Hearts Afire – Free Quilt Block Tutorial with Pattern

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Before starting this project, I recommend that you press your fabric with spray sizing. It will make it easier to cut small pieces. Take the time to clean your machine, put in a new needle, and fill a few bobbins. When pressing, just hold the iron over a spot for a moment or two. This pattern assumes a perfect 1/4” seam.

Cutting Instructions

• Lightest Red:
  (1) 3″ square
  (1) 2-1/2″ square
• Medium Red:
  (1) 3″ square
  (4) 2-1/2″ square
• Dark Red:
  (11) 2-1/2″ squares
• Fire Orange:
  (8) 2″ squares
  (10) 2-1/2″ squares
• Background:
  (16) 2-1/2″ squares
  (4) 2″ squares
  (5) 2″ × 3-1/2″ rectangles

How to Create and Square Up a Half Square Triangle (HST) Quilt Block

The Traditional Method of making Half Square Triangle Blocks (HSTs) is to place two identical squares right sides together. These squares should be 7/8″ larger than the finished size of the final HST. Draw a diagonal line on the back of one square. Sew 1/4″ on both sides of the line. Cut on the line and press to the dark.

You will have made two identical Half Square Triangle (HST) blocks. My personal preference is to cut squares 1″ larger than the finished size of the final HST and square it up to the correct size after pressing.

There are two ways you can square up your block.

You can place a square ruler so the diagonal line is directly over the seam and just cut two sides. Quilt-in-a-Day has a Square Up Ruler that uses this method.

Or you can press open the block (pressing to the dark) and square it up using a ruler the same size as the block you are making. A fussy-cut ruler with lines on both diagonals will be very helpful with this.

Make these HSTs:

In this pattern, you are making 2″ HSTs using the 2-1/2″ squares. Following the instructions above, make these HSTs:

From the (10) 2-1/2″ Orange Fire Squares and the (10) 2-1/2″ Background Squares, make (20) HSTs.  Press to the dark and square them up to 2″ × 2″.

From the (6) 2-1/2″ Dark Red Squares and the (6) 2-1/2″ Background Squares, make (12) HSTs.  Press to the dark and square them up to 2″ × 2″.

From the (3) 2-1/2″ Dark Red Squares and the (3) 2-1/2″ Medium Rd Squares, make (6) HSTs.  Press to the dark and square them up to 2″ × 2″.

From the (1) 2-1/2″ Medium Red Square and the (1) 2-1/2″ Light Rd Square, make (2) HSTs.  Press to the dark and square them up to 2″ × 2″.

To Make the QSTs

From the (1) 3″ Medium Red Square and the (1) 3″ Light Rd Square, make (2) HSTs.  Press to the dark and square them up to 2-1/2″ × 2-1/2″.

Draw a diagonal line on the back of the Dark Red Squares.  Lay them right sides together with the HSTs so that the line crosses the seam of the HST. Sew 1/4″ from each line, then cut on the line and press to the dark.  You will have made (4) QST blocks but you will only need these two. Square them up to 2″ × 2″.

Putting the Quilt Block together

Assemble:

The (40) HSTs you just made
The (2) QSTs you just made
The (8) 2″ Fire Orange squares
The (4) 2″ Background squares
The (5) 2″ × 3-1/2″ Background rectangles

Create (8) rows as shown below. Press the seam allowances of each row in opposite directions so they just touch each other when they meet.  Don’t be afraid to use pins. This will help the block lay flat.

The picture below is from Karen. I took mine down because of the mistake. It looks like she is using a wool pressing mat. I bought myself one for Christmas. I didn’t want to spend the money, but it really does help make the block lay flat.

Sew the rows together and press. Square up to 12-1/2″ if necessary. Enjoy!

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