Quiet Hearts
After spending time with Quiet Hearts: A Portrait of Our Inner Worlds through the exhibition in St Cubert's Church, you're welcome to pause and make a small textile heart of your own.
A gentle drop-in activity for anyone who feels drawn to the installation and would like to respond by making something simple, personal and handmade.
1-3pm
Nr Newquay
Free, donations welcome.
Beginners and experienced makers.
Make a heart in your own way
You might already knit, crochet, sew or enjoy working with textiles, or you might be trying something like this for the first time.
The guided makes are quick and gentle, and experienced makers are welcome to bring their own small knitting, crochet, sewing or textile kit if they'd like to create a heart in their own way.
You can create a felt heart keyring, make a heart-shaped pom pom, try an easy yarn-wrapped cardboard heart, or use your own textile skills to make something personal.
You're welcome to take your heart home, gift it to someone, or add it to the Quiet Hearts installation.
What to expect
This is a relaxed drop-in activity, rather than a taught workshop with a fixed start time.
You won't need to stay for the full two hours, though you'd be most welcome to. Each guided make can usually be completed in around half an hour, leaving you plenty of time to explore the exhibition too.
Sue Rowe, with support from Sue Pearce, will be nearby to help you get started. The session is designed to be simple and accessible, with quick makes available for anyone who would like to take part.
This is not a taught knitting, crochet or sewing workshop, so there won't be extensive tuition in those skills. If you're an experienced maker, you're welcome to bring your own materials and make a heart in your own style.
Felt heart keyrings
Colour-coordinated felt keyring kits will be ready for you to sew. These are free, though you're welcome to make a donation if you wish.
Pom pom hearts
There will be guidance on how to make a heart-shaped pom pom using wool or yarn.
Yarn-wrapped hearts
You can also try an easy yarn-wrapped cardboard heart, with materials available on the day.
Bring your own kit
Already knit, crochet, sew or work with textiles? You're welcome to bring a small kit or materials and make a heart in your own way.
For beginners, knitters, crocheters and textile makers
All basic materials will be provided. You don't need to bring anything special to take part.
If you'd like to make your heart in your own way, you're welcome to bring your own knitting, crochet, sewing or textile kit.
You might bring wool, yarn, fabric, a crochet hook, knitting needles, thread, buttons, embellishments, or a small piece of material that holds meaning for you.
Make quietly. Chat gently. Have a go.
The atmosphere will be calm, welcoming and unhurried.
You're welcome to make quietly, ask for guidance if you need it, or chat gently while your hands are busy. There will be no pressure to share personal stories or explain the meaning behind your heart.
You can take part in a way that feels comfortable for you. If you're new to making, there will be everything you need to have a go.
There is no right way for your heart to look.
A portrait of our inner worlds
Quiet Hearts: A Portrait of Our Inner Worlds is a collaborative textile installation created for HushFest.
The installation began with an idea from Sue Rowe and grew through people across Cornwall making handmade hearts from wool, felt, fabric and other textile materials. Nearly two thousand hearts have already been made.
Each heart is small and individual. Together, they create a shared portrait of inner worlds, showing the colour, care, feeling and imagination that may not always be visible from the outside.
This drop-in activity offers a chance to respond to the installation by making a heart of your own.
Read more about Quiet Hearts →Quiet Hearts in pictures
A glimpse of the making, materials and individual hearts that have shaped the installation.
Explore the rest of HushFest
This activity is part of HushFest, Cornwall's Festival of Quietness, taking place from Saturday 4th to Friday 10th July 2026.
Across the week, you're welcome to explore exhibitions, creative workshops, drop-in activities and community-made artwork celebrating quiet in nature, creativity, connection and ourselves.
Come for this activity, stay to explore the exhibition, or plan a gentle wander through the wider festival.
See all HushFest workshops →How to Join In & Where to Find Us
Drop in any time between 1pm and 3pm. There’s no need to book.
How to Join In
This is a drop-in activity, so you’re welcome to arrive when you’re ready.
Come along any time between 1pm and 3pm, make a heart, and enjoy the exhibition at your own pace.
No booking is needed. The activity is free, with donations welcome.
Where to Find Us
St Cubert's Church
1 Churchtown
Cubert
Newquay
TR8 5EZ
By car: There is a car parking field near the church.
By bus: There is a bus stop on Holywell Road, around 4 minutes' walk from the venue.
Whether you make a heart to take home, gift to someone, or add to the installation, you'll be adding your own small mark to HushFest's celebration of quietness, creativity and the inner worlds we each carry.