---
title: "Hearts Afire – Free Quilt Block Tutorial with Pattern"
date: 2021-01-20
author: "Phoebe Moon"
featured_image: "https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/hearts-afire-graphic.jpg"
categories:
  - name: "Free Patterns"
    url: "/category/free-pattern.md"
  - name: "Quilt Block Tutorial"
    url: "/category/block-tutorial.md"
---

# Hearts Afire – Free Quilt Block Tutorial with Pattern

This pattern is available for free to subscribers at the bottom of the page. If you’d rather just print the page, click the green *Print* button under the designer list. If that doesn’t work, try Ctrl + P (or Flower + P) to bring up the printer dialog box.  
  
See the list of other Valentine’s Day projects at the bottom of this page.





Before starting this project, I recommend that you press your fabric with [spray sizing](https://amzn.to/3N4zMer). 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.

![Hearts Afire Quilt Block](https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/HA-final-797x800.jpg)oops! Did you notice that the second row had two HSTs turned the wrong way?

![Hearts Afire Free Quilt Pattern](https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Karen-M-heartsafire.jpg)Fortunately, Karen figured it out and fixed her block.

![Hearts Afire Free Quilt Pattern](https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/hearts-afire-2.jpg)Her younger sister Kelly figured out my mistake too and made the heart into a star.

![](https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/hearts-afire-khai-800x631.jpg)Kai made the block into a quilt![](https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/alphonse-the-cat-600x800.jpg)Alphonse approves!## 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.

![How to Create and Square Up an HST Quilt Block](https://i0.wp.com/scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Picture1.png?resize=141%2C139&ssl=1)

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](https://amzn.to/3w2FJgx) 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](https://www.amazon.com/shop/scrapdash?listId=R75S6Z07R48Z) you are making. [A fussy-cut ruler with lines](https://www.amazon.com/shop/scrapdash?listId=R75S6Z07R48Z) 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:

![Hearts Afire Quilt Block HSTs](https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Hearts-afire-HSTs.jpg)

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

![Hearts Afire Quilt Block QSTs](https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Hearts-afire-QSTs.jpg)

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.

![Piecing instructions for a quilt block](https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Hearts-afire-pressing.jpg)

The picture below is from Karen. I took mine down because of the mistake. It looks like she is using a [wool pressing mat](https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=89535&awinaffid=2008229&platform=dl&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fatquartershop.com%2F17-24-felted-wool-pressing-mat%3Futm_source%3Dgeniusmonkey%26utm_medium%3Dviewthrough). I bought myself one for Christmas. I didn’t want to spend the money, but it really does help make the block lay flat.

![Hearts Afire Free Quilt Pattern](https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/HA-rows-karen-1-621x800.jpg)Karen shared the correct layout with me, since I did my sample wrong😟

![Hearts Afire Free Quilt Pattern](https://scrapdash.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/HA-finished-rows-Karen-1-607x800.jpg)The same rows from the front.

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



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## Other Valentine’s Day Projects

- [Chocolate Hearts](https://scrapdash.com/chocolate-hearts-quilt-block/)
- [Heart of My Heart](https://scrapdash.com/endless-love/) (an Accuquilt project)
- [Hearts Afire](https://scrapdash.com/hearts-afire/)
- [Heartfelt Table Topper](https://scrapdash.com/heartfelt-table-topper/)
- [Flowers and Candy](https://scrapdash.com/flowers-and-candy/)
- [Lucky in Love](https://scrapdash.com/lucky-love-free-pattern-st-patricks-day/)
- [Love and Luck](https://scrapdash.com/love-and-luck/)
- [LoveStruck block](https://cluckclucksew.com/2021/02/lovestruck-heart-block-free-pattern.html) from Cluck, Cluck, Sew
- [Heart Quilt Block](https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/heart-quilt-block-tutorial-and-layout-options) from Fabric 406