This tutorial will tell you how to make one of these hearts blocks with a border. Pre-cut as many sets of fabric as you like and chain-piece to create a set of blocks in no time!
For these, I mixed Holli Zollinger’s tree hearts linen with a springy mint green I had in my stash.
What you’ll need for one placemat:
Fabric for the heart:
I used all of one print for my hearts, but this is also a great way to use scraps!
(2) 3.5″ x 2″ strips
(2) 5.5″ x 2″ strips
(3) 6.5″ x 2″ strips
Fabric for the heart’s “background”:
I used white for mine, but, again, the color is up to you!
(5) 4.5″ x 2″ strips
(6) 3.5″ x 2″ strips
(2) 2.5″ x 2″ strips
(1) 1.5″ strip
(2) 11.5″ x 2″ strips
For the border:
(2) 2.5″ x 15.5″ strips for the sides
(2) 2.5″ x 14.5″ strips for the top and bottom
(I factored in a little extra room for the edges so you can trim your block down to size.)
I chain-pieced the heart, starting at the top and working my way across. I started one heart for each of my four placemats right after the other to speed things up!
Once all of the strips are assembled, press your seams open.
Now, you’re ready to put it all togehter. Again, I started on one side and just worked my way across to assemble the heart. Be sure to match up the seams of the 3rd & 4th and 6th & 7th pieces (counting the white edges) so your heart will be even!
Now, press all of your seams flat.
And you’re ready to trim your block to size.
I focused on making the top and bottom edges even rather than paying close attention to the exact size. (In a perfect world, my block would have been 11.25″ x 14.25″, but I really think each one was slightly different…that’s just the kind of quilter I am.)
Once your heart is trimmed, go ahead and add the border. I sewed the top pieces first, then trimmed the edges to be even, and then I put on the sides, trimming again to even up all of the edges. (Your block should be about 18″ x 15.5″, but who’s counting?!)
There you go! Your heart block is finished! Now you can incorporate it into any project you like. Since I can’t think of a place that I feel more at home or more loved than at my grandmamma’s table, I’m making my blocks into a set of 4 placemats. I chose four colors and alternated the hearts and borders on all of them. Here’s what I have so far.
These palcemats feature Heather Dutton’s off the grid pink and Heanne’s icecream strawberry.
I’ll be busy finishing these up this week, and I can’t wait to share a meal (and maybe an episode of Judge Judy) at my grandma’s table this weekend!
I hope you take some time out this week to spend some time with someone you love. If you’re also working on heart-themed proejects (or frantically trying to finish them, like I’ll be!), please do share your patterns and progress!
Happy quilting, and Happy Valentine’s Day,
Becca
