“Be good to your Heart” quilt block tutorial

This free heart quilt block tutorial is perfect for Valentines Day or any other sampler quilt calling for a finished 12″ x 12″ quilt block.

A quick, simple tutorial for a 12″ (12.5″ unfinished) heart quilt block.

CLICK HERE FOR FREE PRINTABLE PDF VERSION 

 I used four different 1/4 yard cuts to create my three 12″ x 12″ (finished) quilt blocks. 

Fabric Cutting instructions per 12″ finished block

Fabric A – small heart

•  (2) 3.5″ x 6.5″ rectangles

Fabric B – Large heart

•  (3) 3.5″ x 6.5″ rectangles
• (4) 3.5″ squares
• (4) 1.5″ squares
• (1) 4″ square

Fabric C – background

• (1) 3.5″ x 6.5″ rectangle
• (6) 3.5″ squares
• (1) 4″ square

1 – From Fabric B take (4) 1.5″ squares and (2) 3.5″ squares and draw a single diagonal line on the back of each. Place them on top of the (2) fabric A 3.5″ x 6.5″ rectangles as pictured above and sew them in place directly ON the drawn line.  Carefully trim excess fabric 1/4″ away from the seams as pictured above.2 – Press seams open to create blocks as shown.  Carefully sew 2 rectangles together. Press this seam open.

3. Take (2) Fabric C 3.5″ squares and draw a single diagonal line on the back.  Place them on top of the bottom half of (2) Fabric B 3.5″ x 6.5″ rectangles. Sew seam directly ON the drawn line and rotary cut off excess fabric.

Press Blocks open to look like this.

4 – Create (2) Flying Geese blocks using opposite prints from Fabrics B and C. Draw diagonal lines on the back of (2) Fabric B 3.5″ squares and (2) Fabric C 3.5″ squares.

Line up a 3.5″ Fabric B 3.5″ square on the right side of a Fabric C 3.5″ x 6.5″ rectangle and sew seam directly ON the drawn line. Repeat with a Fabric C 3.5″ square placed on a Fabric B 3.5″ x 6.5″ rectangle.  Carefully trim off excess fabric and press sides open.

5- Repeat using 3.5″ squares placed on 3.5″ x 6.5″ rectangles on opposite sides. Sew seam along line, trim excess fabric and press open sides to create two flying geese units.

6. Match up Fabric B and C 4″ squares right sides together. Draw a diagonal line on the back of the lighter fabric. **This step is different than previous seams!** Sew a seam 1/4″ away along BOTH SIDES of the diagonal line then rotary cut right on the line.

7 – Press both units open and square-off the excess fabric to be exactly 3.5″ squares.

8 – Using all of your assembled units and the remaining Fabric C 3.5″ squares layout the block to look like this. Assemble the units in three rows and then carefully sew the rows together.

And voila- a big heart-shaped quilt block.