I completed a quilt top this weekend. Read on if you would like to know how I put it together.
I started with the 10" square version of her heart block, but I split the two 10 1/2" x 5 1/2" rectangles into four 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" squares so I could pixelate the hearts. The finished quilt is 60" x 60".
I made six heart blocks in each of six different colors, and then I mixed them up. For each foreground color I picked a low-volume background print. Mostly they fade to the distance, but I like that a couple are more noticeable.
I followed Allison's stitch and flip method for the half square triangles and corners, but on the larger blocks I also sewed a second seam at a half-inch offset and trimmed between the seams to create bonus HST units (I have a plan!).
If you would like to make a similar quilt, here is a quick summary. Really, more a series of hints than a pattern. Check out Allison Cluck Cluck Sew's tutorial for more information.
Materials:
Foreground Prints
6 red prints, 3/4 yard total
6 orange prints, 3/4 yard total
6 yellow prints, 3/4 yard total
6 green prints, 3/4 yard total
6 blue prints, 3/4 yard total
6 purple prints, 3/4 yard total
Background Prints
6 low-volume prints, 1/2 yard each
Background Prints
6 low-volume prints, 1/2 yard each
From each of the 36 foreground prints, cut four 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" squares.
From each of the 6 background prints, cut twenty-four 2" x 2" squares and twelve 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" squares.
Some of my six background fabrics have more personality than the others. I especially like the metallic violet paisley I paired with the yellows, and the pink dot Cotton + Steel voile I paired with the purples. They create an interesting halo effect,and the voile just feels so good to work with.
I followed Allison's stitch-and-flip method for the corner triangles, and then sewed another seam a half inch away, and trimmed a quarter inch between, leaving the heart corner block and a bonus scrap HST unit. I did it this way, rather than a 2-from-1-square HST method because it was easier to maintain direction with directional prints, and I have a plan for the bonus units anyway.
For each of the 36 foreground prints, make a left-point unit, a right-point unit, and 2 lobe units (with the 2" flip-and-stitch corners). In the diagram below, sew along the dotted lines and trim along the heavy diagonal. Reserve the extra HST units for another project.
Assemble 10" four-patch squares by row, pinning as necessary to match points. The four-patch blocks alternate split hearts (pont above lobes) and whole hearts. Now combine rows 1, 2 and 3, then 4, 5 and 6. Finally combine the two halves.
I didn't intend this as a proper pattern, but do let me know if you have any questions, especially after reviewing the Cluck Cluck Sew tutorial.
A few notes:
- I substituted similar fabrics in a few situations where I didn't have enough yardage.
- I didn't go for perfect symmetry. Some of the block placements are a bit dissonant because I liked the way it came together. You can put your blocks wherever you like!
