Christmas Heart Tutorial, Patchwork Tulips

Hi all, I have a fun Christmas decoration tutorial to share with you today! Let's try and get organised ahead this year with our making! Why not whip up a bunch to decorate your home for the festive season or gift for friends and family. You can create them as a garland, or as a hanging tree decoration :)

I've used a traditional red and green colour-way for mine, you can change it up as you wish and make a non-Christmas theme to use all year round! 

Cutting

- (2) 3.5" x 11.5" - heart

- (1) 2.5" x 11.5" - heart

- (2) 3.5" x 4.5" - heart

- (3) 1.5" square - tulip background

- (2) 1 7/8" square - tulip background

- (1) 1" square - tulip background

- (1) 1" x 1.5" - tulip background

- (1) 1" square - tulip centre

- (1) 1 7/8" square - leaves

- (1) 1 7/8" square - tulip

- (1) 1" square - tulip

1. Print heart template, available to download for free here. Ensure you print the document at 100%, and un-check the 'scale to fit page' option.

2. First off, cut all the 1 7/8" squares in half to form half square triangles.

3. Sew 1" background square with 1" square tulip centre.

4. Sew with rectangle to the right. 

5. With the half square triangles you have just cut, sew a background triangle to a tulip triangle.

 6. Finish assembling the block as shown above. Once you have 3 strips, press and sew the strips together to form the completed flower block.

7. To both the top and bottom of the tulip block, sew the two rectangle pieces (3.5" x 4.5"). Note the direction of the tulip

8. Sew 2.5" x 11.5" rectangle to the right and 3.5" x 11.5"rectangle to the left.

9. Fold along the centre of the block (creasing at the angle with the tulip centre). Use the heart template to guide the tulip block in the centre, as shown in the arrow above. 

10. Pin in place and cut around the heart shape. Using the completed heart shape you now have, use this as a guide to cut out a further shape from backing fabric and batting.

8. With the heart shape on top and the batting underneath, quilt 1" lines running down the seams of the tulip.

9. Lay your backing heart with the quilted heart front on top (right sides together). Stitch around the edge using a 1/4" seam allowance, making sure you catch all the layers together and leave a small gap for turning. Snip into the curved edges of the heart to reduce the seam bulk.

10. Turn inside out and stuff with polyester toy filling, being sure to pack them firmly in order to hold their shape. Slip stitch the turning hole closed in coordinating thread.

After I made the hearts I decided they would look cute as a garland, and also because I've been saving up a use for the cute folky ribbon I've used. I cut a length long enough for both end pieces to tie with a bow and then cut smaller pieces to join them together. I then just used a seam ripper to make a small holes where I needed to join them and a few stitches later it was complete! 

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. Happy sewing! xo