Hearts Full of Love Sew-along - Part 1

 Valentine's Day is not far away so I thought it would be fun to brighten our spaces with a fun runner full of hearts and hugs!

 

The runner is 24" x 42" and has two simple blocks that are repeated.  We will do the runner in two parts.  Part 1 will be gathering your fabrics, cutting and creating the 'X' block.  This block is 9" finished and consists of easy four patches and a pinwheel in the center.  When put together, the components create a nine patch.

First things first!  Let's gather some fabric.  I used pieces from my stash.

                            1/3 yard of light background (I used white on white print) 

                            1/3 yard accent 1 (I used pink polka dots - heart blocks, 4-patches & inner border)

                            1/8 yard accent 2 (I used pink and white circle bursts - heart blocks)*

                            1/2 yard main (I used red floral for blocks and borders)

                            1/4 yard accent 3 (I used pink floral - pinwheels, heart blocks)*

                            1/3 yard binding

                            3/4 yard backing  

 

*Fat quarters would also work for accent 2 and accent 3.  Just cut twice where WOF is indicated. 

 

 From the light background cut:

(1) 2 1/2" x WOF - subcut (8) 2 1/2" squares (pinwheel HST's)

(1) 3 1/2" x WOF - subcut (16) 3 1/2" squares (nine patch block)

(1) 5 3/4" x WOF - subcut this strip as follows:

                            cut (1) 5 3/4" square and cut twice diagonally (upper heart center)

                            cut (4) 5 1/2" squares and cut once diagonally (lower heart corners)

                            cut (4) 3 1/2" squares and cut once diagonally (upper heart corners)

         

Cut twice diagonally

 

Cut once diagonally

 

From accent 1 (my pink polka dots) cut:

(1) 2" x WOF  (heart blocks)

(3) 1 1/2" x WOF (inner border)

(2) 2" x WOF (4-patches)

 

From accent 2 (my pink with white circle bursts)

(1) 2 1/4" x WOF (heart blocks)

 

From main fabric (my red floral)

(2) 2" x WOF  (4 - patches)

(4) 2 1/2" x WOF (outer border)

(1) 3 3/4" x WOF (heart block)

 

From accent 3  (my pink floral)

(1) 2 1/2" x WOF - subcut (8) 2 1/2" squares (pinwheel blocks)

(1) 2" x WOF (heart blocks)

 

Nine Patch Pinwheel and Four Patch Block:  Make 4

 

 

Make Strip Sets:  Sew a 2" x WOF accent 1 strip to a 2" x WOF main fabric to create a strip set.  Use an accurate 1/4" seam allowance so that your strip is straight and measures 3 1/2". Make (2) strip sets.  Press the seam to the dark.  Sub-cut from these strip sets (32) 2" wide units.

 

 Make 4-Patch Units: Make two piles of 16 units each and turn one so they are opposite.  Chain sew units together to create the four patch units.  You will need 16 four patches.  

 

Before pressing, be sure to spin the seams in the back to cut down on the bulk in the center.  You should see a little four patch like below.  Set aside.

Make Half Square Triangles:  Gather the (8) 2 1/2" background squares and draw a diagonal line on the back of each (or press a crease if preferred).  Place right sides together with the 2 1/2" accent 3 squares.  Sew a scant 1/4" on either side of the drawn line. Cut on the line and press open to the dark.

Press to the dark and square up to 2"

Place the HST units in piles by your machine in the order they are to be sewn.  Chain piece the HST units through the machine in order.  Keep the chains intact. Now pair the halves of the pinwheel together and chain piece the final seam to complete the unit.

Turn the units over and spin the center seam like you did on the four patches.  This will cut the bulk in the center. Press the blocks and square to 3 1/2".

 

Assemble the Nine Patch Block: (Make 3)

Lay out your block components in the order they are to be sewn.  We will chain piece the blocks together in order so that everything will be kept together with the chains through the final seams.

Starting at the top of the first row, sew the left column blocks to the center column blocks, pick up the first block in the second row and sew to the center, and pickup the first block in the third row and sew to the center.  Keep sewing the first and second columns together until they are all sewn.  

Now starting at the beginning attach the blocks from the third column in order.  This will keep all your blocks chained together in order.

Now you can sew the final seams together to finish the nine patch blocks. Be sure to bookend the seams as you sew.  I finger pressed as I sewed.   It really doesn't matter which way you press the seams.  I pressed mine to the background blocks for the least amount of bulk.  Once the blocks are all sewn, give them a good pressing.  Now make sure they measure 9 1/2" square.  

You did it!  We have finished Part 1.  Next week in part two we will create the heart string blocks, put the blocks together and finish the runner.