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Paisley Heart – a free tutorial

Why hello there

I hope wherever you are in the world you are safe, healthy and surrounded with love. It is such a difficult time for many right now for so many reasons and as a result of this I am sending my love in the form of a free Tutorial. My Paisley Heart block is a fun and quick make that will be a great statement piece in your home. I turned mine into a cushion but really the options are endless – table runners, tote bags or even an amazing feature in a whole cloth quilt. Actually I think I need to try that one next!

I have used reverse applique to create the Paisley heart and love how it turned out. You could use the templates either way if you prefer of course. Reverse applique means the shapes are cut from your main fabric and then you fill the gaps with fabric from behind. You can use one fabric if you are overwhelmed by the amount of little paisley shapes or go all in like I have.

Now luckily I had the PERFECT fabric to work with in this bundle of From the Heart by Riley Blake Designs. I am also using it for the final version of my Bursting Heart quilt and had more than enough red scraps left to create with. I cant wait to photograph them together as a whole set on the weekend.

Lets get started.

Paisley Heart

What you will need

Background fabric measuring a minimum of 15″ x 15″ – I used natural linen by Riley Blake
Fabric scraps for paisley
Backing fabric measuring a minimum of 13″ x 13″
15″ x 15″ fusible webbing (eg vleisofix)
Sharp scissors or scalpel
Felt tip pen
Backing fabric – 15″ x 15″

Instructions

Gather supplies and print these PDF applique template pages. Make sure printer settings are not set to crop or shrink the pages, but rather to print actual size. Use the test squares provided to ensure accuracy. Please note the PDF pages have been reversed for ease of transferring. Tape the pattern together. DO NOT CUT OUT.
Using a felt tip pen, trace the paisley design onto the paper side of your fusible webbing. Mark the centre of the image with a dot for ease of lining up on your fabric. Ignore the smudges you make – no one is perfect after all.
Using your iron, lightly crease the background fabric with the iron to mark the centre. Lay your fusible webbing desing on the WRONG side of the fabric, lining your centre mark up with the creased centre. Iron well, using a pressing cloth if fabric is delicate.
Using sharp scissors or a scalpel carefully cut out the paisley shapes from your fabric.
HINT: Set the shapes aside to use as mini templates for your fabrics if using all different scraps.
Peel the backing paper from your design and place RIGHT SIDE DOWN on your ironing board. Using the cut shapes as mini templates cut slightly larger shapes and layer them across the design, ensuring the space you are covering is fully filled but the fabric does not cover part of another. This step requires care as some of the design spaces are quite narrow.
HINT: For a beginner friendly option you can choose one piece of fabric to lay across the back of your design.
Once all the gaps are filled your piece should look something like this.
Carefully lay your backing fabric on top of your paisley shapes RIGHT SIDE DOWN. Care needs to be taken to not dislodge the shapes you have placed. Press with the iron to secure everything in place.
HINT: Use a fabric that ties in with your paisley selection so that any accidental gaps are filled and don’t stand out.
Turn your design around so it is facing RIGHT SIDE UP and iron again to ensure all parts of your fusible webbing have been activated and the design is secure.
Stitch around your shapes to secure them in place. This can be done via hand or machine.
Stand back and admire your amazing handiwork!