Nothing but Love Quilt Along - Hopeful

Aug 15, 20227 min read

Updated: Aug 21, 2022

Here we are friends - the final big block for our heart sampler quilt!!

The Nothing but Love Quilt has been full of opportunities to learn different techniques: foundation paper-piecing, English paper piecing, turned applique, reverse applique, fusible applique, stitch and flip, and traditional piecing. A quilt journey designed to pique your interest whether you are a novice quilter or a veteran, and I sincerely hope you have enjoyed the trip! So I hope you are ready to wrap it up with one more foundation paper-piecing block.

The Hopeful block will build up your quilting skills again by using smaller pieces and a more complex piecing arrangement. but still fairly easy to complete due to the foundation paper piecing method. And I still have some tips to help you finish this block in a snap and with no bad words - LOL!

The Block Pattern

In this mock-block, you can see we are making the same patch four times, but I reversed the colors for two. I also have different patch layouts in the two-color (red/cream) version, the mock-block, and in the new aqua blue version. That is part of the creative freedom and choices you have with this block. Remember my goal is to help you make a quilt that you love, so I hope you are now fully confident to play with it and change it up however you like.

Now this heart pattern makes me think of ribbons twisting. And when I think of ribbons and love, I think of Awareness Ribbons, which are also all about hope and faith. You may not have noticed it at first glance, but each heart is made with TWO fabrics. So when you are looking at your fabric choices, think of the red/pink ribbon (color/print) as the color being the top and the print being the underside (and likewise with the pink/white version.) ln the red/cream version I made it super "sparkly with different fabrics for each patch, but in the new aqua version I made the hearts using the same fabrics and only changed the colored backgrounds.

Before I go into more detail, here is the downloadable pattern and templates for you to print for Block 16 - Hopeful:

If you have any questions or issues with downloading please ask here or on the contact page.

Things to Note when Making the Hopeful Block

I mentioned a few differences and leveling up your skills previously, here are the specifics...

1) When looking at the cutting chart, the pieces are more precise in size (aka smaller) because they are mostly strips. This means you will have to be more precise when placing the pieces or there will not be enough seam coverage when you flip them over. If you don't like that idea, cut them a 1/2" bigger in both directions to give you more wiggle room. Remember you will trim the seam allowance if needed after each piece placement anyway.

2) Also when getting your fabrics out to cut, look at your leftovers from previous blocks. The good thing about this block being last is that you should have little bits of fabric left over from other blocks that you can use to cut the desired pieces.

3) When you print the templates, print them in color to help yourself out. I highly recommend writing the fabric colors/specifics on the template AND the strip sizes since there are so many. I suggest cutting them out for each block and then setting them aside to keep everything organized.

4) This patch has pieces that continue the fabrics across the center seam line. It will be important that you trim your patches accurately so the seam lines will match up.

5) Due to these "continuation" pieces the 2 halves are put together in opposite order (top to bottom and bottom to top). Pay attention to the numbers to stay on track.

6) I do try to explain in the patterns how to lay the fabrics on the lines so that it folds over to cover the space well. However it is always good to practice before you sew. I will be providing a tip later in this post just in case your piece comes up a little short.

*If you ever get confused or have questions, please comment or chat with me, I am notified almost immediately when you are on site, so I am available for instant chatting quite often.

Ready...Set...Sew!

Making the Hopeful Block - Tips and Tutorial

Now that your templates are ready and your fabric is sorted, let's sew by number!

**For the cutting chart I labeled the pieces with letters because each template had its own letter identifier. I do reference that the A piece corresponds to template pieces A1, F1, C1, and H1. However if you find this confusing (SORRY) - you can label the templates with the appropriate letter for each piece or you can label your fabric with the appropriate letter/number combo. I would love to hear your thoughts regarding this aspect, so I can make it easier to understand.

Following the pattern instructions and visual aid above, sew on each piece of the template in numerical order. Always make sure your seams for the next piece(s) are covered - preferably before you sew.

Make sure that you fold both seam lines to insure coverage at the tops of each heart template.

There should be an X on your fabric where they cross.

We will now interrupt this blog post for "What to do if your piece misses the next seam line?!" (or your seam allowance is not 1/4")

Never fear, I have several solutions:

1) The fabric was not oriented correctly and now it is not covering the seam allowance.

This happens...unfortunately the solution is to remove the stitches with your seam ripper and use a new piece (if you trimmed it) or re-orient the piece if it is still intact. Try to remove the stitches on the fabric side not the paper side.

2) My fabric bits are not big enough for what I need and there is no more of this fabric available (aka I don't want to buy more for a 2" piece).

Hopefully you have a few too small pieces and then you can use your SUPERPOWER of making a bigger piece out of the little pieces! Then cut them into the needed sized pieces!!

3) The fabric piece was just a little bit too thin/short.

Sew another piece covering the edge of the too thin/short piece on top of the original piece. The edges of this piece have to end where they will be covered up by the next piece or patch or block - you can NOT do this in the middle of a piece (where you would have a rough fabric edge in the middle) because you can't stitch down two edges with FPP.

See below for clarification (hopefully).

**This will also work great when we trim all of the blocks to put the quilt together if there are any mis-shaped blocks.

Now back to our regular blog post...Onward with the piecing of all of your templates!

Final tip: Before you trim the patches, press them with your iron - fabric side first (which makes it curl a little) then the paper side to make it flat.

Once you have made all four of your patches according to the pattern, decide on your layout and then sew them together.

There you have it friends - Block 16 COMPLETE!! Yippee!

In your "free" time until August 29, make all of your Bonus Border Patches - Cross My Heart and Stitched Together, so that we can finish the borders in no time.

I LOVE to see your progress! So share with me here on the blog, Instagram, or Facebook. Don't forget to use the hashtags #nothingbutloveQAL #hopefulblock or tag me @polkadotpeepquiltsetc

There are link buttons to my Instagram and Facebook on this website.

You can also sign up and join my community on Wix (or the Wix Spaces app) - just hit the Log In button at the top of the page to sign up. New goodies are on the way!

Next week I will be discussing and demonstrating the quilting motif for this block - STRAIGHT LINES (with options for both feet).

If you are just joining in - WELCOME! Here is the quilt along schedule (with links for you to catch up anytime):

Nothing but Love Schedule

December 20, 2021 - Quilt Along Intro & Details

Ring in the New Year with Nothing but Love (polkadotpeep.com)

January 10, 2022 – Get Ready: Prep the Fabrics & Batting

Let's Get Prepped for Nothing but Love (polkadotpeep.com)

January 17 – Affection

Nothing but Love Quilt Along - Affection (polkadotpeep.com)

January 31 – Refuge

Nothing but Love Quilt Along - Refuge (polkadotpeep.com)

February 14 – Joyful