The Swedish Heart Basket is known by many names including Scandinavian Heart Basket, Pleated Christmas Hearts, Danish Heart Baskets, Norwegian Christmas Heart Basket, and Paper Heart Baskets. Although the exact origin of the hearts is unknown, the oldest existing example was made by the Danish author Hans Christian Andersen in 1860. Whatever its origins, they are very popular throughout Scandinavia and are traditionally made with white and red paper. Two pieces of paper are woven together in such a way as to create a pocket inside the heart. Perfect for wee surprises and to hang on Christmas trees.

Swedish Heart Basket Materials

• red and white construction or cardstock paper*
• packing tape (optional)
• glue stick
• scissors
• pattern

*The softer the paper, the easier it is to weave. Construction paper is easier to work with and recommended for younger children. People sometimes even use heavy wrapping paper.

NOTE: The weaving of the traditional Swedish Heart Basket will probably be too difficult for most 6 – 8 year olds. For that reason, we have created a glued version that is easier to do. We have also included the traditional woven Scandinavian Heart Basket following the glued method for parents and older siblings to try.

Swedish Heart Basket Directions – Glued

Make a copy of the pattern.

Cover the pattern piece with packing tape before you cut it out. Although this is an optional step, we highly recommend doing it. It makes it far easier to trace around the template and it can be used over and over again. Cut out the template. Cut along the two lines that will create your strips for weaving. Note: If you plan to make several Swedish Heart Baskets, cut out 2 templates. Do not cut out along the strip lines. Use this template for tracing around the pattern. Cut the strip lines on the second template and use it for marking lines.

Pick 2 contrasting colors for your heart. First, measure and cut off 2 strips from the end of each paper. These will be 3/4″ x 8 1/2″. Cut them down to 3/4″ x 7″. Set aside for handles.

Fold the remaining pieces of white and red construction or cardstock paper lengthwise. Make sure your edges are lined up. To create the glued heart, place the straight edge of the template along the 2 open edges of the paper, opposite the fold. Trace around the template. Cut out the template. You will have 2 pieces of your heart. Mark the strip lines on both pieces, then cut along the strip lines. Do the same with the red paper. There are now 4 separate pieces, two red and two white and each has 3 long strips which will be used for weaving.

For purposes of clarity, place your white piece on the left and your red piece on the right on a table in front of you. Refer to the illustrations on the pattern and the photos. The white strips are referred to as A, B and C and the red strips are referred to as 1, 2, and 3.

Take strip 1 of the red piece and weave it under A, over B, and under C.

Slide your white strips up and weave strip 2 over A, under B, and over C.

Slide your white strips up and weave strip 3 under A, over B, and under C. Straighten your heart so edges line up and strips are perpendicular to one another.

Using your glue stick, glue the ends of your loose strips. Turn your heart over and glue down the strips on the back. If need be, use scissors to trim away extra paper. Weave the remaining two pieces of the heart basket in the same manner.

To glue the 2 woven pieces together, add a line of glue along the edge of the heart beginning at the heart and ending where the weaving stops. DO NOT glue the top curved part of the heart. Now add glue from the point on the other side of the heart.

Place the 2 heart on top of the heart that has had glue applied to the edges. You should add your second heart so the white upper curved is on top of the white upper curved of the glued piece. Press the second heart on the glued piece and allow to dry completely.

To add the handle, apply glue to the two ends of your handle.

Gentle fold the handle in half so the glue is on the outside of the handle. Do not create a crease in the handle.

Slip the handle inside the basket and press so the handle is attached to the front and back of the heart on the inside.

When the glue dries, it is ready to hang.

Swedish Heart Basket Directions – Woven

Follow the directions for the glued heart basket until you come to tracing the templates. When you trace the template on your white and red, place the straight line of the template along the fold.

Cut out the two pieces of the heart and the strip lines.

Again, for purposes of clarity, place your white piece on the left and your red piece on the right on a table in front of you. Refer to the illustrations on the pattern and the photos. The white strips are referred to as A, B and C and the red strips are referred to as 1, 2, and 3.

When you wove the glued heart, it was simply a matter of weaving up and down. When you weave the traditional heart, each strip will either slide between 2 strips or capture 2 pieces of the same strip. Take strip 1 of the red piece and slide it between the 2 pieces of A, slide strip B between the 2 pieces of strip 1, and then slide strip 1 between the 2 pieces of strip C.

Slide your white strips up and then slide strip A between strip 2, slide strip 2 between strip B , slide strip C between strip 2.

This final row is the hardest! Some children will be able to weave until this point but may need you to finish this last strip. Slide your white strips up. Slide strip 3 between strip A. Slide B between strip 3, and finally, slide strip 3 between strip C.

If you woven correctly, you should be able to press the two sides of the heart together and the entire inside of the heart basket should be open. If it isn’t, you made a mistake and will need to unweave, which isn’t any easier that weaving! This whole process feels a bit awkward to start, but if you make 24 of them like Fairy and I did, you will get to be a pro and move quickly!

You will not need to glue the strips and sides since they are attached. Follow the directions for adding the handle and your Swedish Heart Basket is complete!

Or… go crazy with color!