How to Make a Valentine's Day Windsock

A windsock is a tube of fabric with streamers that hang below it to blow in the wind. Doubtless, you've seen them hanging on a porch, or perhaps you display one outside your own home. Windsocks are very easy to construct, and when done with the proper fabrics, they can withstand the wind and other elements very well. Here are some tips, suggestions, and instructions for making your own Valentine's Day windsock.

First, you will need the fabric. The kind of fabric you are looking for is a stiff nylon, because it stands up to the weather. Ask someone in the store to direct you to the parachute or windsock fabric. Fabric is sold by the yard, and you will need 1/3 yard of white, 2/3 yard of red, and 2/3 yard of pink. You will also need to find a ring that is about 1 inch in diameter, some nylon ribbon, and clear thread. Finally, you will need access to a sewing machine. If you do not have access and you want to make this craft, you can purchase a small hand held sewing machine for $10-$20.

When you get home, open up the fabric. The tube or sock of your windsock is going to made from the white. Check other windsocks to get an idea of their diameter. Ideally, it should be about a 12 inch circumference (measured around the outside of the windsock). Place two sides together and sew it along the edge. Then turn it so that the seam is on the inside. Decide how long you want it to be, although it should not be over 16 inches for this size of a windsock. Cut it to the proper length. Go around the top and bottom of the tube with a very close and wide stitch so that it will not unravel.

With the red and pink fabrics, open them up and cut them in half along the longest edge. One half will be used to make streamers and the other half will be used to make hearts. The streamers should be measured so that they are all the same width, and also that the piece is the same width from top to bottom. To use, simply cut a strip and make the same close and wide stitch around every edge. When you have them all cut, space them around the windsock. It's okay for them to overlap slightly, and it's preferable to leaving a gap in between the streamers. The streamers should not be cut, but left long. With the hearts, find some heart shapes that are different sizes and cut some from the remaining fabric. Sew these throughout the body of the windsock in whatever design you choose.

Finally, cut a piece of ribbon that is 18 inches long. Use the close and wide stitch on the ends to keep them from unraveling. Sew this onto the top of the windsock at one end, slide the ring on, and then sew the other end to the windsock, directly opposite the first side. Now your windsock is ready to hang by the ring. Instead of ribbon, you can also use an extra streamer if you have one. Simply trim it the right size, finish the ends with the close and wide stitch all the way around, and then use it in place of the ribbon.

Following these simple steps, you can create your own windsock to hang outdoors. Don't be afraid to go beyond these suggestions and make the design much more complicated. For those with some quilting experience, you will be able to piece together true works of art that you can display outdoors. Enjoy your new Valentine's Day craft and hang it outside so that your neighbors can see the beautiful craft you have made.