids in your life want to be involved, but are too young for sewing, let them help by stuffing the pillows with Poly-Fil! It’s a very important job! Kids can also help choose and cut the fabrics.
More Sewing Projects
If you enjoy sewing, here are some other craft projects to try.
If you create a Huggy Heart Pillow to donate, I would love for you to share it so we can all encourage one another to share some love. You can share on social media using #huggyheartpillow, and also in the Amy Latta & Friends Group on Facebook. I hope to see you there.
Huggy Heart Pillows
Equipment
- scissors
- sewing machine
Materials
- 1/2 yard fabric
- Poly-Fil
- thread
Instructions
- Cut two matching heart shapes from fabric that are approximately 15” wide by 17” tall.
- Place hearts right sides together and sew 1/4” seam around the outside edges, leaving a 3” opening.
- Turn and stuff with Poly-Fil.
- Sew opening shut.
