Twisting Heart Valentine Tutorial
This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share a commission.Are you looking for a quilted project that can be used for Valentine’s Day and is beautiful enough to leave up all year long? I created this quilted Twisting Heart wall hanging several years ago and it continues to be one of my most popular tutorials.
This is a lot of fun to make using the Tiny Twister tool. I have also made a baby quilt using this template that I’ll share below.
Twisting Heart Valentine Tutorial
18″ x 18″
The size of this wall hanging is 18 inches square, it could have made it into a pillow!
I also drew this block in Electric Quilt 8 and have a diagram that I made in EQ.
I didn’t do a very good job picking my light pinks……one is too light. You can see in the next photo the colors I picked in Electric Quilt, I wanted the two light ones to be very similar.
Now if I hadn’t just done a whole month of Pink for the Rainbow Challenge I might have had the perfect one in my stash.
Cutting the fabrics for the quilt
I used 3½-inch squares in the following colors:
- 10 dark red squares
- 11 red squares
- 6 medium pink
- 7 light-medium pink
- 15 background squares
Use a 1/4th inch seam allowance.
Follow this diagram for the placement of the colors. Note: the top row has a background square in the center, not pink.
After you have this pieced you will add the 2½-inch border of the background color.
When you cut the blocks using the template you will be cutting blocks using the intersection of the border/block for blocks as shown in the diagram below.
I forgot to take some photos of cutting the blocks so I sewed a couple of extra squares together so you could see how to cut the blocks and then turn them.
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I am using the Primitive Gatherings Pinwheels template I bought from a quilt store some time ago. The replacement is the Tiny Twister Tool. If you would like to make a smaller or bigger quilt you can use the other sizes of Twister templates.
It is always fun to show how much the piece shrinks in size after you cut and piece them back together.
I have another tutorial here that has better photos showing how to turn the blocks after you cut them.
Once you have pieced the blocks together add a 3-inch border of red fabric and quilt as desired. I cut my binding into 2½-inch strips the width of fabric and it took 2 strips. You can read my binding tutorial for more info.
I used a burgundy Aurifil 50 wt thread on the red sections of the wall hanging and then a cream Aurifil 50 wt thread for the background.
My free motion flowers are a little wonky…but I like them.
Take a look at the back, I think it is always neat to share a photo like this.
Here is another Twister quilt that you might enjoy! That is little Sadie with long hair, she doesn’t like to be brushed so it is easier to keep her hair short. We have no idea what kind of dog she is but thankfully she doesn’t shed.
As you can see, my free motion quilting isn’t perfect but….it works! I hope you have enjoyed the Twisting Heart Valentine Tutorial!
Download the free PDF quilt tutorial
Other Sizes of Twister Templates
- Itty Bitty Twister
- Tiny Twister (the size I used)
- Mini Twister
- Twister
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About Connie
Hi, I’m Connie Kresin Campbell, the quilter, writer, and photographer behind Freemotion By the River. I enjoy inspiring others with my quilt tutorials and patterns. You’ll also see my sweet adopted dogs from time to time.
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Connie I love this heart it is Beautiful !! Thank You so much. I can see why its so popular.
Thank You again. Barb
Wow did not expect how the twist was done. I thought of a bunch of little pieces. Well done.
Absolutely Gorgeous Connie! I want to make this for sure at some point. I hope I’ll be able to figure it out lol. Glad to hear Mickey is doing well. And Sadie is doing better now that your hubby is home.
Have a great week and thanks for sharing!
Every year I say I am going to make this, Connie. Perhaps this will be the year. Thanks for the refresher tutorial.
Thank you so much, Connie! The download worked perfectly. I can use some snow days…
Glad you enjoyed it Miriam!
Wow, this is fantastic. I love the colors!!! The quilting is gorgeous and I love the twisted detail.
Very beautiful quilt! I adore Twister! And everytime I look at it how first time…I will glad to see you in my blog:
nataliaturchaninova.blogspot.com Welcome! )))))))))
I saw much tutorial Twister, but every time I look so as at first time)))…it is just admiration !
