February 2020 NZP Block of the Month: Hearts & Gizzards Block
Nancy’s Red Elegance
2020 Block of the Month February: Hearts & Gizzards Block
Introducing the second of 12 FREE! Quit Block Tutorials for the NEW! 2020 Nancy Zieman Productions Nancy’s Red Elegance Block of the Month Mystery Quilt Series! The Hearts & Gizzards Block is a great block to sew in February and celebrate Valentine’s Day – Happy Valentine’s Day!
In January, Team Nancy Zieman introduced the NEW! 2020 Nancy Zieman Productions Nancy’s Red Elegance Block of the Month Mystery Quilt Series. Join the NEW! 2020 Nancy Zieman Productions Nancy’s Red Elegance Block of the Month Mystery Quilt Series, anytime, by viewing the Basic Supplies and Tools Listing in the January 1, 2020 NZP BoM20 Kick Off Blog Posting.
On the third Saturday of each month, we’re featuring one block design, and we’ll be stitching one or more blocks of the same design each month. The blocks are created using Our NEW! Red Elegance Fabric Collection by Riley Blake and the Carefree Curves Trace ‘n Create Template Set by Nancy Zieman for Clover. Follow along as we show step-by-step how to create the February Hearts & Gizzards Block.
February Hearts & Gizzards Block
NOTE: This block is 8-1/2″ square; 8″ finished square when sewn into finished quilt.
Block Fabrics
For the Nancy’s Red Elegance February Hearts & Gizzards Block, select the following fabrics from the NEW! Red Elegance Fat Quarter Bundle along with the “Circle” Template from the Carefree Curves Template Set.
Red Elegance Stems Taupe. Red Elegance Stems Berry, Red Elegance Wallpaper Taupe and Red Elegance Wallpaper Berry
Prepare your fabrics! Pre-shrink fabrics by steaming and pressing, and steaming and pressing a second time. Then, stabilize fabrics for the sewing process by pressing and starching fabrics with June Tailor’s Starch Savvy. Press and starch, press and starch.
Carefree Curves Trace ‘n Create Template by Nancy Zieman for Clover
View the complete Basic Supplies and Tools Listing in the January 1, 2020 NZP BoM20 Kick Off Blog Posting, .
Cut Fabrics for the February Hearts & Gizzards Block
Create EIGHT! Hearts & Gizzards Blocks from four fat quarters and a little Pellon SofShape!
- Cut four each 8-7/8″ background squares from Red Elegance Stems Taupe and Red Elegance Stems Berry.
- Cut background squares in half diagonally, cutting each of the eight background squares from Red Elegance Stems Taupe and Red Elegance Stems Berry into two half square triangles.
- Cut three crosswise fabric strips from both Red Elegance Wallpaper Taupe and Red Elegance Wallpaper Berry fat quarters. Note: Each strip will measure 6″ wide by approximately 20″ long.
- Cut seven 2-1/2″ crosswise strips of Pellon SofShape Fusible Interfacing. Note: Each strip will measure 2-1/2″x 20″.
For this second block of the month in the NEW! 2020 Nancy Zieman Productions Nancy’s Red Elegance Block of the Month Mystery Quilt Series, we’re sharing Nancy Zieman’s techniques for creating the curvy Hearts & Gizzards block – without ever piecing a single curve!
Construct the Block
Create the Hearts & Gizzards Appliqué
Select the Hearts & Gizzards Template from the Carefree Curves Trace ‘n Create Template Set and align
- Align the Hearts & Gizzards Template to the wrong side of one 6″ Red Elegance Wallpaper Taupe crosswise fabric strip. Place the “Fabric Edge” red line marking (on the smallest template) to fabric top edge.
- Using a Fabric Marking Pen, trace around the smallest Hearts & Gizzards Template shape: Starting at one edge, trace both sides of template and around curved die-cut area – along the red curved line.
- Rotate template 180-degrees and align smallest template “Fabric Edge” (red line marking) along bottom fabric edge. Trace curved die-cut area and remaining side.
- Repeat tracing and rotating – and trace 16 Hearts & Gizzard shapes on the wrong side of the Red Elegance Wallpaper Taupe and 16 Hearts & Gizzard shapes on the wrong side of the Red Elegance Wallpaper Berry.
- Using a rotary cutter, ruler, and mat, Cut along side straight traced lines only. NOTE: Do not cut along curved traced lines.
Cut fabric strips into triangle shapes, along straight traced lines only. The curved traced lines will later be our stitching lines!
