Woven Paper Heart Ornament

Most people are familiar with the basket woven hearts, like these by Margit Ammentorp.

Here's a different kind of woven heart made from paper strips.

Cut four paper strips. Mine are 1/2" wide by 8.5" long.

Fold each strip in half.

Weave together the strips into an interlocked center square. First, place #1 horizontally with the fold to the right. Place #2 vertically, fold at the top, around #1. (The bottom layer of #2 goes under #1 and the top layer of #2 goes on top of #1.)

Place #3 horizontally, fold to the left, around #2.

Last, place #4 vertically, fold to the bottom, around #3 and through the loop of #1. Pull loose ends to tighten.

Fold both #2 layers up.

Fold only the top layer of #1 to the right.

Fold only the top layer of #4 down.

Fold both layers of #3 to the left, through the loop of #2.

Turn the piece over, horizontally. Strip #2 and #4 should still be at the top and the two #1 pieces to the left and right. Strip #3 should be pointed to the right.

Fold #4 up and through loop of #1.

Fold #1 to the right and through loop of #2.

Make a loop from the better looking #3 strip and tuck behind the pocket next to it on the left.

(This is actually a picture of the last loop being made from strip #4, but it's in the same position as #3 would be. Wrong color, though. :) )

Trim off the other #3 strip. JUST THE ONE STRIP. (The one coming out of the same place.) If you prefer, you can use both strips to make the loop. I think it's too bulky.

Trim any excess at the end of the strip #3 if it protrudes from the bottom of the pocket.

Make a loop from one #2 strip and tuck it into the pocket to its left. Trim away the extra strip. Trim the bottom of strip #2 is needed.

Turn the heart over, make two more loops at the top in the same way.

This is what it looks like from the top.

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Woven Paper Heart Ornament