Welcome, fellow quilter!
Today, I’ve got an amazing, beginner-friendly tutorial for you… and it’s all about sewing/piecing heart blocks.
Now, these blocks can actually be done two ways: one, with just a single heart square or, two, with a 4-heart square. In the video tutorial below, I’ll be showing you how to do both (and, actually, the 4-heart block is just the single block pieced together 4 times!).
Additionally, in the full tutorial, I’ll be showing you an optional project to do with these blocks: a simple pillow. Use any combination of colors you’d like for the hearts and the background and get creative!
Check out the full tutorial here or scroll down for more answers to common questions you may have while making these blocks.
Video Tutorial: Heart Blocks & Pillow Project in-Depth
Heart Blocks FAQs
Even though this is a super beginner-friendly tutorial, I know you may still have sewing and quilting questions. So, don’t worry, I’ve got you covered here!
How much fabric do I need for this project? What are the measurements?
Depending on whether you want to make a single heart block, the full 4-heart block, or the pillow, you’ll need the following:
For ONE Heart Block:
(2) Pieces measuring 2.5 x 4.5 inches in colored fabric
(4) Pieces measuring 1 x 1 inch in background fabric
(1) Piece measuring 2.5 x 2.5 inches in background fabric (will be cut in half diagonally)
(1) Piece measuring 4 x 4 inches in background fabric (will be cut in half diagonally + you will only need one HALF per one heart, so save the extra piece for other heart blocks!)
For a 4-HEART Quilt Block:
(4) Finished heart blocks with matching background fabric
(1) Strip measuring 10 x 1.25 inches in background fabric
(2) Strips measuring 5 x 1.25 inches in background fabric
For the PILLOW Project:
(1) Finished 4-heart quilt block
(4) Strips measuring 10 x 2 inches in border fabric
(1) Piece measuring 14 x 14 inches for back of pillow
Pillow stuffing (I use Poly-Fill)
How large is the finished 4-heart quilt block?
The finished 4-heart quilt block, when made according to the directions in the tutorial, will measure about 10 by 10 inches.
If you want to just make a single heart block, the finished measurements will be about 4.5 by 4.5 inches.
What are the fabric requirements/measurements needed for this project?
You have a lot of options in the tutorial above; you can make one single heart block, one 4-heart block, or the full pillow project. For any of the options, here is a chart of the fabric you will need:
For ONE Heart Block:
(2) Pieces measuring 2.5 x 4.5 inches in colored fabric
(4) Pieces measuring 1 x 1 inch in background fabric
(1) Piece measuring 2.5 x 2.5 inches in background fabric (will be cut in half diagonally)
(1) Piece measuring 4 x 4 inches in background fabric (will be cut in half diagonally + you will only need one HALF per one heart, so save the extra piece for other heart blocks!)
For a 4-HEART Quilt Block:
(4) Finished heart blocks (as detailed above) with matching background fabric
(1) Strip measuring 10 x 1.25 inches in background fabric
(2) Strips measuring 5 x 1.25 inches in background fabric
For the FULL PILLOW Project:
(1) Finished 4-heart block (as detailed above)
(4) Strips measuring 10 x 2 inches in border fabric
(1) Piece measuring 14 x 14 inches for back of pillow
Pillow stuffing (I use Poly-Fill)
What type of fabric works best for these quilt blocks?
You can use any type of fabric for your quilt blocks, but cotton-based fabrics tend to work best since they have minimal stretch. You’ll likely find cotton fabrics labeled for quilting use in stores and online with lots of fun patterns and designs to choose from, and these are the fabrics you’ll want to reach for first when making a quilt block or a full pillow as done in the tutorial above.
Can I use fat quarters for the pillow project?
Yes, you can certainly use a variety of fat quarters to make the 4-heart block pillow!
I personally used a bundle of fat quarters in bright polka dot colors to make each of my “hearts” in the pillow of the tutorial. For the background and back of the pillow, I used creamy white fabric that I had on-hand, but you could certainly use 2 fat quarters (no less) to make the background of the hearts and the backside of the pillow. Using one fat quarter can also serve for your boarder color on your pillow.
Does the type of thread I use matter for this project? Are there any visible stitches?
As you’ll see in the video tutorial, I always use spare thread for my machine quilting as there are no visible stitches involved. This means that you can virtually use any type or color of thread as long as it’s strong enough for your fabric.
If you have additional questions or need more help as you get started on your project, feel free to leave a comment below, and I’ll do my best to answer you. From sewer to sewer, happy creating!
–Kari
Kari Lynn M. 