Most of my quilts come together with a lot of time and planning, even before I get the fabric. However, over the years of being part of a quilting bee collaborative, I have learned to let go and embrace the unknown. For this quilt, I sent the group (do.good.stitches – Harmony) an easy heart quilt block pattern, and the blocks decided to take on their own life.

Beginner-Friendly • Scrap Busting • Charity Inspired

Last weekend, I was a vendor at the Quilt, Craft, and Sewing Festival. With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, it felt like the perfect opportunity to show off this block. I used the quilt as a tablecloth, and during the show, someone even asked if they could buy a kit to make the quilt themselves.

You may be surprised to learn that I only made two of these blocks—and this quilt will be donated to Project Linus. But that question gave me the idea to give you a tutorial on how to make this quilt so you can make one too.

This quilt was made using a Block Mania pattern I created in 2024. That month’s theme was transportation. Inspired by the racing world’s iconic checkered flag, I created a checkered heart and named it I Heart Racing. The I Heart Racing block pattern is currently on sale for $3.25. At the bottom of this blog post, you will find a simple tutorial for turning a stack of blocks into a fun, colorful quilt.

Easy Heart Quilt Block Pattern

THE QUILT FEATURES:

• Black and blue backgrounds
• A checkered heart
• Pops of yellow, pink, and orange to offset the white fabrics and keep everything feeling bright and energetic
• An exploration in a new quilting design – something that looks like a net

As my bee mailed me the heart blocks, I collected them in a cabinet that I keep specifically for charity blocks and a few finished goods. They stayed there for quite a while, mostly because I kept feeling like I needed more blocks for the quilt to be big enough.

At the end of last year, I decided to turn at least two of my do.good.stitches block sets into finished quilts for the Giving Challenge in November. Instead of making additional blocks, I worked with what I already had. I chose to offset the hearts so they don’t line up in perfectly straight rows, which gives the quilt a relaxed, modern feel.

Why This Quilt Works for Beginners:

✔️ Easy construction.
✔️ No row seams to line up.
✔️ Perfect for using scraps.
✔️ Flexible layout.

This is a great beginner quilt pattern and an excellent scrap-busting project. You can make as many blocks as you like and arrange them in a way that works for your fabric and your style.

Below is a quick and simple look at how I chose to lay out my blocks—nothing fancy, just a practical approach that lets the blocks shine and keeps the process fun and stress-free.

Tutorial on how to create this layout

Things You Need:

(14) I Heart Racing quilt blocks
(6) Piece A – 6 ½” x 12 ½”
(2) Piece B – 30 ½” x 6 ½”
(4) Piece C – 6 ½” x 6 ½”
(6) Piece D – 2 ½” x 6 ½”

Tutorial Quilt Size: 48 ½” x 60 ½”

Row 1

Pin and sew (4) quilt blocks together. If there is a difference in the background like mine, offset them by having a light next to a dark. Make (2) Row 1s.

Row 2

Pin and sew (3) quilt blocks together. Then sew a Piece A on the left and right sides of the row.
Make (2) Row 2s.

Boarder

Sew (3) Piece Ds together on the longest edge. Sew (1) Piece C to the right edge and (1) Piece C to the left edge of the working boarder. Then sew a Piece B to the left edge of the working boarder. Repeat.

Sewing the Rows Together

I flipped the rows that had three stars in them, so there was extra interest and less perfection. Pin and sew Row 1 to Row 2. Repeat. Then pin and sew the two sections together, sewing a Row 1 edge to a Row 2 edge.

Completing the Quilt Top

To keep the vertical edge longer than the horizontal edge, I only have a top and bottom border. Pin and sew (1) boarder to the top of the quilt. Flip the other border so the pieced edges are on opposite sides of the quilt. Pin and sew it to the bottom of the quilt.

This quilt is a perfect example of how meaningful and joyful simple projects can be. Whether you’re making blocks for a charity bee. Digging into your scrap bin. Or looking for a beginner-friendly quilt that doesn’t take itself too seriously, I Heart Racing is a pattern that lets you make it your own. I hope this layout tutorial gives you the confidence to experiment, play, and turn a pile of blocks into something special.

If you make an I Heart Racing quilt, I’d love to see it—be sure to share your version and tag me on Instagram @brownbirddesigns so I can cheer you on 💛🧵