Spring Heart Wreath Quilt

Nancy Odom interprets the Spring Heart Wreath quilt from Diane Plalen's painting, Spring Patchwork.

• Finished Size: 84" x 104-1/2"
• Block Size: 20" finished - six with wreath and heart appliques, six with heart applique
• Block Set: 3x4

Materials:

white background fabric: 3-3/4 yards (if fabric is more than 43 inches wide), 7 -1/4 yards (if fabric is less than 43 inches wide).
pink heart fabric: 2/3 yards
violet heart fabric: 2/3 yards
leaf fabric: 1/8 yard each of dark violet, purple , turquoise, dark green, and yellow
green wreath vine fabric: one yard
inner border: one yard (same as green Wreath Vine)
outer border: 2-1/2 yards (leftovers can be used for leaves)
backing: 7 1/2 yards
batting: 88" x 108"
bias bar : 1/4-inch wide bar for vine
template plastic or fusible paper-backed adhesive

Steps:

1. Cut out 48, 3" x 3-1/4" hearts in light color (or use template provided in book) (figure A).

2. Cut out 48 hearts in corresponding color.

3. Cut out 12, 21-1/2-inch background squares.

4. Cut 132, 1-3/8" x 4" leaves of various designs (or use the template provided in book).

5. Cut six 7/8" x 44" bias strips for Wreath Vine.

Heart blocks
1. Using the applique technique of your choice, create heart blocks by finding the center of the block (figure B) and then placing the vertical center of each heart about 1/8 inch from the center of the block (figure C). The other four hearts are placed on the diagonal of each corner.

Wreath blocks
1. Cut bias strips 7/8 inches wide then piece diagonally until you have a total of six, 44-inch long pieces (figure D). With wrong sides together (figure E), fold bias strip and stitch 1/8 inch from the outside edge.

Inset a bias bar (figure F), press on both sides with the seam centered on the back. Arrange vine in a 13-inch circle around the center of the block (figure G).

Place the bias strip on the right side of the background fabric--seam allowance down. Lightly glue and applique.

Arrange four hearts in center of vine, points towards the center. Add leaves to vine. Applique hearts and leaves (figure H).

Quilt top assembly
1. Trim blocks to 20-1/2 inches.

2. Arrange blocks as follows from top down:

 - heart block, wreath block, heart block
 - wreath block, heart block, wreath block
 - heart block, wreath block, heart block
 - wreath block, heart block, wreath block

3. Sew block together (figure I), add inner border, then outer border ( figure J).

Quilting
Style of quilting is a matter of personal choice for this quilt, but here is a perfect quilt to try machine, meandering quilting. Try random leaves and wandering leaf patterns.