From the Heart is the block of choice for this week in the Jen Kingwell’s Gypsy Wife Quilt Sew-along. It’s a beautifully simple block and I love how this version turned out. I used an alternate method for construction with this block (I’ve detailed it below) to help my accuracy. It’s not too bad but one of my corners could have done with me taking my time a little more. I made this block with two of my favourite designers fabrics; Lizzy House and Alison Glass.

From the Heart Alternative Construction

For the purpose of these alternate instructions you will need to use these in conjunction with the instructions on page 8 of your Gypsy Wife pattern book. The pattern only uses two fabrics to construct this block where I have used three. My fabric selections translate like this:

• Fabric G = Dark Blue Fabric
• Fabric H = Light Blue + Purple

Must do: Grab a pencil and beside each cutting measurement write a number starting at 1 and ending at 6 from top to bottom of the list. You’ll need to number the cutting instructions like this so you know what measurement I’m referring to. Due to copyright reasons and my undying respect for the pattern designer I will not be telling you the direct measurements for this block, you will need to follow my instructions below and use the pattern to work it out.

Cut from Dark Blue (Fabric G)

1 – Square equalling measurement 1 with an added 1/8″ (Piece 1)

2 – Rectangles matching measurement 2 (Piece 2)

2 – Square equalling measurement 3 with an added 1/4″ (Piece 3)

Cut from Light Blue (Fabric H)

1 – Square equalling measurement 1 with an added 1/8″ (Piece 4)

4 – Squares matching measurement 6 (Piece 5)

Cut from Purple (Fabric H)

2 – Square equalling measurement 3 with an added 1/4″ (Piece 6)

Construction

1. On the wrong side (back) of all Piece 3 draw a diagonal line with a pencil/fabric pen from one corner to the opposite corner as per step 1 above.
2. Take 1 Piece 3 and 1 Piece 6 and put them right sides together as per step 1 above.
3. Stitch a scant quarter inch seam on either side of the line as per step 2 above.
4. Trim along the drawn line as per step 3 above. Press to the darkest fabric (this will help with making the quarter square triangles.) This will make 2 HST units. Trim to the measurement 3 minus ¼”. These will be referred to as HSTs in the rest of the construction method.
5. Repeat steps to make another HST unit. You will need 4 of these units.
6. To make the quarter square triangle units that appear as a line through the heart. On the wrong side (back) of two of the HSTs draw a stitch line that crosses the seam as shown by the red line in the diagram above
7. Take 2 HSTs put them right sides together as per diagram above. If you have pressed to the dark you will be able to “nest” these seams tightly together. This means that you should be able to use the pressure of your finger tips to move the seams against each other until they feel flush. The tighter you can make these seams the better your end result.
8. Stitch a scant quarter inch seam on either side of the line as per step 2 above.
9. Trim along the drawn line. This is a quarter triangle unit. Press.
10. Trim quarter triangle unit to measurement 6 plus 1″.
11. Repeat steps 6 – 9 to make 4 of these units. You will only need 3 to complete the block.
12. Using Piece 1 and Piece 4 follow steps 1 – 3 to make 2 HSTs. Trim on stitch line. Press. Trim HSTs to measurement 3 plus ¼”. (These are the bottom of the heart.)
13. Follow the assembly instructions (skipping the section that starts with “Take 2 small fabric G triangles…” and ends with “Repeat to make 3 in total.”) to complete the construction of this block.

Hopefully these instructions aren’t too hard to follow and you end up with a heart that you love. There’s nothing wrong with following the instructions as they are in the pattern, you’ll end up with a great heart that way, I just prefer to make triangle units using this method because I’m clumsy and heavy handed and so tend to stretch out triangles when done as per the pattern method. This method allows me to make them and trim to size which helps with my accuracy. As always, find a method that works for you and use that!

That’s everything… for now… as always if you have any questions either drop me a line or leave a comment below and I’ll do my best to help you out. I hope you love making this quilt as much as I have, it’s such a fun way to make a unique sampler.