Glowing Hearts QAL - Make Five Heart Blocks

I am happy that the method to make the bottom half of the heart has been so well-received! This week we are going to make the five heart blocks that are on the dark background.

I also think that we should show off our first heart blocks, don't you? There will be a linkup at the end of this post to show one heart block on your dark background (or whatever colour of background you are using). I admit this is also because I am so curious to see the fabrics you've chosen! Two of my yoga students are joining in with this quilt along and I got to see a photo of one block, and wow, I love it as well as what she's doing with the entire quilt!

Since you only need four hearts on dark red BG for the Glowing Hearts quilt, those instructions will follow, in parentheses, the Winter Blues instructions.

BG - background; RST - right sides together 

1. To make the top half of the heart, gather ten (eight) 2 ½" x 6 ½" Fabric A rectangles and 20 (16) 2 ½" BG squares.

Aside: when I was making the original, I had to be as frugal as possible with my BG fabric, so I did a similar method to the one for the bottom half of the hearts, using 2 ½" HSTs and lining them up on the Fabric A rectangles! Here we will have some waste, unless you are how I used to be, and save those little cutaway triangles and sew them back together...

2. Place a 2 ½" square on top of a rectangle, RST. Sew diagonally across it as shown, trimming ¼" away from the stitching line. Repeat with the other end of the rectangle, being sure to orient the stitching line correctly. Repeat with the other rectangle. Press as indicated by the arrows. This will ensure that the centre seams nest. Make 20 (16) units. Sew them together in pairs, pressing the centre seam to one side (you'll find that all three centre seams want to go in the same direction), or press the centre seam open. The top unit should measure 2 ½" x 12 ½".

3. Sew Fabrics B and C 2 ½" x 12 ½" rectangles together, pressing the seams down. Join the B/C unit to the Fabric A unit you made in step 2.

4. If you made the bottom half of the heart last week, sew the two halves together. If you didn't make them yet, then follow the directions in this post to make them and join the two halves. Make five (four) hearts on dark background.

Here’s the Glowing Hearts heart on dark red BG. For those of you working off the pattern, you'll add the 6 ½" HSTs after sewing the top half to the bottom half strip set. They both look exactly the same in the end!

If you are making a non-ombré version the this is what your heart block will look like:

Or this:

I have finished the throw, and I just adore it. Elaine, you were right: once I quilted it up I would love it. Quilting always changes a quilt (for the better imho) and also you were right in that we don't always need bold and bright statement quilts. Sometimes it's nice to have a soft, frothy magnolia petals vibe of a quilt. I hope to get some good photos today and have the post out on Friday.

Happy sewing of heart blocks! Next week we'll make the four on light BG as well as the appliquéd maple leaf centre block.