Yessir, I’m cut from a different cloth… Over the weekend—while playing Beyoncé at full volume (as one does)—I tackled Cluck Cluck Sew’s adorable, easy, and free heart quilt block pattern. I sewed this project because the blocks are the optional January assignment from the Indianapolis Modern Quilt Guild members.
This fun-yet-simple heart quilt block is actually my first Cluck Cluck Sew project, even though I have a few copies of Allison Harris’s great patterns in my stash (like the jelly roll-friendly and super cute Basketcase that I picked up in Shipshewana and the adorable Pumpkins that I feel like every quilter except me has already sewn—LOL).
Keep reading to find out what I liked best about this pattern and learn from the butthead mistake that I made when putting together one of my heart quilt blocks.
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
Quilt Heart Block Fabric Selection
Love was in the air, along with a lot of dog hair. But, around here, Sundays are for sewing. Chores are for after work on weekdays, so the flying furballs had to wait.
After printing Cluck Cluck Sew’s easy-to-follow pattern instructions, I raided my stash of fabric scraps. Since the Guild requested no more red and pink quilt heart blocks (and required bright white or low-volume white—no cream!—for the background), I chose a faux white marble fabric with subtle wisps of gray that I had leftover from lining some of the face masks I sewed in 2020.
I decided going with black and white fabrics might be fun for the actual heart quilt block “hearts.”
Since I love playing word games (think Boggle, Words with Friends, Bananagrams, Upwords, etc.), I picked some of my Scrabble fabric that I snagged from a seller on Etsy and coordinating black patterned fabric I got from Lolly’s rowboat of fat quarters for my heart quilt blocks.
Tips Based on Fabric Type
Arranging Fabrics with Directional Prints
I was so excited to get started on this project. After I got everything cut, I didn’t pause. I went straight to step one without checking that I sandwiched my fabrics together correctly. Of course, that sloppiness meant that the directional print on my Scrabble fabric was upside down on my first heart quilt block. The sad part is that I didn’t notice until I had the block finished and did my final pressing. Whoops!
Cutting and Sewing Fabrics With Straight Line Designs
As you’re cutting the pieces for the heart quilt block, keep in mind that if you have vertical lines in your fabric that you may want to cut your pieces along those lines, even if the material is printed off-grain, just so that things line up when you sew the components of the block together.
Mixing Fabrics With Varying Weaves
Though I used all quilting cotton for my blocks, one of my choices had a slightly looser weave than the others. Its fabric, because of that, was more challenging to sew together with the other options. Had I sewn that wonky heart quilt block with more patience, I might not have had to have a date with my annoying seam ripper.
Don’t make the same mistake if you mix and match fabrics with different weaves as I did. Instead, be careful when you do that part of your stitching to avoid rework!
What Makes This Quilt Heart Block a Great Pattern
I’m always a fan of a bargain. But, a pattern is not really a deal if it is a headache to use.
That said, Cluck Cluck Sew could charge for her quilt heart block pattern. It would be worth every cent. Her instructions are clear, and the results are fantastic—with minimal effort! In fact, I was able to cut, sew, and press my two blocks in about an hour which I thought was pretty good.
What I’d Do Differently Next Time
As a beginner in all things quilting, I was a little overzealous when it came time to trim my finished heart quilt blocks. When I make these again, I’ll square up more carefully to ensure I have enough edge on all sides to add sashing.
Have you made this heart quilt block pattern? What did you think? Are there any different tips that you’d share? Leave a comment and let me know.
Other Free Quilt Heart Block Patterns
Wondering how else you can make use of your red and pink fabric scrap pile?
There are so many clever quilt pattern makers out there and so little time. To help you save a few minutes using Google to hunt down other heart block patterns, here is a round-up of other free quilt heart block patterns that I looked into making after having such success with the Indy Modern Quilting Guild’s recommendation.
Where Else You Can Go for More Heart Quilt Ideas
- Heather Givans’ Scrappy Heart Block Tutorial: I’ve got to start off this list with a shout out to my local quilting celeb (aka the clever entreprenuer known as Crimson Tate among people into quilting in Indianapolis); Heather blogged the easy-to-follow instructions for this awesome heart quilt block pattern way back in 2014
- Scared Thoughts of a Crafty Mom’s Scrappy Heart Pattern: The perfect choice if you love piecing lots of little squares together
- Piece N Quilt offers up a free quilt heart block pattern with a similar look using slightly bigger squares that is worth checking out
- The Jolly Jabber’s Stitches From the Heart Pattern: Make a big and beautiful heart quilt by making lots of HSTs, with this pdf from the lovely folks over at the Fat Quarter Shop, aka the place I spend too much of my paycheck each month
- Blue Elephant Stitches’ Pixelated Heart: Make this pixel-based option for your favorite graphic designer or gamer (pdf)
- Quilters’ Newsletter’s Sweet Tweets: Channel your inner Carrie Brownstein and applique a bird on it (pdf)
- The Spruce Crafts’ Patchwork Hearts Quilt Block Pattern: A pointy-heart option very similar in construction to Cluck Cluck Sew’s design
- If you like this look but want something a little more scrappy, head over to Loaves and Stitches for some improv inspiration!
- Bonjour Quilt’s Valentine’s Heart Block Pattern: An adorable outline heart option
- Amy Smart’s “Be Good to Your Heart” Pattern: Want a heart in a heart? Look no further
- Fabric 406’s Heart Quilt Block Tutorial: On the side and with a nice chunky square middle, this one stands out from the rest (in a good way)
- Crafty Quilter’s Ombre Heart Tutorial: If you love Cluck Cluck Sew’s design, here’s another fun gradient variation
- Neverlandstitches’s Scrappy Log Cabin Heart Block: I saved the best for last—this one is so cute that it’s what I decided to put under my needle next
Some Inventive Ways to Put Your Heart Blocks Together
Bonus tip: Here are links to some bloggers who are sharing advice on how to turn your awesome heart blocks into an art wall hanging or quilt top:
Addendum
Unfortunately, pandemic craziness is intensifying here in Indiana. That’s why my local quilting group’s leadership—understandably—decided to switch the January Indianapolis Modern Quilt Guild meeting from an in-person meet-up to a virtual Zoom hang-out.
Although I have the option of dropping off my blocks to participate in the lotto, the format switch gives me an excuse to be selfish. I plan to keep my heart quilt blocks for myself. I think I will sew them over boring marketing messaging printed on old reusable grocery bags. Won’t that be cute?
