Anne Sofie makes pleated Christmas hearts

String, paper, scissors. To support her hobby, Anne Sofie has - in her own words - purchased materials as if she were shopping for a school. "When you do something a lot, it can make sense to buy in bulk," she says.

Where does your interest for making pleated Christmas hearts stem from?

In primary school, we would have a paper crafting day leading up to Christmas and this would be my favourite day. One of my classmates had a book with 150 templates for pleated Christmas hearts which we used year after year. When I moved to a different school, I had to get the book myself and I have since completed it several times. I like unwinding and making something with my fingers, and with pleated Christmas hearts, you can quickly get some lovely results.

Moodsetter. Anne Sofie tries to abstain from weaving Christmas hearts until mid-October as to not get into the Christmas mood too early.

Element of surprise. Different shapes and pattern can quickly create a wow effect, just like these small, pleated Wise Men definitely will stand out amongst the Christmas decorations.

What is your process like?

I prefer to listen to music - often Christmas tunes - or podcasts if I am alone. If my boyfriend is also at home, we tend to watch TV while I weave. I usually place all my materials on the dining table, where I sit and weave. It can take me a couple of days, so we sacrifice the dining table during that time. The process also depends on whether I am weaving to produce a lot or if I am trying to renew my repertoire. The latter is definitely the most time-consuming because it also involves quite a bit of math to get the circles and all of it to fit together. I very much like making different shapes and figures and adding little details and that takes a lot more time than a simple weave. I can make 50 of the simpler ones during one evening if I am looking to make lots to sell at Christmas markets.

Creative corner for children | Søstrene Grene

Diversity. Anne Sofie is very mindful of the fact that breasts look different from person to person. She therefore always makes sure to include different shapes, colours, and 'looks' in her collection of pleated breasts.

What do you do with all these pleated Christmas hearts?

I have a big enough collection of Christmas hearts myself, so I sell some of them at Christmas markets at pretty low prices. I also gift some to my family and friends, so the hearts can be used as decoration in their homes. Some years I have cycled through the whole city and left them in friends's post boxes in the beginning of December. I have also added them as decoration to hostess gifts, especially during the Christmas season. It's as if people appreciate getting Christmas hearts more during the Christmas season than at other times during the year.

Distinct technique. When weaving Christmas hearts, it is quite important to draw and cut correctly. Anne Sofie recommends making templates in cardboard which can be reused, and to draw the templates on the backside of the paper which you will use for plaiting. She does not recommend freehand drawing or cutting.

Sweet strings. It is always a good idea to add an extra string to the handle, so the Christmas hearts will face in the right direction when hung.

Why do you hope that more people will weave Christmas hearts?

Most Danes have experienced the Christmas paper crafting day when they were in school, but I still meet a lot of people who have never weaved a Christmas heart. Most have made simple paper garlands or similar items which maybe are not as valued and are quickly disposed of again. I host a little workshop for my friends every year where we of course weave Christmas hearts. My friends get to make something a bit more special which then has a bigger value for them. I like the idea that my friends come to my flat to get into the Christmas spirit with Christmas tunes, Danish 'æbleskiver', and glögg. It is my dream that they all leave the workshop with a piece of Christmas decoration that they are proud of and will want to use again and again. I hope to inspire to this through my Instagram page as well.

Start small. If you would like to start weaving, Anne Sofie's advice is to start small, get acquainted with weaving and to get some nice experiences.

How did you get into plaiting other shapes than only Christmas hearts?

I did find a lot of inspiration through other paper weaving profiles on Instagram. Here, I discovered untraditional weaving where the sides are placed within each other, so one of the colours becomes more dominant. This opened a whole new world for me. I started weaving the breasts after my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer but they are also a bit of a trend. They are really just hearts which have been turned upside down, but I find that a lot of people think they are fun to hang on the Christmas tree, because people have opinions about them and they create conversations. It's like: I wonder what granddad will think of those?

Strong and simple. The pleated Frida Kahlo is made in quite a simple plait, so the main character really is the focus.

All year round. Anne Sofie's weaved pieces are not just reserved for Christmas, but can also serve as decorations for Easter, in childrens' rooms, or adorn lovely gifts.

önnur gallerí