Paper Hearts Pattern

This beginner's watercolor design recalls childhood memories of cutting out strings of paper dolls. It introduces basic colorwash techniques you will be able to use in creating other watercolor style quilts.

Fabric & Supplies

• Fabrics for top:
  1/4 yd dense floral fabric
  1/4 yd background fabric
  1/4 yd inner border fabric
  1/3 yd outer border and binding fabric
  
• 1 yd backing fabric
  
• 30" square batting (approx.)
  
• 36" flannel for design wall. You can purchase this make your own from a flannel backed vinyl tablecloth (mark flannel side in 4" grid with permanent marker)
  
• Rotary cutter, ruler, and mat
  
• Sewing machine and thread
  
• Iron

General Instructions

• Pre-wash and press fabrics
  
• Pin or tape vinyl tablecloth to wall with flannel design side facing out. This will be your design wall.
  
• Seam allowances are ¼"
  
• Press seams in opposing directions

Cutting Instructions

• Background fabric:
  Rotary cut (1) 2" strip, then into 2" squares
  Cut (1) 2 3/8" strip,then cut into 2 3/8" squares
  
• Dense floral fabric:
  Rotary cut (1) 2" strip, then into 2" squares
  Cut (1) 2 3/8" strip,then cut into 2 3/8" squares
  
• Inner Border fabric:
  Cut (2) 1" x 42" strips
  Cut both strips in half to make 4 strips 1" wide
  
• Outer Border fabric:
  Cut (3) 2½" x 42"
  Cut one strip in half for side borders

Sorting

You will have more than enough 2" squares to choose from for your design. This makes your "artist's palette". The squares you choose for your composition will make it unique from everyone else's design.

You will use the following cut fabric squares:
18 whole floral squares (Diagram #1)
24 squares that are half-square triangles of floral/background (Diagram #2)
6 whole background squares

Total 48 squares

Diagram #1            Diagram #2

Half-square triangles are made by placing a 2 3/8" floral square right sides together with a 2 3/8" background square. Draw a line diagonally on the lighter fabric. Stitch 1/4" on each side of the line. Cut the diagonal line. Press the half-square triangles open. You will need 12 of the 2 3/8" pairs to make 24 half-square triangles.

Design

Use the pattern grid to see where to place the various types of squares. Use your design wall to plan your design. It is helpful to place all the background squares first as this shows the placement of the hearts.

Study the photo for ideas for arranging the floral clusters. Put 3 or 4 squares together to form a few large flowers. Mix in smaller flowers and leaves. Make half-square triangles carefully. The floral half should merge with your design.

Everything should blend with no obvious harsh lines. It helps to stand back and squint when you get to the fine-tuning stage! Try for a "soft look" that is very different from traditional structured designs.

Assembly

If you place the sewing machine in front of your design wall, you can more easily keep the squares in their proper order. Think of the squares in 3 heart blocks.

• Sew the squares together in columns
  
• Press so that seams alternate
  
• Sew columns together
  
• Sew the blocks together
  
• Press

Inner Border

Sides:

• Measure through the center of the quilt top from top to bottom to get the measurement for your inner side borders
  
• Cut (2) 1" wide strips the measured length
  
• Sew a strip to each of the two sides of the quilt top, press away from the center

Top and Bottom:

• Measure through the center of the quilt top from side to side, including the side borders, to get the measurement for your inner top and bottom borders
  
• Cut (2) 1" strips the measured length
  
• Sew a strip to the top and a strip to the bottom of the quilt top, press away from the center

Outer Border

Sides:

• Measure through the center of the quilt top from top to bottom, including borders, to get the measurement for your outer side borders
  
• Cut the two shorter 2½" wide strips the measured length
  
• Sew to each side, press toward the inner border

Top and Bottom:

• Measure through the center of the quilt top from side to side, including borders, to get the measurement for your outer top and bottom borders
  
• Cut (2) 2½" strips the measured length
  
• Sew to the top and bottom, press toward the inner border

Quilting and Finishing

• Layer the finished top with the batting and backing fabric.
  
• Machine quilting really complements this style quilt.
  
• Sew a sleeve on the back for hanging
  
• Bind with the same fabric as the outer border.

Congratulations!

You have now completed your Paper Hearts quilt.

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this pattern, but no guarantee is given. Basic sewing skills required.

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