A Valentine Project
A Valentine Bucket Tutorial
If you are a maker, and have small children, I am sure you are like me and LOVE to come up with fun and creative ways to make some of the things they need! Whether it is their bedding and room decor, or Halloween costumes, candy buckets, Easter baskets, or stockings. Well, I was on a mission to create a fun Valentine bucket for my little to take to school that would last many years.
I had some heart quilt blocks left over after testing my friend’s, Abby Luchsinger or AbbyMaed, newest pattern Hearts Aglow. It is the sweetest little pattern and a really quick make. I’ll be sewing another one up during her QAL starting January 23rd!! If you haven’t already, you should join us!! I am a sponsor and will be giving away a FQ bundle and one of my patterns!! You can sign up here.
Anyways, back to the Valentine Bucket, that is what you are here for after all.
Make A Valentine Bucket
Supplies needed:
(2) Heart Blocks from the Hearts Aglow pattern from AbbyMaed - finished blocks measure 8 1/2” square
(4) 3” x 4 1/2” strips matching the top half of your block - abbreviated as T in instructions
(4) 3” x 4 1/2” strips matching the bottom half of your block - abbreviated as B in instructions
(2) 2” x 13 1/2” strips for the top - I used a coordinating solid
(2) 4” x 13 1/2” strips for bottom - I used a coordinating solid
15” x 30” piece of Soft-N-Stable (Soft-N-Stable is great for quilting and really gives it structure to stand up on its own.)
1/2 yard for interior/backing
(2) 2 1/2” x WOF strips for binding
My blocks feature Gayle Loraine by Elizabeth Chappell of Quilter’s Candy for Art Gallery Fabrics. This fabric was just perfect for this project!! It is also what I am making my Hearts Aglow quilt with for the QAL. I had two different blocks I wanted to use, so my box features a different heart on each side. Feel free to use matching hearts!
Instructions:
Take (1) T strip and (1) B strip and sew right sides together (RST) along one short side. Press seams open. Sew RST to left side of quilt block. Pay attention to orientation to match your fabrics. Repeat with the other T and B strips for the right side of the quilt block. Repeat entire process for the second block.
Sew (1) 2” x 13 1/2” strip RST to the top of the block. Sew (1) 4” x 13 1/2” strip RST to the bottom of the block. Press seams towards the solid strips. Repeat for the second block.
Sew the blocks RST along the bottom edge! Press the seam open. Your hearts should be pointed away from each other.
Baste layers: 1/2 yard right side down, Soft-N-Stable, quilt blocks right side up. Quilt as desired. **I first stitched in the ditch along the top border and bottom border and along each side of the heart blocks. This helps to give natural fold lines to the Soft-N-Stable.** (Yes, I forgot to take pictures of this step)
Once quilted, square up, trimming off excess interior/backing fabric and Soft-N-Stable. Fold in half RST. The seam between the two blocks should be the middle. Sew along each side, leaving the top open. Cut a 2” x 2” square from both bottom corners. On the left side, center and line up the side seam and bottom seam. Pin or clip to hold in place. Sew with a 3/8” seam allowance, back stitching at both ends. Repeat for the right side.
Apply binding to each side seam. No need to finish the edges of the binding as they will be covered up by other binding. Next, apply binding to each boxed corner edge. Turn binding under 1/4” to create a more finished edge. Apply binding to top edge. (I did not use bias binding and had no trouble. I also applied my top edge binding to the inside, folded it around and still hand stitched it down so that I didn’t see any stitching. I prefer the cleaner look.)
Flip the bucket right side out and enjoy!!
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and I look forward to seeing what you create!! Tag your makes on social media: #marthajanetutorials and #mjcvalentinebucket so I can follow along and celebrate YOU!
