"Bursting" Heart Pillow Tutorial: Valentine's Sewing Project

Bursting Heart Pillow Tutorial - scrap busting project for Valentine's Day

It's almost February! What?!!  Time to get ready for Valentine's day. Here is a fun pillow I made so I'd have something cute to set on my couch for Valentine's Day.  I  call it my "Bursting Heart" Pillow!  You can make one too!
My "Bursting" Heart pillow was inspired by this cute Alchemy Sweet Slices Pillow by Amy ButlerAmy Butler.  Amy used to offer it as a free pattern on her site.  I saw it at Quilt Market and fell in love with it.
Bursting Heart Pillow Tutorial - scrap busting project for Valentine's Day - Blue Susan Makes

"Bursting" Heart Pillow Mini Tutorial

Since I needed my pillow to resemble a heart I ended up making my slices a little differently than the pattern.  I tried out an applique method my sister told me about that she used on a recent Valentine's day quilt she made. Keep scrolling to see how I made my pillow front. Maybe you want to make one too!

Bursting Heart Pillow Tutorial - scrap busting project for Valentine's Day - Blue Susan Makes

Draw a Heart

Start out with a square of paper that is the same size as your pillow form.  Mine was 20 inches x 20 inches.
Draw a big heart on it.  Remember that when you "burst" your heart it will get bigger so don't make it too big. I ended up ultimately making mine 1/4 in smaller all the way around because I started too big.  Draw lines from the center of the heart to the edges. The more lines you draw the smaller your slices will be. Draw a line to connect the outer points along the curves to make each slice a triangle.


Trace the Heart Slices & Fuse the Heart Slices to Fabric

Next trace the triangle filled heart onto the paper side of  Paper backed fusible fabric adhesive such as Heat 'n Bond Lite(affiliate link). Number each triangle so you can keep them in order.  Cut the triangles out right on the lines.  Fuse the triangles to the back of different fabrics and then cut around the triangles about 1/4 in. TIP: I used 7 fabrics, making sure to repeat each of them 2 or 3 times. For a nicer looking pillow try to space out the light and dark colored fabrics evenly. Squint your eyes and you can tell what pops out.
Fusible adhesive applique - Bursting Heart Pillow Tutorial - scrap busting project for Valentine's Day - Blue Susan Makes

Fold the Raw Edges Toward the Center

Next, press the raw edges over the paper starting with the corners first....
how to handle the corners - Bursting Heart Pillow Tutorial - scrap busting project for Valentine's Day - Blue Susan Makes


... and then the sides
Bursting Heart Pillow Tutorial - scrap busting project for Valentine's Day - Blue Susan Makes

Now remove the paper leaving the adhesive attached to the back of the fabric. Use the tip of an iron to fuse the raw edge of the fabric to the center.
Bursting Heart Pillow Tutorial - scrap busting project for Valentine's Day - Blue Susan Makes

Trim any excess fabric that gets in the way of your tiny point.  The downfall of this method is that the points don't fuse leaving them precariously open until you stitch them down.  If you want perfect points you'll get better results using Amy's method where you cut out 2 triangles, sew around them and turn them right side out before appliqueing them to the front.    I'm okay with scrappy so I'm sticking with this method. 
Bursting Heart Pillow Tutorial - scrap busting project for Valentine's Day - Blue Susan Makes


Lay out the Heart Slices

Now put your heart puzzle together on the right side of your pillow front making sure it is centered. For my front fabric square I used Osnaburg with a layer of white muslin under it. Osnaburg is a cheap utility fabric that has a natural linen look. I cut it at 20 inches square for a 20 inch pillow form which will be a little snug on my 20 inch pillow form. I like it better if my finished pillow cover is a little smaller than  my pillow form.

Bursting Heart Pillow Tutorial - scrap busting project for Valentine's Day - Blue Susan Makes


Burst the Heart Slices

Now "burst" your heart by pulling out the triangles that you wish. Until you have it looking the way you like it.  Now you can gently iron it down and the centers of all the triangles will fuse in place.  I ironed it while it was on the floor since I figured there were enough layers to protect my carpet.  If you are laying it out on a wood surface or cutting mat transfer it to an ironing board before ironing over it. I also pinned each triangle in one spot just to be sure it stayed put while sewing and to hold my muslin layer in place.

