Valentine Heart Quilt Block Made from Fabric Strips

Valentine's Day is that special time of years when you show your sweetheart just how much you care for them. Flowers, candy or a card are nice, but why not show them the warmth of your love with a handmade valentine heart quilt. There are many ways to make valentine heart quilts, with some being very difficult, requiring years of perfected quilting skills. However, here is a simple quilt block, made from fabric strips, that is ideal for the beginning quilter.

Items Needed to Make One Valentine Heart Block (nine inches by nine inches)

-One 15-inch long strip of white fabric
-One 22 and one-half inch strip of red fabric
-One 26-inch long strip of red fabric
-One 34-inch long strip of pink fabric
-Sewing machine
-Thread
-Scissors
-Ruler
-Pencil

*All fabric strips are one and one-half inch wide.

Instructions to Make One Valentine Heart Block

Measure and cut the 15-inch long white fabric strip into 10 one and one-half inch squares. Measure and cut the 22 and one-half inch red fabric strip into 15 one and one-half inch squares.

Sew squares in rows as follows:

Row 1 - red, white, red, white, red
Row 2 - white, red, white, red, white
Row 3 - white, red, red, red, white
Row 4 - red, white, red, white, red
Row 5 - red, red, white, red, red

Sew the top of row two to the bottom of row one. Sew the top of row three to the bottom of row two. Sew the top of row four to the bottom of row three. Sew the top of row five to the bottom of row four. Press all seams to the darker fabric after each row is joined together. Trim off any excess thread and fabric.

TIP: Arrange the rows on a flat surface in the order they will be sewn before you actually sew them together.

Measure and cut the 26-inch red fabric strip into two five and one-half inch strips and two seven and one-half inch strips. Sew one of the five and one-half inch strips to the top of row one and the other to the bottom of row five. Sew one of the seven and one-half inch strips to either side of the heart block and the other strip on the other side.

Measure and cut the 34-inch pink fabric strip into two seven and one-half inch strips and two nine and one-half inch strips. Sew one of the seven and one-half inch strips to the top of the red fabric strip above row one and the other to the bottom of the red fabric strip below row five. Sew one of the nine and one-half inch strips to either side of the heart block and the other strip to the other side.

Press all seams to the darker fabric after each strip is attached. Trim off any excess threads and fabric edges.

Make more blocks and join them together to create a twin, full, queen, or king size quilt.

Sources: Personal Experience, Simplicity