Block Buster Sunday #4 Scrappy Heart Block Tutorial

It's Block Buster Sunday, and it's nearly Valentine's Day, so I thought I'd go all lovey and choose a heart block to share today. This is  a scrappy heart, so root out all those scraps. They don't have to be colour co-ordinated, any multi colours will do. And the good news…. this is a really easy block to make!!

I've given cutting instructions for 2 sizes, a 6" finished, and a 9" finished block.

For a 6" finished block you need:

2     1 1/2" x 3 1/2" strips of patterned fabric

5     1 1/2" x 6 1/2" strips of patterned fabric

4     1 1/2" squares of background fabric

2     3 1/2" squares of background fabric

For a 9" finished block you need:

2     2" x 5" strips of patterned fabric

5     2" x 9 1/2" strips of patterned fabric

4     2" squares of background fabric

2     5" squares of background fabric

Note: The photographs show the construction of a 6" block

Use a 1/4" seam throughout

Sew the 5 long patterned strips together. It doesn't matter which way you press the. seams

Draw a diagonal pencil line from across the centre of each of the small background squares.

Place on the 2 smaller patterned strips as shown.

Sew along the pencil lines. Trim the outside edge to a 1/4" seam allowance.

 Press  open.

Sew the 2 sections together along the shorter edge.

I press this centre seam open rather than to one side, so that it lies flat.

Attach to the top of the 5 strip unit.

Draw a diagonal pencil line through the centre of the 2 remaining large background squares.

Place one in the bottom left corner of the unit as shown.

Sew along the pencil line. Trim the outside edge to a 1/4" seam allowance. Press open.

Repeat for the other side. Make sure the pencil line slopes down to the centre base of the unit to create the point at the bottom of the heart. The 2 background squares should overlap 1/4" from the base of the unit.

Press open and trim the block to 6 1/2" square if necessary.

Easy, Peasy eh? I love this block.

I'm part way through a tutorial for a cushion cover (that's "pillow" for US peeps) using this block.

Poor light stopped play, but it should be ready in the next couple of days, so check back soon if you're interested.