February 2019 Block of the Month: “Be Mine” Heart Block

February 2019 Block of the Month: “Be Mine” Heart Block

2019 Block of the Month—February: “Be Mine” Heart

In January, Team Nancy Zieman introduced the first of 12 blocks in the  Summer Picnic 2019 FREE! Block of the Month Series. You’ll find the FREE! January “Nancy’s Spool” Block Tutorial in the January 19th NZP Blog Posting. Join the Summer Picnic 2019 Block of the Month Series, anytime, by viewing the supply listing in the January 5th NZP Blog Posting. 

Each month, we’re featuring one block design. The blocks are created using Nancy Zieman’s Afternoon Picnic Fat Quarter Pack* from Riley Blake Designs (*18″ x 22″ fabric rectangles) plus background, sashing, border, and binding fabrics. Follow along as we demonstrate how to create February’s block, “Be Mine” Heart Block (below).

Keep your fabric choices sorted using this handy Fabric Planner diagram. Download the planner HERE. Make notes or pin swatches to remind you of the fabric placements.

2019 Block of the Month Afternoon Picnic February PDF

Choose the Fabrics

For the  Summer Picnic 2019 FREE! Block of the Month Series, “Be Mine” Heart February Quilt Block, select the following fabrics from your Nancy Zieman’s  Afternoon Picnic Fat Quarter Pack from Riley Blake Designs and a Nancy Zieman’s No-Hassle Triangle Gauge by Clover.

Afternoon Picnic Red Rose, Afternoon Picnic Cream Tonal

“Be Mine” Heart Block

Instructions: (Each block is a 12″ finished square. Finished quilt measures approximately 44-1/2″ x 57-1/2″)

1. Create the “Be Mine” Heart Block with easy 1/2-square triangles, Flying Geese, and a rectangle!

Cut Fabric for Block

• Cut one 5″ square Afternoon Picnic Red Rose and two 4-1/4″ squares of Afternoon Picnic Cream Tonal

• Cut one  3-1/2″ x 12-1/2″ rectangle of Afternoon Picnic Red Rose

• Cut one 6-7/8″ square of Afternoon Picnic Red Rose
• Cut one 6-7/8″ square of Afternoon Picnic Cream Tonal

Construct The Units

All seam allowances are scant 1/4″ unless otherwise stated.

The step-by-step photos illustrate construction of the block.

Half Square Triangles (HSTs)

• Make one 6-7/8″ block set of Afternoon Picnic Red Rose and Afternoon Picnic Cream Tonal.
• Create two 1/2-square triangle blocks of Afternoon Picnic Red Rose and Afternoon Picnic Cream Tonal.

• Mark each block set diagonally from corner to corner, using a fabric marking pen and ruler.
• For greatest accuracy, use a No-Hassle Triangle Gauge. The left side of the gauge is designed to create the 3-1/2″ HST blocks.
• Depress the button on the sliding portion of the gauge and move to the 6-1/2″ HST icon on the left side of the gauge for the 6-7/8″ square.
• Place gauge on the block set, corner to corner. Match corner marks of gauge with corner of block sets. Mark fabric through center of gauge with a fine-point, fabric-marking pen.

The advantage of using the No-Hassle Triangle Gauge is accuracy. It’s easy to double check that the block set fits within the confines of the gauge. If the block set extends beyond or is shorter, trim or cut another block.

Stitch Half-Square Triangle Block

• Attach a 1/4″ Patchwork/Quilting Foot to your machine.
• Set machine for a straight stitch, 2.0–2.5 mm in length.
• Align foot along one side of the center marked line; stitch a scant 1/4″ from center marked line. Do not cut the threads.
• Rotate block 180-degrees.
• Align foot along second side of center marked line; stitch.

• With a rotary cutter, mat, and ruler, cut the blocks apart along centerline markings.

• Press seam allowances toward the darker fabric.

Flying Geese Unit

• Use one 5″ square Afternoon Picnic Red Rose and two 4-1/4″ squares of Afternoon Picnic Cream Tonal to create this unit.

• Cut each of the three squares in half on the diagonal.

     Notice that triangles will extend past the cut edge about 1/4″ on each end.

• Open and press seam allowances toward the triangle.

• Repeat these steps by placing remaining straight edge of red fabric triangle over diagonal center of cream fabric triangle. Be sure to center the red fabric triangle edge within the cream triangle’s diagonal center.

• Open and press seam allowance toward the triangle.

• Trim any small triangles, often called “Dog Ears,” using a pair of scissors or your rotary cutting tools.

• Make a total of two flying geese units.
• Each of these block segments should measure 3-1/4″ x 6-1/2″, once trimmed.

Construct The Blocks

Arrange the Blocks

• Arrange Block A as shown:

2. Lay out the “Be Mine” Heart Block as follows, rotating block segments as necessary.

3. Join squares to form a block.

• Place the flying geese units, right sides together to make the top row.
• Stitch together at center.

• Arrange rows as shown below. NOTE: All rows must be the same width, approximately 12-1/2″.

  In the above photo, you’ll see our top row is wider than our middle and bottom rows. No worries! Simply refold the top row/flying geese unit at center, and restitch with a slightly deeper seam allowance.

• Place middle row right sides together with bottom row, stitch together.

• Press seam to one side.

• Place top row right sides together with middle row, stitch together.

• Press seam to one side.

Happy Sewing,

Team Nancy Zieman

Nancy Zieman Productions, LLC.

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