Woven Together Valentine

This is a Valentine's Day card with a woven, two-color Celtic Heart Knot on the front, each color coming in from opposite sides to represent the two people in a relationship. This card was inspired by and adapted from the Celtic Heart Knot video presented by J. D. Lenzen of FusionKnots.com. He has an excellent video on his Tying It All Together Youtube channel, showing how to tie this knot with a single rope. I recommend watching this video to see the knot in action before trying to tie the knot on the card. This is his video tutorial:

Step 1: Materials

1 8 1/2" x 11" white cardstock
1 4 1/2" x 7" white cardstock
1 4 5/8" x 7 3/16" black cardstock
1 5 3/4" x 8 3/4" white envelope
1 48" - 62" red 550lb paracord
1 48" - 62" black 550lb paracord
1 safety pin
1 black pen or marker
super glue
glue stick

Not pictured:
iron
scissors

Step 2: Remove Core Strands From Paracord

Remove the seven strand core from both the black and red paracord lengths. These strands are most likely going to be conspicuously sticking out of one or the other end of your paracord. If your paracord ends happen to be singed to prevent fraying, you may want to cut off half an inch or so to expose the core strands. If you still can't see them, try rubbing the cord in between your fingers, or sliding the whole length between your fingers. The white strands will peak out at some point. Pull these until they are all the way out. Discard the strands or use them in some other capacity.

Step 3: Iron Paracord Lengths

Iron both the black and red paracord lengths until as flat as they'll go. Since the paracord is made out of nylon and can melt, you will want to use a fairly low iron setting. I successfully used the #2 (for nylon/silk) and #3 (for polyester/rayon) settings on my iron.

Step 4: Align Paracord One on Top of the Other

Align the two paracord strands so they are side by side, with one color on top of the other. You will be preserving this side-by-side alignment throughout the knot. The color coming from the left side of the card is color A, which is the top color in your alignment. The color coming from the right side of the card is color B, which is the bottom color in your alignment. In the case of this tutorial A is black and B is red, but you are welcome to use whatever colors you wish.

Step 5: Loop the Paracord Around and Down

Position the cord so that you have about six inches coming straight from the left. With the rest of the cord, loop up, around, and down, over the straight portion, which I will refer to as the 'anchor' section.

Step 6: Fold Both Strands of Paracord Under

Fold both strands of paracord under, preserving the side-by-side alignment but effectively reversing which color is on the inside and which is on the outside. The rest of the length should still go straight down over the anchor portion. This fold will be the A fold on the finished card.

Step 7: Fold Under the Paracord Again, and Pin

Fold the paracord under again, reversing the side by side order so it is back to the original. Secure the safety pin through all four layers of the fold. This will give you a steady point from which to adjust the knot later. This is the bottom portion of the heart on the finished card, represented as fold B.

Step 8: Weave the Paracord Under and Over

Pull the long, free end of the paracord strands under the first (anchor) strands, and over the next portion, aiming towards the left of the knot.

Step 9: Loop the Paracord Around, Over, Under, Over

Being careful to preserve the side-by-side arrangement, loop the paracord around and down, weaving over the first portion, under the second, and over the third (anchor), with the free portion heading off to the bottom.

Step 10: Fold Paracord Under Third Time

Fold the paracord under a third time, again reversing which is on the outside and which is on the inside. This is fold C on the finished card, on the left hand side.

Step 11: Weave Paracord Up, Under, Over, Under, Over

Weave the free end of the paracord up through the knot, going under the first strands encountered, over the next (this is the anchor portion), under the next, and over the final one, finishing off going to the top.

Step 12: Adjust Knot Until Firm

Being careful to preserve the relative positions of each fold to each other, pull and adjust the paracord strands until it gradually begins to look more like a heart. Especially for your first effort this could take a while, so be patient. After a bit of adjustment you can remove the safety pin and continue adjusting until you are happy with the shape.

Step 13: Flip the Knot Over, Trim Color B, and Glue

Flip the knot over so you are working with the former left hand side of the knot. You will have color A coming off the top to the right, and color B underneath that. Carefully trim color B before it would become visible from the front. Using super glue, glue both A and B on this side to the upper layer.

Step 14: Return to the Front, Trim Color A, and Glue Both

Flip the knot back over to the front. Trim color A/black on the right hand side so that there is a small amount left to fold behind the knot. Use super glue to glue both A/Black and B/red to the bottom layer.

Step 15: Fold Trimmed A/black Piece Underneath the Knot, and Glue

Flip the knot over to fold the trimmed A/black piece to the underside of the knot. Secure this piece with super glue.

Step 16: Glue Small White Cardstock Onto Black Cardstock

Use a glue stick to glue the smaller piece of white cardstock (4 1/2" x 7") onto the piece of black cardstock (4 5/8" x 7 3/16"). The white card should be centered over the black card.

Step 17: Glue the Knot to the White and Black Cardstock Combination

Use super glue to glue the knot to the white and black cardstock. The knot should be centered on the left to right axis, and it should be roughly one third of the way down from the top of the card. I suggest gluing under each 'hump' of the heart, and then the bottom point of the heart. This is your last chance to adjust the knot into your perfect shape. Also glue each individual strand of paracord near the edges of their respective sides of the card.

Step 18: Flip Over Card, Trim Paracord, Fold Under, and Glue

Flip the card over. Trim each strand of the paracord so there is an inch or two left to fold under the card. Secure the strands to the back with super glue.

Step 19: Add Words to the Front

Use your black pen to write the words on the front. Over the left hand side write, "You." Over the right hand side write, "Me." Under the bottom of the knot write, "Woven together."

Step 20: Fold Large Cardstock, Glue Small Cardstock to Large

Fold the full sheet of white cardstock in half. Use a glue stick to glue the card with the knot on it to the center of the front of your folded cardstock.

Step 21: Be Careful When Inserting Into the Envelope

When you are ready to put your card into the envelope, be careful to lift the edge of the envelope so that it does not get caught under the edge of the knot. You are done!