A Christmas heart is woven from two identical pieces of folded paper, each in its own colour. Each half is cut as a U with strips, and the two halves are woven into each other, so the tabs alternately go inside and outside. The result is a patterned heart with a handle that can hang on the Christmas tree.
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Christmas hearts are one of those things you'd rather sit down with at the dining table on a dark November or December evening, ideally with a cup of coffee and some paper in several colours. The technique is simple once you've tried it a few times, but most people need to see it explained step by step before their fingers find the rhythm.
This guide shows how to draw and cut the template yourself using the measurements that are traditional in Denmark, and how to then weave the heart, attach a handle and perhaps play around with patterns afterwards.
How it fits together: two halves that are woven
A Christmas heart is made up of two U-shaped pieces of paper, each in its own colour. Each piece of paper is folded in the middle, so you can draw and cut both sides of the U identically. Strips are cut from the bottom of the U up towards the fold, giving you a row of tabs that can be bent and woven.
When the two halves are placed at right angles to each other and woven tab by tab, the characteristic pattern emerges with two arches at the top, where one half forms one arch and the other half forms the other. It's the weaving pattern itself, alternating inside and outside, that gives the heart its structure and holds it together without glue.
What you'll need
- Paper in two colours, ideally red and white
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Scissors
- A little glue for the handle
The classic choice is glossy paper. It's easy to fold sharply, it holds its shape when the tabs are woven together, and the glossy colours give the contrast that makes the pattern stand out clearly. Ordinary card or thicker paper can also be used, but the stiffer the paper, the harder it can be to weave the last tabs into place.
Tip: Always cut a couple of extra U-shapes in both colours before you start weaving. That way you'll have something to practise on straight away if your first attempt turns out lopsided.
How to make the template yourself
Fold the paper in the middle. Then draw a U, where the bottom of the U sits at the fold, and the curve faces out towards the open edge of the paper. It's important that the U is closed at the fold, since it's precisely the fold that holds the tabs together when you cut the strips.
Below you'll find the traditional measurements for a Christmas heart, the pattern area beneath the arch and how many tabs you typically cut.
| Part | Measurement or number |
|---|---|
| Heart's measurements | 8 x 12 cm |
| The pattern field under the arch | 8 x 8 cm |
| Number of cuts in the pattern field | One to four times |
Cut from one to four times upwards from the bottom in the pattern field on both halves, so strips or tabs are formed. Then cut a matching U-shape in the other colour, so you end up with two identical halves, ready to be woven.
How to weave the heart step by step
- Place the two halves at right angles to each other, so the tabs from one half point towards the tabs from the other.
- Weave the left tab of the right half into the bottom tab of the left half.
- Let the next tab go alternately inside and outside the tab from the other half.
- Push the weaving up a bit, so the row sits tight and neat.
- Continue with the next row, but this time the other way round, outside and inside, so the pattern alternates from row to row.
When all the tabs have been woven through, carefully straighten the heart so it forms a patterned square with two arches at the top, the finished Christmas heart.
Handle and hanging loop
Cut a narrow strip of paper in one of the base colours for a handle. Glue it in place in the middle of the inside at the top edge of the heart, so the two ends are firmly attached to each of the arches. Once the glue has set, the heart can be hung directly on the Christmas tree or on a branch in a glass.
Find more ideas for how the Christmas hearts can be supplemented with other Christmas decorations.
See Christmas decorationsPatterns and variations
Once you've got the basic technique down, you can start playing with the look. Simple hearts have two to five rectangular tabs of the same width, and this is where you should start if you're new to weaving. With more tabs, the pattern becomes finer, but also harder to keep track of along the way.
Later on, you can try cutting the tabs at an angle or curved instead of straight, or use patterned or dotted paper, so the weaving itself creates a little visual interplay between the colours. Feel free to move from a few wide tabs to more, narrower ones as the technique becomes second nature.
The story in brief
The woven Christmas heart is a particularly Danish and Norwegian tradition, also known in Northern Germany. The oldest known example was cut by H.C. Andersen in the mid-1800s, a yellow and green heart without a handle, which has never hung on a Christmas tree. It's now held in H.C. Andersen's House in Odense.
The oldest known guide to weaving Christmas hearts appeared in Nordisk Husflidstidende in 1871, but it took almost 40 years before Christmas hearts became common. Around 1910, nurseries helped spread them, because weaving with glossy paper was part of the German educator Fröbel's early childhood pedagogy, intended to strengthen children's creativity, patience and fine motor skills. The first book on the subject, Julehjerter, was published in 1975 and made by the Lottrup Knudsen brothers.
Christmas hearts on the tree
The Christmas heart's predecessor was woven baskets, and the heart has indeed been called a heart-shaped cornet, because it can be filled with a little something nice, Christmas treats or nuts, and hung on the tree as a small surprise.
The homemade hearts look lovely alongside other Christmas tree decorations. Mix them with Christmas baubles or glass ornaments, so the handmade and the shop-bought Christmas decorations meet on the same branches. You can find inspiration for the overall decoration in the article about how to decorate the Christmas tree step by step.
Frequently asked questions
How do you weave a Christmas heart?
You place two U-shaped halves, each in a different colour, at right angles to each other and weave the tabs alternately inside and outside each other, row by row, until the whole heart is woven together.
How big is a Christmas heart template?
The traditional Christmas heart measures 8 x 12 cm, and the pattern field itself under the arch, where the tabs are cut, measures 8 x 8 cm.
Which paper is best for Christmas hearts?
Glossy paper is the classic choice, because it folds sharply, holds its shape during weaving and gives a clear contrast between the colours.
How do you attach a handle to a Christmas heart?
You cut a narrow strip of paper in one of the primary colours and glue it in place in the middle of the inside at the top edge, so the heart can hang on the Christmas tree.
Who made the first woven Christmas heart?
The oldest known example was cut out by Hans Christian Andersen in the mid-1800s and can be found today in Hans Christian Andersen's House in Odense.
How do you make a Christmas heart with a pattern?
You increase the number of strips or make the strips slanted or curved instead of straight, and you can also use patterned paper to create a more varied look.
Summary
A Christmas heart is made by drawing and cutting two identical U-shaped halves, each in a different colour, with the traditional measurements of 8 x 12 cm for the heart and 8 x 8 cm for the pattern area. Once the strips are woven alternately inside and outside each other, and a handle is glued on, the heart is ready to hang on the Christmas tree, ideally alongside other Christmas decorations.
Read also
- How to decorate the Christmas tree: step by step
- Christmas decorations with personality: How to build a unique collection
- DIY decor: Projects with home accessories
- Christmas decorations for the home: Create the perfect festive feel
- Elf pranks: easy ideas for elf mischief in December
- Elf door: how to make one, and where it should go
- Paper Christmas stars: weave your own Fröbel star
Let the Christmas hearts meet the rest of the Christmas tree
Once the hearts are woven and the handle is fixed in place, you can style the rest of the tree with Christmas tree decorations that match the colours.
See Christmas tree decorations