Pink and Red Valentine Heart Quilt with Swirl Quilting

Pink has always been my favorite color, so anytime I get an excuse to lean into it, I’m all in. There is just something about pink that feels happy, cozy, and a little bit playful, which makes it perfect for heart quilts and Valentine projects! We’ll talk more about this quilt, but first, let’s take a moment to cheer this very rare photo that I caught of snow in Georgia from my back porch. Woo hoo! LOL!

Now, back to it … I genuinely loved working with the I Heart You Quilt Pattern by Then Came June because it hits that sweet spot of being bold, graphic, and fun to piece. From cutting the first heart to sewing the final blocks, this quilt was one of those projects that reminded me why I love making Valentine and heart themed quilts so much. They are cheerful, feel good projects that never take themselves too seriously, and honestly, I could make heart quilts all year long (and I do, because I’m rarely on time for the holiday I intend to quilt for.)

Fabric Choices and Color Considerations

For this version, I kept the color palette simple and bold, focusing on pinks, reds, and a soft low volume background so the hearts would really shine, BUT I can’t take credit for that genius idea because it’s LITERALLY EXACTLY what was used in the pattern. I just got lucky with this pattern because these are colors that I LOVE ALL YEAR!

Unfortunately, the particular fabrics I chose bleed like a head wound. Living on the edge here … I do not prewash my fabrics. Never have. So instead of prewashing, I use multiple color catchers (like 4 – 6) in the first few washes and wash the quilt in cold water. Deep pinks and reds are gorgeous, but they can be sneaky, so if you are working with highly saturated colors, adding color catchers is an easy extra layer of protection.

You can also use Synthrapol, which is a liquid textile detergent that helps remove excess dye so colors do not bleed onto lighter fabrics. It is made specifically for washing quilts and garments with bold, saturated colors.

Even knowing all of that, I would still choose these colors again because the richness and intensity is exactly what I wanted for this heart quilt. (I never learn. LOL)

Following the Pattern Exactly and Loving It

Sometimes I tweak patterns. Sometimes I go off script. And sometimes I follow a pattern exactly as written because it already does what it is supposed to do.

This was one of those times.

I made this pink and red valentine heart quilt just like the pattern instructions, including the color placement. I even thought I had come up with a genius binding color choice until I looked back at the pattern and realized it was already part of the design. Doh!

Honestly, that just speaks to how well thought out this pattern is. The layout works. The color placement works. I did not feel the need to reinvent anything. I could relax, enjoy the process, and focus on the fun part which is sewing and quilting.

And sometimes that is exactly what a project needs to be.

Quilting Design Choice

One of the things I love about the original pattern is the soft Baptist fan quilting shown in the sample. It gives the quilt a classic, cozy feel and fits the design beautifully.

I actually started out with a Baptist fan on this quilt as well, thinking I would follow that same direction. After stitching a bit, I realized I wanted something with a little more movement and swirl to complement the bold heart shapes. LIKE A PSYCHO, I took out all the stitches and started over.

That is when I switched to the Vortex pantograph from House of Creations and stitched it edge to edge on my Bernina Q24. The swirling texture still keeps the quilt soft and flowing, but adds a slightly more playful, modern feel.

Both designs work wonderfully with this pattern. This version just happens to lean more into swirls, while the original leans more into classic curves.

Thread Color Selection

I used white Glide thread for this quilt.

White felt like the best choice with the pinks, reds, and soft background because it keeps everything bright and crisp without darkening the overall look. It also shows off the swirl quilting nicely while still blending into the lighter areas of the quilt.

Sometimes simple really is best.

Batting Selection

I used Quilter’s Dream Natural Batting in the twin size.

I love this batting for quilts like this because it has a great balance of softness and structure. It quilts beautifully, shows off texture a bit, and still keeps the quilt drapey and cozy. My other favorite brand is the Warm Company. I love Warm & Natural batting.

A lot of people use 80/20 (80 percent cotton fibers and 20 percent polyester) as their standard longarm batting, which is light and drapey, but 100% cotton is my favorite go to. I carry 80/20, 100% cotton, wool and bamboo in my shop, but I always reach for 100% cotton for myself. Batting choice depends on the kind of quilt you are working on and on your personal preferences. They each have their own specific uses, depending on what you’re looking for in loft, weight, drape and more!

Finished Quilt Details

• Pattern: I Heart You Quilt Pattern by Then Came June
• Finished Size: 55″ x 61″
• Fabric Colors: hot pink, red, blush pink, low volume white
• Quilting Design: Vortex edge to edge pantograph
• Thread: white Glide thread
• Batting: Quilter’s Dream Natural Batting (twin)
• Quilted On: Bernina Q24 longarm

A Little Quilt Love Before You Go

This pink and red valentine heart quilt was such a joy to make from start to finish. Between the bold pinks and reds, the simple heart blocks, and the cozy swirl quilting, it is exactly the kind of project that reminds me why I love quilting so much.

If you have a quilt top finished and are looking for professional longarm quilting, I would love to help bring it to life. I specialize in edge to edge quilting with a wide range of pantographs, thread colors, and batting options so we can find the right look and feel for your quilt.

A dedicated longarm quilting site is coming soon. In the meantime, feel free to reach out through joyslife.com or email me to ask about availability and pricing.

Let’s turn your quilt top into a finished quilt you love!

More Quilty Things You Might Love

If you’re in a Valentine and cozy sewing mood, here are a few other projects you might enjoy:

• UPS for Sewing Machines
  Learn why I added a UPS to my sewing room and how it protects machines like my longarm from power issues.
• Longarm Delivery Day
  Take a look at the day my longarm arrived and how I set up my quilting space.
• How Much Fabric for Pillowcases
  A quick guide to fabric yardage for standard, queen, and king pillowcases.
• Polar Fleece Ruffled Heart Wreath
  A fun Valentine heart decor project using polar fleece and simple supplies.
• Heart Banner Hoop Embroidery
  A sweet heart themed embroidery project that works great as Valentine decor or a handmade gift.