This has been a long time coming and I know all of you are excited. I have been getting requests for over a year to make the Heart on a String pattern available in my shop. The wait is finally over. Heart on a String is now available. Click the links below to snag the pattern.
My Heart on a String pattern was first featured in the January 2022 issue of Quilts & More magazine. The magazine featured my crib size version finishing at 48.5” x 52.5”. If you have that magazine you can find the instructions on pages 38 – 45. This quilt is very special to me because it was my very first magazine feature and the start of my great relationship with the editors of the magazine. I have a few facts and crazy stories of how this quilt came to be. It wasn’t without quilty super powers. I still can’t believe everything worked out.
First, before we get into the stories the new Heart on a String pattern, available in my shop features two quilt sizes. A crib size and a throw size quilt. The crib size is the same exact quilt from the magazine, just in my quilt pattern layout. If you have ever made a My Sew Quilty Life pattern you know my pattern layouts are detailed, unique, and easy to follow. The throw size quilt finishes at 72.5” x 78.5”. The throw size looks exactly like the crib size, the only difference is the blocks are bigger. Example, instead of a 6” finished heart, the throw size would have a 9” finished heart. Because the blocks are bigger, the throw size would make a great beginner quilt. You get the best of both worlds with this pattern. Click the button below to purchase the pattern. It's available in both PDF or paper formats.
Ok, on to the fun quilt facts and crazy story about my Heart on a String quilt.
Quilt Size:
When I sent in my initial quilt submission for the magazine my quilt was actually a throw size quilt. The editorial team thought it would look better for the publication if it were a crib size quilt. So I redesigned the quilt to have the same effect as the original design, while being a smaller crib size quilt. In the end, I’m thankful for the smaller size. You’ll see why as you continue to read. Below is a picture of what my original design submission looked like.
Fabrics:
I originally had the quilt mocked up in Love Note by Lella Boutique for Moda (see above picture), but another designer had already used that collection on quilt scheduled for the same issue, so we changed it. We went through several color variations before landing on the final collection, Beneath the Western Sky by Gracey Larson for Riley Blake Designs. You know I’m a Moda lover, so it was really hard not to use Moda. I love to support them whenever I can. I still love the way my quilt turned out and the fabric was beautiful. Here was the next mockup in the final fabric choices:
Quilt Name:
As you could see in the original quilt pictures above, the original name of the quilt was called, Sweet Love. The editors changed the name for the publication to Heart on a String. I felt like that name fit the quilt much better, so I decided to keep it the same. The hearts really do look like they are on a string.
Making the Quilt:
Here’s the real crazy story!
When I got the very exciting email from the magazine that they would like to use my design in an upcoming issue I was in the middle of packing up my house in preparation to move from Kansas to Illinois. There was no way I could pass up on this opportunity, so I did what any quilter would do. I became a quilty super woman! This was in July 2021. I had about 5 weeks before the quilt was due to the magazine. It was a tight turnaround. I had to have the fabric shipped to my only known friends house in Chicago, about an hour and a half from where I was going to be living because the fabric would not have made it to me in time before we moved. It took about two weeks before I could get the fabric and start on the quilt. 3 weeks left in my timeline. My family and I were waiting to close on our new home in IL, so we stayed in a hotel. That lasted for 40 days. I brought my essential sewing supplies with me to the hotel and in 2 days I completely made the quilt top. In the hotel!!! That was a first for me. I have never made a quilt in a hotel before. Thank goodness it was a small quilt and not the throw size I proposed! I didn’t have much time because I needed to send it to my quilter, Megan in Texas. (Check out Megan or Siren Stitching) Megan was a quilty super woman and had the quilt quilted and sent back to me within a week. I quickly put the binding on, took some pictures and sent it on its way. Whew, that makes me tired thinking about it. It will be a memory I have forever. I bet housekeeping is still finding threads. See some of the pictures below.
In the end, the quilt traveled to 4 states to the making:
Wisconsin, Illinois, Texas, and Iowa (plus not to mention any states it traveled through during shipping).
Seeing my work in a published magazine was such an amazing experience and one I will cherish forever. Once I received my advanced copy of the magazine I don’t think I could put it down. I also bought almost every issue I could find in my local grocery store so I could send them to friends and family, and have a couple extra just for myself. The lady at the checkout looked at me weird and said, “are you in a quilt group or something.” I laughed and said, “Nope, my quilt is in the magazine.” She thought that was so cool and we both had a good laugh.
I have really enjoyed reflecting back on my memories. I hope you enjoyed reading about them. I always find it fascinating how quilts come to life. I will have to do this more often.
I hope you enjoy my new pattern. Be sure to share your progress on social media using the #heartonastringquilt and tag me @mysewquiltylife
Update on the Quilts & More magazine:
I’m sad to report that the Quilts & More magazine is no longer in publication. The final issue of that magazine was in October 2022. It officially retired and no more issues of Quilts & More will be released. I was so honored to be featured in the magazine before it retired. This also goes for the loved Quilt Sampler magazine. They are continuing with the amazing American Patchwork and Quilting magazine and you can look forward to a fun quilt designed by me in the summer issue. Stay tuned!
Happy Quilting,
Heather
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