- Cut a total of 16 triangle shapes from Red Elegance Wallpaper Taupe, and 16 triangle shapes from Red Elegance Wallpaper Berry.
Align top edge of one fabric triangle to long straight edge of one Pellon SofShape Fusible Interfacing strip, with right side of fabric to the smooth non-fusible side of the interfacing. Pin. Rotate and position top of next fabric triangle along the lower edge of the interfacing strip; pin. Repeat rotating, positioning, and pinning remaining fabric triangles to the smooth non-fusible side of the remaining interfacing strips.- Set sewing machine for a short 2.0-2.5 mm stitch length, and stitch along the curved marked lines using a Size 75 Schmetz Quilting Needle.
It’s always easier to stitch smooth curves with a shorter stitch length!
- Using a rotary cutter, ruler, and mat, cut interfacing strips between triangle fabric shapes.
- Using a 45mm Rotary Cutting and Pinking Blade, trim away excess fabric and interfacing, leaving about 1/4″ seam allowance on the outside of the curved stitching line.
- With a fabric shears, carefully trim away excess interfacing, leaving about 1″ of interfacing on the inside of the curved stitching line.
- Repeat steps, trimming remaining fabric triangles.
Using Clover’s Point 2 Point Turner, smooth the curved seam as the fusible side of the interfacing is turned to the wrong side of the fabric.
- Using a Mini Iron, press interfacing to fabric wrong side, and create the Hearts & Gizzards applique shape!
- Repeat steps, pressing interfacing to wrong side of all 32 Hearts & Gizzards applique shapes.
Clover’s Mini Iron has a nice compact-size pressing tip for pressing small shapes, and small areas.
- Place two Berry Hearts & Gizzards shapes to opposing corners of 0ne Taupe background half-square triangle. Pin.
- Place two Taupe Hearts & Gizzards shapes to opposing corners of 0ne Berry background half-square triangle. Pin.
- Using Monofilament Thread, machine-stitch Hearts & Gizzards shapes to background half-square triangles, using a narrow blind-hem stitch, blanket stitch, zigzag stitch, or straight stitch.
- Place opposing half-square triangles right sides together. Pin.
- Stitch center seam using a scant 1/4″ seam allowance. Press seam open.
To create an 8-1/2″ finished block, be sure to stitch opposing half-square triangles together using a scant 1/4″ seam allowance. If seam is stitched with a full 1/4″ seam or larger, the block will measure less than 8-1/2″ finished!
- Press seam open and trim away extra seam allowances, also know as dog ears.
The Nancy’s Red Elegance February Hearts & Gizzards Block is complete!
- Repeat steps above, and create EIGHT Hearts & Gizzards Blocks!
Watch Quilt with Carefree Curves (Part Two) on The Best of Sewing With Nancy.
Shop Timesaving Tools & Sewing Supplies at shopnzp.com!
For a chance to be the random winner of a Stitch it! Sisters 5″ Fabric Short Stack with S!S button & sticker, please leave a comment below sharing your thoughts about our NEW! 2020 Nancy Zieman Productions Free! Block of the Month Mystery Quilt Series and/or The February Hearts & Gizzards Block.
Nancy Zieman Productions will give away one Stitch it! Sisters 5″ Fabric Short Stack to one US resident in the 48 contiguous states. Winner must reply within 30 days to the official giveaway announcement email message – sent from Nancy Zieman Productions. Email The NZP Team at [email protected].
The randomly selected winner of a copy of Knit Wardrobe Pattern M7331 by Nancy Zieman, from the January 8 Blog Post, Nancy Zieman’s Top 10 Knit Sewing Tips, is Martha O.
Her comment is: Currently finishing a child’s fake-fur lined poncho. I’ve only sewn with knits once ( helped make a friend’s friend a dress for wedding wear in 1981!) So a pattern with good instructions about knit fabric sewing will be very helpful.
Happy Quilting!
Team Nancy Zieman
Nancy Zieman Productions. LLC.
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Julie Kennedy
That block looks difficult, but the instructions make it seem very manageable!
Karen A
I always thought that block was curved piecing. So much easier with applique.
Beverly Smith
I like the Hearts & Gizzards block in these colors. Don’t know who named this block back in history, but think today we should replace gizzards with something more appealing! Even so, an interesting block to make especially with the current fabrics and the Trace & Create templates.
Bonnye
The blocks are lovely.
Genie Weber
Both first and second block are amazing. The directions make it easy to follow.
