Heartbeat Hearts Block: Valentine Sew-Along
This blog post introduces the Heartbeat Hearts quilt block, a simple and beginner-friendly design perfect for Valentine’s Day projects. Using basic squares and half square triangles, the post walks through how to form the heart shape, emphasizing visual placement and an easy piecing method. It also shows how the block truly shines when made in multiples, encouraging creativity with color choices beyond traditional reds. The result is a versatile, charming quilt block that is both fun to make and ideal for practicing foundational quilting skills.
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, which makes this the perfect time to share a sweet and simple quilt block I like to call Heartbeat Hearts. This design is easy to make and looks especially charming when multiple blocks are placed together. While a single heart is lovely on its own, the real magic happens when you see several arranged into a larger layout.
To make this block, I started with 3 and 1/2 inch squares. You will need two solid print squares and two solid white squares at that size. The fabric I used comes from the Affinity collection by Benartex. In addition, you will need twelve half square triangles. To ensure your half square triangles finish at the correct size, start with 4 inch squares of both your print fabric and white fabric. Sew them together and cut them into half square triangles, which will give you the proper dimensions to work with.
Assembling the heart is mostly about visual placement. I like to begin at the top and think of it as forming two mountain peaks. The second row uses the solid print squares, one at each end, with half square triangles in between. As the heart shape moves downward, the half square triangles are angled so the white portions face inward, shaping the curves of the heart. The point of the heart is formed at the bottom using the solid white squares.
When it comes time to sew everything together, I recommend joining the pieces in pairs first. Once the pairs are sewn, join them into small squares, then combine those sections row by row until the full block is complete. This method keeps everything aligned and makes the process much more manageable.
Once I had several Heartbeat Hearts finished, I laid them out in different arrangements to see what worked best. Grouping the same colors together was nice, but staggering the blocks created a more interesting and dynamic look. This pattern also proves that hearts do not have to be red. Using a variety of colors adds personality and charm, and some combinations may surprise you with how much you love them.
Heartbeat Hearts is a wonderful beginner-friendly project and a great way to practice working with half square triangles. I hope you will give it a try, follow us on Facebook, subscribe to our YouTube channel, and enjoy a creative and heartfelt Valentine’s Day. As always, happy sewing.
