This is my first attempt at drafting a patchwork block. I am fully aware that I might be re-inventing the wheel from a half remembered one that I have seen online. As it is my first attempt it is far from perfect, but it should measure 12.5" on each side.
I have included two options here, they are both basically the same except for the 3.5"corner blocks. In the more complex version (on the left above) they are modified log cabin piecing, in the simpler version they are simply 3.5" squares of a contrasting colour.
All dimensions are in inches. Seam allowance is 1/4"
Cut from background fabric
4 of 6.5 X 3.5 rectangles
4 of 1.5 X 1.5 squares
1 of 4 X 4 square
Heart fabric
2 of 3.5 x 3.5
1 of 4 X 4
For the simpler variation,
4 of 3.5 x 3.5 in a contrasting colour.
For the complex version, with log cabin corners
4 of 3.5 x 3.5 fabric to act as foundation for the log cabin corners, this will not be seen, so you can use scraps.
4 of 1.5 x 1.5 squares (either background fabric or an accent)
strips of 1.5 (this is best cut out of the background fabric, so that the triangles float)
8 right angled triangles of sides 2.5 (these should be a contrast colour, either all different if you are using scraps, or 4 of one fabric and 4 of another.
Step 1
Start by making a half square triangle (HST)
Use 1 square of background fabric 4 X 4 + 1 square of heart fabric 4. X 4
If you don’t know how, this link will tell you
How to Make Easy Half Square Triangle Units for Quilts (thesprucecrafts.com)
This will give you two HST, trim these to 3.5 x 3.5 when pressed (thanks to Mistress Jennie for this suggestion) these will be joined to make the bottom part of the heart.
Step 2
Taking one of the 3.5 x 3.5 squares of heart fabric, and two of the 1.5 x 1.5 background fabrics. Place the squares on adjacent corner and sew as shown below.
Clip off the excess and press open.
Make two of these
Step 3
Use all four elements that you have made and join them into a heart.
Step 4
Sew on a 3.5 x 6.5 strip to the top and bottom of the heart.
Step 5 (for log cabin corners go to alternate step 5 below)
Sew one 3.5 x 3.5 contrast corner block (** or do the more complex variation below) to each end of the two remaining 3.5 X 6.5 strips, press and sew to the sides of the main block.
Last step !
Press it well and square it up. Ignore any points that don’t meet, this is for fun and because we enjoy the process, it’s not rocket science. If you had fun making it, then it is perfect.
If it doesn’t quite reach 12.5 on all sides (because you are a wonky sewist like me, then sew on a border of another contrasting fabric on all sides and trim back to 12.5 (this covers a multitude of sins)
Alternate step 5
**Log cabin corner blocks,
Step 5.1
Using the 3.5 x 3.5 square as a foundation, lay your 1.5 x 1.5 block in the corner, using 1.5 strips, do two sides of a log cabin as shown below. I used the background fabric for this as I wanted the triangles to float. If you need a refresher on how to do these log cabin quarters, check out this
Scrappy Quarter Log Cabin - Aunt Ems Quilts
Step 5.2 (Are some of the pictures below upsidedown or are you standing on your head?)
lay down one of the contrast triangles on the diagonal, sew and flip.
Step 5.3
with your 1.5 strips do two more log cabin strips, finishing with a final triangle sewn on the diagonal as before.
Step 5.4
These are little (but cute!) accent blocks, they can have quite a bit of fabric in the corner, so you can trim off some of the fabric underneath.
Make 4 of these and continue by adding them to the two remaining 3.5 x 6.5 strips and sew to the heart block as detailed above.
