DIY Valentine's Day Crafts: Make a Heart Shaped Rag Wreath

There's so much to love about a rag wreath but when it is shaped like a heart it is even sweeter. What is a rag wreath? Basically, tying scraps of fabric onto a wire frame makes a rag wreath. The product is really attractive but the process is also a lot of fun. Any age, from little hands to very experienced and maybe even a little tired hands, can work on a rag wreath.

The first step is to select a color scheme. We choose red and white with touches of blue for our Valentine's Day rag wreath and you guessed it, we pull it out again for the fourth of July. Red, white and pink is also a pretty combination for Valentine's Day but since it already has the heart shape, you can really choose any color scheme to match a recipient's décor. Remember this is a "rag" wreath. Of course you can even buy fabric scraps or squares but old tablecloths, blouses, men's shirts, kid's pajamas or pillowcases are all game.

Materials needed to create a rag wreath:

• All wire hanger with no cardboard
• Pliers are optional
• Fabric scraps
• Scissors

Steps for creating a heart shaped rag wreath:

The first step is to straighten out the clothes hanger, leaving the hanging hook in place. Now you'll pull up on the right side to form the first hump in the heart shape using half of the length of the hanger. Fold the second half up into a hump on the left side and twist the end around the neck of the hanging hook.

The next step is to cut the strips. Around 6 inches long and half inch to an inch wide is just fine. These strips do not need to be cut neatly as eventually they will all be bunched together anyway.

When you get tired of cutting strips start tying them onto the heart shaped wreath form. Begin on the top right by the hanger hook. There's no need to double knot. Just keep scrunching them together fairly tight for a fuller, fluffier wreath.

When your hands get tired of tying, then you can go back to cutting and repeat the process until you've covered your frame. Working straight through it takes about an hour to complete one heart shaped wreath for Valentine's Day.

A Valentine's Day rag wreath can be a family project done in an hour or a handmade surprise gift that one person works on a little at a time. Since you're using a coat hanger and scraps of yarn, this homemade Valentine's Day decoration is also very inexpensive and eco-friendly too.