Fashion Students Sew with Love for Neonatal Babies

“A former TAFE Queensland fashion teacher, Yvonne Ritson, reached out to say that the Mater and Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital needed fabric love hearts, and she thought it would be a great project for our students,” said Janice.

“We asked our students if they could spare their lunch hour to sew, and we had over 40 from Certificate II, Certificate III, and the Diploma involved - all eager to participate.”

Cuddle Hearts are simple but powerful tools designed to help bridge the physical gap between mothers and their premature or critically ill babies.

Made from soft cotton or flannelette, these fabric hearts are given to both mother and baby, allowing them to absorb each other’s scent.

The hearts are then swapped regularly, offering comfort, strengthening the maternal bond, and even assisting in milk production for mothers separated from their newborns.

Answering the call for volunteers, Janice rallied the students to sew these special hearts as part of their classroom work, turning a practical sewing lesson into a meaningful act of kindness.

“It’s such a simple project, but the impact is immeasurable, and our students honed their sewing skills while making a difference in people’s lives,” Janice said.

“The sewing machine room was buzzing with activity, with students and teachers cutting, sewing and ironing.”

“The initiative resonated deeply, with everyone expressing how meaningful it was to contribute to such an important cause. It created a strong sense of camaraderie in the room.”

Cuddle Hearts are carefully crafted following specific guidelines: two heart-shaped fabric pieces sewn together, turned inside out to ensure no raw edges, and kept between 10 to 15 cm in size.

“Each student was tasked with creating sets of three - one for mum, one for baby, and one spare, and we made hundreds of hearts thanks to the overwhelming response,” continued Janice.

“This is the first time we’ve done this particular project, and it’s great that everyone came together to make it happen – we ran out of fabric before we ran out of enthusiasm!”

“We’ll deliver the hearts to the Mater Mothers Hospital for Valentine’s Day - because what’s more fitting than a mother’s love?”

This initiative highlights the importance of community-driven initiatives and education's role in fostering social responsibility.

“Thanks to the success of the first Cuddle Hearts sewing event, we’re looking at incorporating this project, and others like it, into our program so students can use their skills to contribute to worthy causes in the future,” concluded Janice.