Ann West
As I have just begun my journey with applique, the hearts and gizzards block looks very doable. Thanks for the info. This is a block that I have been wanting to make for quite a while.
BevM
I just assured my husband that the strange name, Hearts and Gizzards, is indeed a quilt block. It looks nice with the fabric combination.
Jan C
These instructions are very well done. I think I’m going go change my mind about sewing this quilt.
Marjorie Brown
Love hearts, always have. I love eating gizzards so am thrilled with this block! Looks very doable for me. Thank for the pattern.
Clovis Perkins
Like the curves within the blocks.
Sandra Payne
Absolutely love the fabric! And a free block of the month series.
Nancy
What an easy way to do curves! Thanks
Bev Bolduc Aldridge
I think I made this before, your directions sound much easier to make. I know a very young lady who loves all things hearts and adding this to her future quilt…1 less design element to worry over what goes where on at least 1 of the quilts still in planning stage.
Pat
I have always loved this block but have been afraid to try it. With this new method and the clear instructions in today’s post I believe I now the the courage to try.
Susan
The Hearts & Gizzards block is just captivating and the fabrics shown for the Block of the Month are just stunning. The templates make this project somehting that many can do and paves the way for a lot of creativity.
Susan
The Hearts and Gizzards block is just captivating and the fabrics shown are just stunning. The templates are a handy tool to encourage a lot of creativity.
Gloria Fraley
I am excited to see how these eight blocks are to be used in the final quilt. The curves are a new quilting technique for me and the appliqué technique makes it so much easier.
Dixie
Love the Hearts and Gizzards block and the colors used. The block seems hard to make but the directions make it easy.
Barb K
I love the “Red Elegance” fabrics chosen for the quilt along–Beautiful!!
Michelle
As a beginner quilter this looks easy enough that I can try it.
Debbie
I am so excited to do this Block of the Month! I have never done a whole year of blocks and I am very glad to be able to learn new techniques! You CAN teach an old dog new tricks!
Christi
I love the hearts and gizzards block.
Debbie
I love the Hearts and Gizzards! I thought it would involve sewing curves but no, it’s applique! How cool!
Carolyn T
Hearts are my ‘signature’ when I make gifts with beds. Thanks for the great instructions for incorporating hearts into fabric gifts and a finished quilt for our home!
Carolyn T
Hearts are my ‘signature’ when I make gifts with beads. Thanks for the great instructions for incorporating hearts into fabric gifts and a finished quilt for our home!
Gina K
WOW… I never would’ve thought this was applique! I don’t mind curved piecing, but this is definitely simpler! Can’t wait to get home from work and give this block a go!
L Watson
It looks like it would be fun to use the templates!
Julie Kill
The fabrics are in my favorite colors! This easy method is classic
“Nancy”! Love it!
*I have an antique version of this quilt from my grandmother or great grand mother (I don’t know who made it) that is “curve sewn, pieced” . Love this pattern! Now I can make one too!
Valerie Antosh
I love this way of making the Hearts and Gizzards Block and would use the Stitch It! Sisters 5″ fabric short stack to make a quilt with this block. The 2020 Mystery Quilt block of the month looks fun to make.
Jeannette s Wellman
Did anyone else find that there was not enough material in the fat quarter to make three 6″ wide strips for making the hearts? I keep checking and there really isn’t any way to get three strips.
Nancy Zieman Productions, LLC
Hi Jeannette,
No worries! You’ll not need three “full” strips to cut a total of 16 triangle shapes. Feel free to use up both entire fat quarters, and cut a total of 16 triangle shapes from each of the two fat quarters. Feel free to email Team NZP with questions at [email protected].
Delores Coe
I am having trouble finding how many of each block you make in the instructions .Can some help so I know where im missing in the instructions . Thank you Deee
Nancy Zieman Productions, LLC
Hi Delores, Thank you for participating in the 2020 Block of the Month Quilt! You can find the number required of each block to complete the quilt near the end of each month’s block tutorial it will be highlighted in red. So far we have one block for January and eight of the February blocks. If you have any further questions do not hesitate to ask. Happy Quilting!
Bonnie
Just now getting to this project. My red fabric for the second block is about 1/4 inch too short to get all four blocks. What to do? (Red Elegance Stems Berry)All I did was steam and press 2x and starch and press 2x.
Delores Coe
I am having trouble finding how many of each block you make in the instructions .Can some help so I know where I am missing in the instructions . Thank you
Kathy
Is there a way to print all the instructions without all the extras