TWO DIY Heart Blocks
For you today, I have TWO quilty heart blocks! Both finish at 7″.
I’ve been planning on making a better tutorial for this heart block since way back when I first put it together in February 2016! And finally, five years later! I did it!
You have a couple weeks left before the day of hearts so you could easily pull some fun projects together.
I had to play around with the block to see if I could make it better. I started out with four different versions and picked two that I liked the best to make directions for.
I call the first one a heart strip block. Because it is mainly made out of 1 1/2″ strips of fabric. Here’s the block diagram. Each square is 1″.
This is an easy block. No seams to match up. The most difficult part is making sure you put the “flip and switch” corners in the correct direction.
And here is a PDF tutorial with measurements just in case you want to make one or two or a dozen. Or maybe a whole quilt! Just click here: Heart Strip Block (this PDF was updated for clarification on 2/1/2022)
The second block is a Heart Log Cabin. And the PDF tutorial: Heart Log Cabin
To get the look of the “log cabin”, the trick is that pieces 7 and 16 have to be the same fabric, as well as 4 and 13. When the block is quilted, those pieces are quilted so they look like one piece. See below….
The Heart Log Cabin Block is made in three sections.
You have to make sure the “flip and stitch” corners are correct plus line up the seams. A little time consuming because of all the different sizes of the pieces to cut and stitch but not a difficult block, either.
Both the Heart Strip and the Heart Log Cabin can be set so they point down rather than lay at an angle.
Two 5 3/4″ blocks, split diagonally and then stitched on each corner does the magic!
I plan on eventually making a heart quilt. Undecided which version of block I will use. I definitely like the hearts that are based on one color better than the scrappy many colored versions. I also think that a small print would work better on these blocks.
But, before I start on the Heart Quilt, I’ll finish the Moda BlockHeads 3 first! There probably won’t be a Valentine quilt in time for the big day this year. The last block from the Moda sampler comes out next week! Woo-Hoo! Pretty excited that I’ll be able to start putting the first of three quilts together!
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I simply love your heart quilts. I must admit I’m apprehensive about starting.
Hi Lesa! Just use some pieces of scrap to practice. The Heart Strips is the easiest! Thanks for reading and commenting! Let me know how your quilt turns out!
Kathy
I’m inspired to have a go. I came across your earlier tutorial just today. I love your style but this one is easier to follow. Lol.
Love the pillows made with your heart and the paper piecing LOVE from Moda Block Heads. I am going to attempt both. I’ve never done paper piecing, but have used narrow strips before, so I’m likely to have better luck with your heart pattern. What size pillow did this make and did you have to stuff it or did you find a pillow form the size needed?
Thanks so much for your blog. I find it inspiring.