My local quilt guild, Coorparoo Quilters, will be doing a group project to make heart blocks. These blocks will be assembled into quilts for donation by our Charity Quilts group. I’m popping the instructions up here so our members can see the photos and so if your group would like to do something similar feel free to point your members at these instructions.
Want an easy entry into the Charming Challenge? Our challenge to make something based around 5″ squares? Then finish and bring back 3 blocks made from the materials in your paper bag and that will be one entry in the Charming Challenge. If you wish to make more blocks, then you will get one entry for each batch of three blocks you donate to the Charity group.
Requirements
Each block requires:
- 1 x 5.5″ square for the center background
- 1 x 4″ square for the heart (not in bag)
- 1 x 5″ x 2.5″ strip
- 2 x 7″ x 2.5″ strips
- 1 x 9″ x 2.5″ strip
- One Heart Shape
- Vliesofix, Steam a Seam or Fusible Web of choice (not in bag)
In your paper bag you will find the center block and strip pieces for 3 blocks, and the instructions with the heart template. Assign whichever strips to whichever center background You need to find the fabric for the heart from your fabric stash, giving a little of your love to the block.
Heart Template
When printed this heart template should be just under 4″ wide.
Method
Materials
Trace onto Vliesofix
Roughly cut Vliesofix
Iron Vlisofix on Back of Heart and Cut Out
Line up heart on center fold
Applique Heart
Ready to Trim
Trim to 5"
Trimmed to 5" square
Ready to assemble
Stitch 5" strip to side of center
Press seam away from the heart
Add the two 7" strips
Add 9" strip and done!Step 1 : Applique Heart onto Center Background
Trace out the template 3 times (one for each block you are making) onto your Vliesofix or other Fusible Webbing. You don’t need to flip the template over to get a mirror image as this heart is symmetrical. Cut out the Vliesofix hearts roughly – you don’t need to cut them precisely to the line at this point. Then iron the webbing on to the back of the heart fabric and cut out the heart on the outside of the outline.
Take the centre background and fold in half to make a vertical crease. Line up your heart so the points are on the crease. This will center the heart horizontally. Line the heart up so it is roughly in the middle vertically. Iron the heart onto the background and then stitch with whatever colour thread you would like.
Step 2: Trim Center Heart to 5″ square
We purposely cut the center squares larger so there will be allowance for any take up due to the applique, or if the hearts ended up off center.
Trim down the center square to 5″ – making it “charm”ing for the challenge! Keep the heart in the center as much as you can.
Step 3: Stitch 5″ Strip to Any Side
The heart blocks will be put together in different orientations. So it doesn’t matter if you add the 5″ to the top, bottom, left or right of heart. Just pick one and go.
Press the seam out to the edge of the block.
Step 4: Stitch a 7″ Strip to the Next Side
Working either clockwise or anticlockwise sew one of the 7″ strips along the center piece and the side of the 5″ strip. Again, press the seam out.
Step 5: Stitch the other 7″ Strip to the Next Side
Working in the same direction as the previous step, sew the other 7″ strip to the next side. Press the seam out.
Step 6: Stitch the 9″ Strip to the Final Side
Working in the same direction as the previous step, sew the 9″ strip to the final side. Press the seam out.
Now smile and admire your handiwork. Take a photo if you feel like it. Pop the finished block back in the bag to take back to Coorparoo Quilters.
