Be My Valentine Garland

My "Be My Valentine Garland"

is a simple way to use a few of your

favorite Valentine fat quarters.

It is simple to make because

I have used my own version of

a raw edge applique technique.

Supplies Needed:

• 
  
  (8) Coordinating fat quarters. You will need (5) dark colored and (3) light colored fat quarters. I used Giddy by Sandy Gervais for Moda.

• Scrap piece of freezer paper
• 1/4 Yard of Pellon Interfacing. I used a thicker Interfacing.
• 1/3 Yard of Moda Bella Solid Betty Brown SKU#9900-125

Cutting:

• Cut (1) 5" X 5" square from the freezer paper
• From each of the DARK fat quarters, cut (2) 7 1/2" X 20 1/2" rectangles. You will need a total of (10) 7 1/2" X 20 1/2" rectangles.
• From each of the Light colored fat quarters, cut (1) 5 1/2" X 18 1/2" rectangle. Choose one of your favorite light colored fat quarters, and cut an extra 5 1/2" X 18 1/2" rectangle. You will need a TOTAL of (4) 5 1/2" X 18 1/2" rectangles.
• From the Pellon Interfacing, cut (4) 5 1/2" X 18 1/2" rectangles.
• From the Bella Solid Betty Brown, cut (4) 3" X Width Of Fabric (WOF) strips.

Construction:

Step 1: Make the heart template

• Take 5" X 5" freezer paper square and fold it in half.
• On the dull side of the freezer paper,draw half of a heart. Don't worry about making it too perfect!
• Cut on the drawn line.
• Open up your freezer paper heart.

Step 2:

• Following the manufacturer's directions, adhere the Pellon Interfacing to the wrong side of a light colored 5 1/2" X 18 1/2" rectangle.
• Repeat for all (4) 5 1/2" X 18 1/2" rectangles.

Step 3:

• Place your freezer paper heart on top of the fabric side of the 5 1/2" X 18 1/2" rectangle.
• Make sure that the dull side of the heart is facing up!
• With a cool iron, iron the heart down in place.


Step 4:

• Using a pencil or fabric marking pen, trace the heart onto the fabric.

Step 5:

• Remove the heart.

Step 6:

• With the dull side facing up, place the freezer paper heart next to the drawn heart.
• Iron in place.
• Remove heart.
• Repeat until you have (10) hearts drawn.

Step 7:

• Cut out each heart.

Step 8:

• Fold the 7 1/2" X 20 1/2" rectangle in half.
• Press to create a crease.
• Fold the rectangle in half again.
• Press to create another crease. This will create a grid which will help you line up all of your hearts.
• Open up the piece of fabric.

Step 9:

• Place your heart on top of the 7 1/2" X 20 1/2" rectangle.
• Place the bottom tip of the heart 1 1/4" above the horizontal crease that you created.
• Use the vertical crease to line up the top of your heart. I placed the "dip: in the top of the heart on the vertical crease.
• Pin the heart in place. 

Step 10:

• Using a 1/4" seam allowance, sew around the edge of the heart.
• Tip: I increased the stitch length to 3.0. I also used my walking foot because of the thickness of the heart/Pellon Interfacing. Also S-L-O-W down when you are sewing the heart. It really does help to made the rounded corners of the heart!
• Another option would be to use a blanket stitch.

Step 11:

• With Right Sides Together (RST), fold 7 1/2" X 20 1/2" rectangle in half.
• Give it a quick press with the iron to reset your crease.
• Using a 1/4" seam allowance, sew along the left and right side of the rectangle.
• Leave the top open.

Step 12:

• Clip the bottom corners.

Step 13:

• Turn the rectangle inside out.
• Push out the corners using a chopstick or an unsharpened pencil.
• Press the rectangle.

Step 14:

• Repeat steps 8-13 for each 7 1/2" X 20 1/2" rectangle.
• Make a total of (10) heart pendants.

Step 15:

• With RST, sew (2) Bella Solid Betty Brown 3" X WOF strips together.
• Press the seams open.
• Repeat for the other (2) Bella Solid Betty Brown 3" X WOF strips.



Step 16:

• With RST, sew the (2) Bella Solid Betty Brown strips together to create one long strip.
• Press the seams open.

Step 17:

• Fold the top half of the strips over (about 1/2") toward the middle of the strip.
• Press down the entire length of the strip.
• Fold the bottom of the strip over (about 1/2") toward the middle of the strip.
• Press down the entire length of the strip.

Step 18:

• Fold the strip in half again.
• Press down the entire length of the strip.

Step 19:

• Begin pinning down the Bella Solid Betty Brown strip.
• Slide your heart pendant in between the fold of the Bella Solid Betty Brown strip.
• Measure in about 30" from the start of your strip before you start to place your heart pendants. This will allow you to have plenty of room at the start & end of garland. This is helpful when you are trying to hang up your Be My Valentine Garland.
• I left about 1/4" gap in between each heart pendant.

Step 20:

• Stitch down the center of the Bella Sold Betty Brown fabric strip.

Your Be My Valentine Garland in now complete!

To enter the giveaway for the

$50 gift certificate

to Fat Quarter Shop,

please leave a comment on this post.

A winner will be drawn

on Sunday, January 16, 2011.

Remember, in order to be

eligible for the $100 gift certificate

to the Fat Quarter Shop

you must enter all of the

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Until Next Time ... Happy Quilting!