Dancing Hearts Quilts

I designed a workshop class based on some digital patterns I had published in Quilt Magazine. Just a simple heart shape could dance across a large, plain background piece of fabric. This was a popular class in 2009 and 2010 for the Sewing Expo. I actually made kits for my students! The hearts were backed with fusible webbing and the students could decide how they wanted to express themselves based on a few ideas I gave them. This first one is what I call Dancing Hearts.

Dancing Hearts with 16 heart appliqués

The next one was a sample I showed with the same 16 hearts making four little groups. I had white and black backgrounds. This was on black. Added borders and gave it to some lucky child.

Dancing Hearts: 20" x 29"

Then I used some 1930s fabrics for a table runner. I cut out a LOT of these hearts! I used them to make some cards.

Then I used some for two runners:

And more hearts and a longer table runner which uses 32 hearts. What looks like a border is actually extra wide binding!

And one more. This adds some leaves for a different look. Had to get creative with my border fabrics, but I think it works. Again, another charity quilt.

Hearts and Leaves

I did use hearts on a quilt that I made for my first book (Bold, Black and Beautiful Quilts, 2004). I had purchased a little pack of precut hearts from the Keepsake Quilting Catalog in early 2000. I tried hand appliqué, but I gave it up before the first heart was formed! I switched to fusible webbing for raw edge appliqué. My first one had orange for the background squares!

Jeweled Keepsake Hearts quilt

So many ways to use simple hearts in quilting. I don't have any of these living with me anymore, but I'm sure they are making someone feel loved!