Checkerboard Heart Wall Hanging

Inspired by "Checkerboard Charm" quilt collector Julie Hendricksen

Quiltmaker: Laura Boehnke

• 1/3 yard dark red print (quilt center, middle border)
• 1/3 yard black-and-pink small floral (quilt center, middle border)
• 1/8 yard white small floral (quilt center)
• 2--1/8-yard pieces assorted black prints (quilt center)
• 3--1/8-yard pieces assorted red prints (quilt center)
• 5/8 yard white toile (inner border)
• 1-1/4 yards black-and-red large floral (outer border, binding)
• 2-3/4 yards backing fabric
• 50" square batting

Finished quilt: 43-1/2" square

Quantities are for 44/45"-wide, 100% cotton fabrics. Measurements include 1/4" seam allowances. Sew with right sides together unless otherwise stated.

Cut pieces in the following order. Cut outer border and binding strips lengthwise (parallel to the selvages).

Letters in parentheses indicate fabric placement for quilt center (Quilt Assembly Diagram).

From dark red print, cut:

• 6--1-1/2x42" strips
• 18--1-1/2" squares (A)

From black-and-pink small floral, cut:

• 6--1-1/2x42" strips
• 16--1-1/2" squares (B)

From white small floral, cut:

• 43--1-1/2" squares (C)

From one black print, cut:

• 72--1-1/2" matching squares (D)

From remaining black print, cut:

• 48--1-1/2" matching squares (G)

From assorted red prints, cut:

• 36--1-1/2" matching squares (E)
• 32--1-1/2" matching squares (F)
• 24--1-1/2" matching squares (H)

From white toile, cut:

• 2--4-1/2x25-1/2" inner border strips
• 2--4-1/2x17-1/2" inner border strips

From black-and-red large floral, cut:

• 2--6-1/2x43-1/2" outer border strips
• 2--6-1/2x31-1/2" outer border strips
• 5--2-1/2x42" binding strips

1. Referring to Quilt Center Assembly Diagram for placement, lay out assorted A-H print 1-1/2" squares in 17 rows.

2. Sew together squares in each row. Press seams toward black prints.

3. Join rows to make quilt center. Press seams in one direction. The quilt center should be 17-1/2" square including seam allowances.

Sew short white toile inner border strips to opposite edges of quilt center. Add long white toile inner border strips to remaining edges. Press all seams toward border. The quilt center now should be 25-1/2" square including seam allowances.

1. Referring to Diagram 1, sew together two dark red print 1-1/2x42" strips and one black-and-pink small floral 1-1/2x42" strip to make a strip set A. Press seams toward small black-and-pink floral. Repeat to make a second strip set A.

2. Referring to Diagram 1, cut A strip sets into 56-1-1/2"-wide A segments.

3. Sew together two black-and-pink small floral 1-1/2x42" strips and one dark red print 1-1/2x42" strip to make strip set B (Diagram 2). Press seams toward black-and-pink small floral. Repeat to make a second strip set B.

4. Referring to Diagram 2, cut B strip sets into 56-1-1/2"-wide B segments.

5. Referring to Quilt Assembly Diagram, sew together 13 A segments and 12 B segments in a row, alternating A and B segments, to make a short middle border strip. Press seam in one direction. The strip should be 3-1/2x25-1/2" including seam allowances. Repeat to make a second short middle border strip.

6. Sew together 15 A segments and 16 B segments in a row, alternating A and B segments, to make a long middle border strip (Quilt Assembly Diagram). Press seam in one direction. The strip should be 3-1/2x31-1/2" including seam allowances. Repeat to make a second long middle border strip.

7. Sew short middle border strips to opposite edges of quilt center. Add long middle border strips to remaining edges. Press all seams toward inner border. The quilt center now should be 31-1/2" square including seam allowances.

Sew short black-and-red large floral outer border strips to opposite edges of quilt center (Quilt Assembly Diagram). Add long black-and-red large floral outer border strips to remaining edges to complete quilt top. Press all seams toward outer border.

1. Layer quilt top, batting, and backing; baste. Quilt as desired.

2. Bind with black-and-red large floral binding strips.