Sewing For Charity: How To Sew Flannel Hearts For Preemies
Have you heard of sewing flannel hearts for preemies?
Back in 2016, when I started to research “sewing for charity” projects, there were a lot of blanket-related ideas, but nothing that was new-to-me, which is what I was hoping to find.
It wasn’t until I came across the “inspirational hearts” request from Preemies of the Carolinas that my interest was piqued.
It’s not that I don’t like to sew blankets, I do.
As part of the Create To Donate mission, however, I was set on finding things that are not only easy to do, but something new and fun.
It also had to be a project that could be done in a matter of hours on a single day, not over the course of several days or weeks.
And sewing flannel hearts seemed to be just the thing!
What Are Flannel Hearts For Preemies?
A flannel heart for preemies measures approximately 8″ x 8” and it is worn against a NICU mom or dad’s skin and then placed in the baby’s crib in the NICU.
Since the flannel absorbs the scent of the parent, placing one in the crib helps to comfort the baby during their time in the NICU.
Over the years, these handmade flannel hearts for preemies have become a regularly requested donation for a variety of organizations that serve families in the NICU.
Now, however, they go by various names, so the request may be for a NICU bonding heart, or scent heart instead.
Sewing Flannel Hearts Is Simple
One of the best things about these flannel bonding hearts is that they are a beginner-friendly sewing project along with being a great way to get comfortable sewing curves.
Tools And Materials
You will need the following tools and materials to make these inspirational hearts:
- Inspirational flannel heart pattern (offered below as a PDF download or use this Canva link)
- Flannel fabric
- Sewing machine or serger
- Scissors or rotary cutter and mat
- Sewing clips
How To Sew A Flannel Heart For Preemies
This sewing project is as simple as it looks.
All you need to do is:
- Print and cut out the inspirational flannel heart pattern.
- Cut two (2) flannel hearts.
- Place the fabric pieces right sides together then clip them together to prepare for sewing.
- Sew the pieces together using a 1/4″ seam allowance leaving a 1.5″ hole for turning on a long edge of the heart.
- Turn the heart right sides out.
- Top stitch the edge of the heart to close the turning hole and add a finishing touch.
How To Use A Serger To Make A Scent Heart For Preemies
If you want to use a serger instead, you will place the two pieces of fabric wrong sides together then serge around the heart.
You can use the cutter knife to trim as you sew, but make sure to remove only a sliver of fabric because you don’t want to lose the width.
Also, if using the cutter knife, retract it when you reach the dip in the center top of the heart.
Make sure to weave in the ends of the thread securely when you’re finished serging.
Free Sewing Pattern: Inspirational Flannel Heart For Preemies (PDF)
Free Sewing Pattern: Flannel Heart Canva Link
If you are a Canva user, click here to access the inspirational heart pattern .
Fabric Cutting Preferences & Project Timing
If you prefer to cut fabric on the fold, just cut the pattern down the middle and place the long edge of the paper on the fold of the fabric.
Back in 2016 when I first started sewing these, it took around two hours to sew 10 flannel hearts.
I haven’t timed it since then, but once you’ve gotten the hang of them it will go very quickly.
The beauty of this charity sewing project is that you can sneak in sewing a handful of hearts, to build up a stash, when you’re working on other projects.
Not to mention, these are great to take out and sew on those days when you need a pick-me-up; sewing even one of these inspirational hearts will make a difference in a family’s life.
What Else Can I Sew For Preemies?
If you’ve already pulled out the flannel, here are some other sewing projects you may enjoy sewing for preemies.
Sewing For Preemies Makes A Difference
Making even just a small batch of inspirational flannel hearts to donate to your local NICU or send to an organization in need makes a huge difference to parents navigating through what it means to have a preemie.
So why not use some of your larger flannel scraps and make some today?
Do You Know An Organization In Need?
Do you know of other charities or organizations in need of hearts like these?
If you do, please share their name and URL in the comments below so I can add them to the list of organizations that need them.
This post was originally published on September 15, 2016 and was updated on July 15, 2026.
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I am working on my second batch if inspirational hearts now. It always makes me feel good to know that I can do something to help these families through these tough times.
Ruth – This is so wonderful to hear! Thank you for letting me know. It is a wonderful gift to give a family doing everything they can to keep their preemies healthy and connected to them.