When I recently showed off my Head Over Heels quilt you asked for a tutorial and I finally got around to writing something up. This is not so much a tutorial as a how I did it. If you missed it, you can read more about it here.
For a 36″ x 36″ quilt, which I think is the perfect snuggling size for a newborn, like I made my newest grand-daughter, you will need:
81 ~ 5″ charms
1.5 yd solid fabric for the front
1.25 yd for the backing
4 1/2 yd of bias binding
Seeing how charm squares usually come in packages of 42, that works out perfectly. Otherwise swapped charms or even working from your scrap basket is viable option.
This is my story and how I did it using Liberty of London swapped charms.
I started by cutting 1/2″ off the top of each square.
Then cut down the center of the remaining piece leaving you with 2 pieces 2 1/2″ wide x 4 1/2″ tall.
From your solid fabric, for each heart block cut:
2 ~ 2 1/2″ squares
4 ~ 1 1/2″ squares
Giving you a total of 162 large squares and 324 small squares, for this size quilt.
For the entire quilt: from the solid fabric, if I did the math right, you should be cutting:
10 ~ 2 1/2″ strips (plus 2 extra squares, hate for you to cut a whole other strip for only two squares!)
12-13 ~ 1 1/2″ strips, depends on how many you can get from your width.
You can always cut as you go, like I usually do, which is the reason I’m doing math, after the fact…. And if you want it larger, you do the math. Let me know what you come up with!
Align the squares, on to the rectangles, as such.
I find it easiest to use a pencil and draw stitching lines, from corner to corner, to keep everything straight.
Stitch on the lines.
Trim the triangles off and then pick sides. Press the right side toward the heart and the left side away from the heart. Or vice versa. Just be consistent. Or you could press them open. Your choice.
Stitch the halves together, aligning the seams. Then press consistently toward one side or the other.
Now add another of the small squares to each upper, outer corner the same way you did the inner corners.
Trim and press.
Tada! Congratulations, you have finished one block! Now continue on another 80 times.
Lay out your blocks, alternating rows, as pictured above.
Stitch them up in a 9 across x 9 down pattern, sandwich and quilt, as desired. I hand quilted 1/4″ inside each heart, and inside each large and small square. It didn’t take any time at all. And while you are quilting it, be sure and fill it with lots of love and hugs. That’s how I do it anyway… ❤
Add your binding, label, wash and snuggle.
Let me know if you have any questions. And if you make one I would be tickled to see it! If you need help with baby snuggling, I can help there, too!
I would be remiss not to mention that tomorrow starts!! Hosted by Amy Ellis, of Amy’s Creative Side, it is the online quilt show open to anyone who loves to quilt and enjoys blogging about their creations. It’s a great place to find new and interesting blogs to follow and possibly gain some new blog followers. It is very inspiring to get so much positive feedback, on your quilts, all at once. Prizes awarded for entering your own quilt and for nominating your favorites. You can start linking up tomorrow through November 8. Come join the fun!
For complete details head over to the Blogger’s Quilt Festival page. Hope to see you there!!
