For the first time as an adult, I got to be a bridesmaid! I can't tell you how happy but equally terrifying it made me. I knew I had to gift a quilt as a wedding gift as soon as I was asked. The colour theme was pale pink and dark red / burgundy with some eucalyptus green. It was like this new Craft Cotton collection was designed especially for them.
I played around with some ideas for a while before I decided on this final design. It is made up of two simple blocks so although mine is 125cm x 160cm you can increase or decrease the number of blocks to make it up to a size that suits you.
Finished Size: 125cm x 160cm (50” x 63”)
Seam Allowance: ¼”
YOU WILL NEED
Black Florals ½ metre
White Dots 3 ½ metre
Pink Doves ½ metre
Green Jars ½ metre
Pale Pink Plain 2 metre
White Wreaths ½ metre
CUTTING
Sashed squares x24
White Squares (fussy cut) - 3” x24
Pink - 2 ½” x 6 ½” x48
Pink - 2 ¼” x 3” x48
Hearts x24
Black fabric - 3 ½” x 6 ½” x12
White fabric - 3 ½” x 6 ½” x12
Pink Doves - 3 ½” x 6 ½” x12
Green - 6 3 ½” x 6 ½” x12
Pink - 1 ½” Squares x96 (half of these can be made from the cut offs, see step 5)
Pink - 3 ½” Squares x48
METHOD - HEART BLOCK
1. Cut all your fabric as per the guide above.
2. To make a heart you will need two of your patterned rectangles, four small squares and two larger squares.
3. Line up the large squares on the bottom of the rectangle. Sew diagonally across the square. The two rectangles will need to mirror each other.
4. Repeat this method with the smaller square in the outside corners. Trim the excess leaving a ¼” seam allowance.
5. With the excess you have cut off the bottom corner, you have enough to make two more 1½” squares. You can sew up all the bottom corners first and then trim your squares if you find that easier.
6.With the extra squares you have made, add them to the inside corner. Trim.
7. Press your seams open.
8. Sew your two rectangles together to create your heart.
9. Repeat this process so you have 6 hearts in each of the four colours.
METHOD - SQUARE BLOCK
The 5th print in this collection was too pretty to use in the hearts and deserved some fussy cutting. It is a little time consuming but worth it to make the most of the fabric. The block is really simple, and you will have them all sewn up in no time.
1. Cut all your fabric as per the cutting guide. There are 2 designs on this print so I have done 12 of each.
2. Sew your two pink squares either side of your white square.
3. Press seams open. Both are quite pale so I have stuck with seams open although there is no bulk so you can press them to the darker fabric if you prefer.
4. Sew a pink rectangle to the top and bottom of the square. Press. You need 24 in total.
ASSEMBLING
Now you have all your squares, it is time to sew the patchwork together.
1. Layout all your squares as per the picture below, alternating hearts and squares.
2. Sew your rows together first. Press your seams to one side, alternating between left and right.
3. Sew all your rows together. Alternating the way you press your squares will help them kiss at the seam when it comes to this stage.
4. Give the whole thing a good press.
5. Add a 3” wide white border, adding the long sides first.
6. Add a 5” wide pink border, adding the long sides first.
FINISHING
For those that are newer to quilting, here is how I finish off my quilts.
1. A standard cotton is usually around 110cm wide. It is worth keeping this in mind when deciding on the back of your quilt. My finished quilt is 125cm wide. I have chosen a simple white polka that would be easy to join. However, I had a lot of rectangles that I had cut to the wrong size when I was first designing the heart patch. Rather than them go to waste, I have made two rows, one for each edge to make my backing up to size.
2. Sandwich the wadding between your backing fabric and patchwork. I use a medium weigh cotton blend wadding from Bosal. Smooth it out as much as is humanly possible. I tend to do this on the kitchen floor because it is the biggest flat space I have to work on.
3. Pin it in place. At least one in each square is about right. I use curved safety pins to do this. You can use regular pins if you don’t have them. If you are planning on more quilts in the future, I would add curved safety pins to your birthday list. They are super handy, they don’t stab you while you are manoeuvring during quilting and they don’t fall out or catch where they aren’t meant to.
4. Now time to quilt! I have free motioned a swirly heart design. I used an air erasable pen for the first line but once I got into the swing of things, I have just gone freehand. I did a little practice square first to decide on the thread colour and stuck to white.
5. Square the edges of your quilt with a quilting ruler and rotary cutter.
6. Bind your quilt. I have used the same white polka dot as I used for the backing. You can buy premade binding, however I like to make my own. Simply cut 2” wide strips, press in half and then press one side to the centre. Everyone has a different preferred method for binding. I like to sew mine to the back, press to the front and then top stitch on the front with my machine. Sometimes I will sew to the front, press to the back, and then hand stitch in place. The decision often comes down to how much time I have!
The quilt is finished, congratulations! I hope you have enjoyed the pattern, I would love to see your pictures if you give it a go.
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