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Pieced Heart quilt block

A heart made of squares and half-square triangles: two peaks on top and a point at the bottom.

Pieced Heart: main and background. A 4 × 4 grid.

Cutting chart by block size

6" Pieced Heart (cut for one block)

FabricCutSizeThen
Main1 square4 1/4" × 4 1/4"3 triangles (cut twice on the diagonal)
Main1 rectangle6 1/2" × 2"–
Main1 rectangle3 1/2" × 2"–
Main1 square2 3/8" × 2 3/8"2 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background4 squares2 3/8" × 2 3/8"8 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background2 squares2" × 2"–

8" Pieced Heart (cut for one block)

FabricCutSizeThen
Main1 square5 1/4" × 5 1/4"3 triangles (cut twice on the diagonal)
Main1 rectangle8 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Main1 rectangle4 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Main1 square2 7/8" × 2 7/8"2 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background4 squares2 7/8" × 2 7/8"8 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background2 squares2 1/2" × 2 1/2"–

10" Pieced Heart (cut for one block)

FabricCutSizeThen
Main1 square6 1/4" × 6 1/4"3 triangles (cut twice on the diagonal)
Main1 rectangle10 1/2" × 3"–
Main1 rectangle5 1/2" × 3"–
Main1 square3 3/8" × 3 3/8"2 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background4 squares3 3/8" × 3 3/8"8 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background2 squares3" × 3"–

12" Pieced Heart (cut for one block)

FabricCutSizeThen
Main1 square7 1/4" × 7 1/4"3 triangles (cut twice on the diagonal)
Main1 rectangle12 1/2" × 3 1/2"–
Main1 rectangle6 1/2" × 3 1/2"–
Main1 square3 7/8" × 3 7/8"2 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background4 squares3 7/8" × 3 7/8"8 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background2 squares3 1/2" × 3 1/2"–

How to make a 12" Pieced Heart block

  1. Cut the pieces in the chart above. All measurements include a 1/4" seam allowance.
  2. Cut the squares marked "cut twice" on both diagonals. Each gives four triangles with the long edge on the straight grain: these are the large triangles in flying geese and hourglass units.
  3. Cut the squares marked "cut once" in half on the diagonal. Each gives two triangles. Sew them to their neighbours along the long edge first and press toward the darker fabric.
  4. Lay all the pieces out as in the diagram. The block is a 4 × 4 grid, and each cell finishes at 3". Sew neighbouring pieces into sections, then the sections into rows, pressing seams in opposite directions from row to row.
  5. Join the rows. The block should measure 12 1/2" now and 12" once it is sewn into the quilt.

Yardage for a Pieced Heart quilt (12" blocks)

Quilt sizeBlocksFinished sizeMainBackgroundBorder & bindingBacking
Baby3 × 4 (12)42" × 54"1 3/8 yd7/8 yd1 yd3 1/2 yd
Lap4 × 5 (20)54" × 66"2 1/8 yd1 3/8 yd1 1/8 yd4 1/4 yd
Throw5 × 6 (30)66" × 78"3 1/8 yd2 yd1 3/8 yd5 yd
Twin6 × 8 (48)78" × 102"5 yd3 1/4 yd1 3/4 yd9 1/4 yd
Queen8 × 8 (64)102" × 102"6 5/8 yd4 3/8 yd1 7/8 yd9 1/4 yd
King9 × 9 (81)114" × 114"8 3/8 yd5 1/2 yd2 1/8 yd10 1/4 yd

Blocks side by side with a 3" border, 2 1/2" binding, 42" usable width and 10% extra.

Four ways to set it

A throw quilt of 12" Pieced Heart blocks in each setting.

SettingBlocksFinished sizeExtra fabric
Side by side3066" × 78"–
With sashing2060" × 74"Sashing 7/8 yd, Cornerstones 1/8 yd
Alternating plain blocks15 pieced + 15 plain66" × 78"Plain blocks 2 yd
On point1857" × 74"Setting triangles 1 1/2 yd

See Pieced Heart in your own fabrics

1. Your fabrics (tap a fabric, then choose a sample or your own photo)
2. Block
3. Quilt size
4. Block size
5. Setting

What to buy

FabricYardageCut

Based on 42" usable fabric width, 1/4" seams and 10% extra. Your photos stay on your device.

Questions

How many fabrics does a Pieced Heart block need?

Two: main and background. Choose a main fabric that contrasts clearly with the background so the design reads from a distance.

What size pieces do I cut for a 12 inch Pieced Heart?

1 main square at 7 1/4" × 7 1/4"; 1 main rectangle at 12 1/2" × 3 1/2"; 1 main rectangle at 6 1/2" × 3 1/2"; 1 main square at 3 7/8" × 3 7/8"; 4 background squares at 3 7/8" × 3 7/8"; 2 background squares at 3 1/2" × 3 1/2".

How many Pieced Heart blocks for a lap quilt?

20 blocks at 12", set 4 by 5 with a 3" border, make a 54" × 66" quilt.

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