Connie, I think your valentines heart is really lovely and enjoyed seeing your process. I would never have guessed how you made it… it's great. Thanks for sharing with us!
I love this Valentine pattern and love the way it was quilted. Have to make one. Now do you have a tutorial for a st Patrick's shamrock? Thanks
Thank you Connie,
I love this heart, so nice of you to show how to sew it.
Liebe Grüsse
Bente
4 Years later I finally made my heart *lol*
Thanks Connie and happy Valentine to you!
It is never too late Bente! Beautiful pillow that you made, thanks for sharing!
Hi Connie,
I love the quilt & the tutorial. Thanks for the PDF version too. I like to save tutes in a file in case I want to print them quick and this helps a lot.
Good job!
Thank you, thank you for the tutorial. I love little twisters!!
Thanks Connie! I'll be trying this after I get some more pinks. Google docs is great too.
Thanks for the great tutorial Connie! 🙂
Thank you very much for showing how you did this.
KATRIN W.
Thank you for this tutorial! It's interesting, I'm making also these twists in my local quiltgroup, but they are turning in the other way.
Love how you quilted this. And I think your pinks look nice. 😀
Hi Connie,
Thanks for the great tutorial! I hope you don't mind that I dedicate a post on my blog to your fantastic quilt.
Love, Marieke
Beautiful Connie. Love the idea of using this design as a pillow. Great tutorial. Definitely goes into my list of favorites.
SewCalGal
http://www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com
Thank you so much for this tutorial Connie 🙂 This is something I would like to make one day so thank you for sharing the 'how to do it'. hugs Elly
Hi Connie!
Just wanted to pop by and let you know that this is featured today on The Creative HomeAcre Hop and I pinned, tweeted, and shared it on my Facebook page!
Thanks Connie I enjoyed this tutorial. My Heart is beautiful and will be going into my God Son’s 1st Anniversary Quilt.
This is so pretty! Thanks for sharing on The Creative HomeAcre!
http://www.theselfsufficienthomeacre.com/2013/02/the-creative-homeacre-hop.html
Check on Sunday to see if your were featured 😉
That is so very cute! Until now, I wasn't so "taken" with the twister quilts. But this has warmed my heart! Thank you for the great tutorial! I am visiting from Freshly Pieced. So glad I found you!
Very cute and great guide! Thank you! I've wanted to try one of these and a friend said I could borrow her template, so maybe it's time to give it a try.
Hello from another Conni!
I love your take on the heart, that was a lot of work, but it looks amazing!
thanks sew very much for the pdf. great tutorial. cant wait to try this. a friend just gave me a few twister templates. ♥♥♥
I love this! The piecing and quilting are fantastic! I hope you don't mind if I share your link and picture on my blog for others to see 🙂
This is stunning! I found you on the Clever Chicks Hop and I would love to have you join the fun on my Creative HomeAcre Hop!
http://www.theselfsufficienthomeacre.com/2013/02/the-creative-homeacre-hop.html
Hope to see you there!
I'm not an experienced quilter, and I have some questions:
1. What seam allowance are you using?
2. Do you have a background border as well as the red border?
3. If so, when you use the template, do you start with the intersection of the background border and the first square?
Thanks for your help!
Sew pretty! I love it! Thanks for sharing the pattern … 🙂 Pat
Thank you so much for the darling tutorial! The PDF file worked great for me. Really well done.
Thanks again.
Nice tute, Connie. Thanks for sharing. I like the new reference card idea you added… that's super! PDF is nice too.
Love your heart quilt. So perfect for February. Great quilting!
Oh, Connie what a great tutorial. Wish I had it last year when our quilt group were making these in the Christmas Wreath version for a quilt we put together to raise money for outr local food pantry. We used the smallest twister ruler and made it into a wall hanging. Each block was made with different reds, greens and creams, but then it was sashed with a black tone on tone that tied it all together. Barb
I'm delighted to shared the tutorial with all!! Someday once settled again I would love trying it! It's so pretty.
Connie
Thank you so very much for the tutorial and the bonus of a pdf file it worked great. I love this design.
Eva
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Wow! What a cutie! I L♥VE it and will have to stop what I'm doing today and make a couple of these!
