Milton Keynes Soroptimist Club is acting as the coordinator for the NHS Hearts for Hope activity which is a national group set up to enable stitchers to come together in a supportive way in order to make textile hearts to give to NHS staff who work in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) wards. It includes all staff from the cleaners and porters to the doctors, consultants, nurses and everybody in between.
These Hearts are intended to say thank you, share that we are thinking of them and value their efforts.
You can check out the purpose and lots of lovely pictures of hearts on their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/750652902555175/?ref=share “NHS Hearts for Hope.”
We have established a link and contact person with Milton Keynes University Hospital who will take delivery of the hearts – there are over 100 staff working ICU, so we are looking for that number of hearts if possible.
You can make them in any way you wish, but we ask that they are 4 inches by 4 inches in size and they have something to use to hang them, e.g a ribbon. You can use your imagination – they can be patchwork, plain, any colour, stuffed with wadding or unstuffed it’s your choice. We do ask that the material is clean. They could be knitted, embroidered, applique but please don’t put anything like lavender in them just in case somebody is allergic
We ask that you make your hearts in a clean environment and wash your hands frequently while making them. If you feel unwell at any time, please don’t make the hearts until you feel better.
Once your heart(s) are completed then you seal them in cellophane or a plastic bag in order to keep them as clean as possible – one heart in each bag please. You can put a message in the bag with the heart if you wish or put a thank you or similar message sewn into the actual heart. There is some really nice ribbon available online with messages on which you may like to use.
To enable the hearts to have the most impact with ICU staff at Milton Keynes University Hospital we would ask all hearts to be delivered to us as below by 1st April when they will still be much needed. Once your heart(s) is/ are complete and packaged could you please send or deliver them to:
Either
Milton Keynes Soroptimist Club Milton Keynes Soroptimist Club
1 Willowford 16 Cartmel Close
Bancroft Park Bletchley
Milton Keynes MK13 0RH Milton Keynes MK3 5LT
If you have any queries, please contact us on soroptimistsMK@gmail.com
Below are instructions and a template to help you. Happy Sewing lets spread happiness and hope to the hard-working staff of our NHS
Instructions on how to make – for guidance only. There are other ways:
- First we used word on the computer to insert a heart shape to form the template. Click on the following for the heart 2 template file. The red line is the 4inches. The blue gives a small seam allowance.
- Cut one side of heart in two pieces with join down center line. So you could use to turn inside out, when sewn.
- Sew top and bottom of center line a bit. Then open out flat.
- Then cut full heart shape for other side.
- Place full heart shape and two-piece heart shapes, right sides facing and sew round the full outline.
- Cut notches up to sew line so it will fully turn inside out. Turn inside out.
- Then press. You could put in stuffing.
- Sew up center line, inserting ribbon for hanging.
- If you use felt or something that does not fray, you do not need seam allowance or the inside out turning.
Happy sewing and thank you for helping us say a Big thank you to the NHS ICU staff of Milton Keynes University Hospital.