Heart Quilt (#76)

There are lots of different ways to make a heart quilt.  This time I wanted one BIG heart that could use up lots of red stash fabric.

It's fun to see how versatile half square triangles can be for the same motif - both quilts were made using the 4.5" finished Accuquilt triangle die.

To offset all the white on the top and bottom, I choose red minky for the back. The only compromise you have to make when using a dark minky on the back is that some of the colored minky may pull through and show on a light fabric top because it is so 'fuzzy'. A little color show through is a small price to pay for an overall great soft minky quilt.

Quilted with Aurifil 50wt. #2311 (muslin) in a wavy stitch, I followed the seams first and then sewed down the middle (right to left & top to bottom) to create little "pillows" that are about 2" square.  

Once it is all washed and dried these little quilted pillows create such a nice texture.  After making more than 30 quilts with minky backing I find simple grid quilting works well. 

Materials:
Various scrap fabrics
Warm & White batting
Dimple dot minky / red
Aurifil 50wt. #2311
Accuquilt 4.5" finished HST die
Size: 60" x 70"
April 2017

Batik Hearts Quilt (#45)

This quilt is a combination of 7 different batik prints - all picked out to create an atmosphere of Hawaiian ocean breezes and cool lagoon waters.  Made for a couple who are getting married in Hawaii - it seemed natural to use a heart pattern.

The batiks & white Kona were cut using an Accuquilt 4.5" HST die, and this diagram from Craft Buds was indispensable for helping me layout the triangles.

 Each heart needed 20 color and 12 white half square triangle pieces - the final block size was trimmed to 18" x 18". 

The hearts looked much better in a staggered pattern, and that left two gaps in the center row to fill.  This little heart pattern from the Moda Bake Shop called:  All in a Row by Melissa Corry, saved the day. 

1.5'" sashing on the little hearts top & bottom, followed by 2" on the sides and then trimmed to fit.

White Aurifil thread is on the top in a serpentine line following the seams in a grid pattern, using yet again this wonderful technique from Nancy Zieman.  The white thread melds into the Kona allowing the hearts to take center stage. 

The bottom bobbin has Aurifil Dove which disappears into the midnight minky backing. Using a #10 needle for piecing, #12 for quilting with a walking foot and going slowly with my beautiful threads and lots of starch - I hit none of the snags I had heard can happen with batiks and their tighter weave.  

Materials:
7 half yards of batiks
Half Square 4 1/2" Finished Triangle / Accuquilt
Kona white
Minky Cuddle Dimple Dot / Midnight Blue
Aurifil 50wt. Dove (2600), White (2024), Dark Cobalt (2740)
Faultless Spray Starch
Sweet Heart Mini Quilt pattern
Moda Bake Shop / All in a Row
Nancy Zieman Quilted Palcemats
Size: 58"x76"
November 2015