Great tutorial and I l♥ve the little quick reference card and the PDF file. So thoughtful of you to do this.
Thanks
Love it! Super fun looking, especially how the back came together!
It's beautiful! I have one of those templates in small and large. One day I should use them!
Thanks so much for the printable tutorial. This is such a lovely quilt and your instructions are wonderful.
A beautiful welcome project for February. I am so glad January is gone after of week of -40C windchills! I need this cute project to cheer me up. I love your tutorial format.
Your twister quilt is awesome. I'm putting this on my list to complete for next Valentines Day.
Thank you for taking the time to put this into a pdf file. LOVE that you did that for your readers/followers.
Ps I like your light pink and think it looks great!
What an amazing design! It would make such a cute pillow.
I like the colors you chose. It's probably too late for me to make one this year (too many other commitments) but its going in my list for next year! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for the great tutorial. I am always looking for new ways to use my Twister ruler. I really like the way your heart came out.
Connie, I love, love, love this quilt. Thanks for the turorial. pinning this to make later.
Cath @ Bits 'n Bobs
I have the Lil' Twister ruler … I've just never used it. This may be the first project I try it on — great job, Connie! And just in case you're wanting input … I'm *so* tickled you shared the instructions in a pdf! I love pinterest and I love to make note of my favorites — but six years from now when I decide to finally make this (LOL!!!) or make it again — who knows if your page will still be where it is or if I can find it! The pdf is now safely on my hard drive, for whenever I'm ready for it!! Thank you, thank you!! 🙂
So sweet Connie! Fabulous quilting too
This is great; I'm going to pin it. Thanks!
Connie that's the cutest valentine ever. Thanks for the tutorial and for all your great ideas, you're the bomb!
What a lovely quilt. Looks perfect to make for the quilthanger in our bedroom. If I'll finish it on time for Valentine's…. don't think so. But it's going in my folder for tutorials I want to use!!!
Thanks!!
I am definitely going to make one of these before next February… so cute! I love how you quilted it too – thanks for showing the back.
the quilting makes it, love it.
Your twister heart is wonderful. Thank you for the tutorial. I love the set up of yours.
What a perfect quilt for Valentine's Day!
How sweet! I like the back as much as the front. Your quilting looks terrific.
I love it! Another project to begin and add to my other 10. Thanks a lot! lol
That's so sweet Connie! I've seen this one out there and often thought I'd like to make it – thanks for the downloadable pattern!!!
It looks fabulous and is the perfect valentine's quilt.
It's lovely, thanks for the tutorial.
ohhh I love twisters, think I'm going to get busy in the next 2 weeks with one of these
Thank you for the great tutorial! I pinned it for future reference!
What a great tutorial. A wonderful little quilt for Valentines day. I might just have to give the twister a try this month.
What a great tutorial for this twister. Very creative layout and love the heart. Your quilting just puts it over the top. Thanks for sharing your ideas.
What a pretty Valentine quilt! I have seen these and have been a little nervous to try it. Thanks for the tutorial you made it look fun and easy.
Love it! I like making Lil Twister quilts and had been planning a heart one in the future, (my youngest is a Valentine's baby). This just makes me want to get started sooner! Thanks for sharing!
Very cute, Connie. I will definitely have to try this.
Vicky F
Your twisted heart quilt is really neat and your freemotion flowers are sweet! Pretty too! Looks like it would be a fun project.
Good morning, Connie. And a Happy February to you, too! What a great tutorial. The .pdf file is great; wish more people used this. I've got all those reds and pinks out for my "Red" quilt, and I think this would be a perfect little project for them. Once again, you're a source of inspiration. Wish you lived closer…….
LOVE this tutorial and I am a huge twister fan. I have been looking for the perfect Valentine project. Thanks!
What a sweet quilt. And I love the way you quilted it.
This is so beautiful but seems so hard! (I've no experience with quilt)
Maybe I'll try some day!
love that heart quilt. one of these days I am going to try that ruler.
Spectacular.Thanks for the great tutorial and hope to do it soon.
awesome, love the quilting too