Bursting Heart Pillow Tutorial - scrap busting project for Valentine's Day - Blue Susan Makes

Topstitch the Slices in Place

Now stitch around each triangle.  I sewed all the way to the edge on the skinny points.  As you can see, some turned out better than others. No big deal!! One reader suggested you could applique a little circle or heart in the center to cover the ends if you wanted to cover them up, but I like the messy look. 

Center or the Heart - Bursting Heart Pillow Tutorial - scrap busting project for Valentine's Day - Blue Susan Makes

Build your Pillow Backing

Lastly put together your pillow back. You can put a zipper down the middle of the pillow whit a lap closure or use an invisible zipper to put it in the side. For more help installing a zipper in the side see my  Sewing in an Invisible Zipper in a Pillow Tutorial.

Just as a note: Whatever you do, make sure to leave it partially unzipped so you can turn it inside out. Learned that one the heard way.

Zipper detail - Bursting Heart Pillow Tutorial - scrap busting project for Valentine's Day - Blue Susan Makes


Sew the Pillow Backing to the Front

Now place your front and back with RIGHT sides together and stitch around all four sides. I used a 3/8 inch seam allowance.

Make the pillow - Bursting Heart Pillow Tutorial - scrap busting project for Valentine's Day - Blue Susan Makes

Clip your corners to get a perfect point. And turn your pillow cover inside out.
One more tip: I like to stitch around the corners twice.  A little extra stitching helps prevent the corners from fraying out when you clip them.
Clipped corners - Bursting Heart Pillow Tutorial - scrap busting project for Valentine's Day - Blue Susan Makes

And there you have your beautiful Bursting Heart Pillow.  Please let me know if you make one! I'd love to see your version.
Bursting Heart Pillow Tutorial - scrap busting project for Valentine's Day - Blue Susan Makes


This one looks a little lonely, I'll let you know if I make it a friend!

Comment below if you like this Tutorial and help me pin it to Pinterest! If you make a Bursting Heart Pillow, I'd love to see it! Tag me on FB or Instagram @bluesusanmakes.com #burstingheartpillow  or send me an email.

Happy Valentine Sewing!

More Valentines Sewing Ideas...




28 comments:

  1. it's beautiful Susan, I love it!

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  2. Fabulous and so innovative! I love the technique and would never have thought of it. Thanks for sharing, and Happy Valentine's Day.

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  3. Your pillow is absolutely fabulous!! I love to make pillows and this one is VERY special!!

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  4. Great job on the photos and pillow, I wanna make this one!
    :-}pokey

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  5. this is beautiful! You make great tutorials, too! Thanks for sharing this... I hope to make one someday, and you are inspiring1

    susie
    www.SusiesSunroom.blogspot.com

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  6. Such a beautiful heart ~ thanks for sharing your process ~ so generous of you!

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  7. thi is adorable. thank you for such a great tutorial. i need to mark this for the future.

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  8. That is brilliant! Thank you. and since you use triangles, there's a remote possibility I might be able to pull it off.

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  9. You have got some great posts in your blog. Keep up with the good work.
    cozy

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  10. I love this! Great idea. Perfect colors!

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  11. Thank you for sharing all of these amazing resources .
    Pillows

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  12. Amazing. Can you pdf your tutorials in ease in printing?

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Pamela! I would love to turn my tutorials into PDFs to make them easier to print, alas I do not have the time to spend doing that. So sorry! Good luck!

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    2. PDF TIP: If you turn on "reader view" in your browser and then print from that page, using the "save as a pdf" printer command, voila, you have a pdf and all the links and pictures with instructions are intact without the side bar contents.

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    3. This is a great tip!!! Thanks!

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  13. This is funtastic..great job..thank you for sharing

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  14. Just saw this and it made my heart explode!!!!! Thanks, great directions, easy to follow.

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  15. I loved this pattern. I made one for my sister. Note the guild wants me to do a tutorial. I’ll give you and Amy credit.

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    Replies
    1. I'm so glad you made one! Have fun at your guild!

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  16. Cute idea! I think I might leave the ends that point to the center unfinished, but then applique a heart or a circle to cover them, sort of like you do with a Dresden plate.

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  17. I agree with anonymous. If the tips of the triangles do not come out the way you like, an appliqued heart would work well to cover them. Howeve, I like the look of your points especially the curved one. It adds a little whimsy to the design. So many possibilities, so much fun. Thanks for sharing.

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  18. Beautiful design! Can someone help me pin this to Pinterest?

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    Replies
    1. Hello! If you hover over any picture a little "P" will emerge and you can click it and pin the project from there. Hope that helps!

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