I Left My Heart in Ireland – Free Ireland Quilt Block Of The Month Pattern

Enjoy this free I Left My Heart in Ireland quilt block pattern, part of Ireland Block of the Month. When Laura Roberts, one of McCall’s Quilting/McCall’s Quick Quilts contributors, discovered she would be going along on the McCall’s Quilting trip to Ireland in 2012, she decided to start an Ireland-themed quilt in anticipation. Get all of the FREE Ireland quilt block of the month patterns!

Skill Level: Confident Beginner
Finished Block Size: 12″ x 12″

Download this FREE quilt pattern for the I Left My Heart in Ireland quilt block.

Cutting Instructions
Note: Read through pattern before cutting.
White print
– 1 square 13″ x 13″
Assorted green prints, florals, and mottles
– 1 five-sided shape, approximately 3-5 across*
– Strips and rectangles of varying lengths and widths**
Paper-backed fusible web***
*See Step 1.
**See Steps 1 and 2.
***See Step 4.

Crazy-Piecing Green Fabrics

1. Note: You may wish to cut your assorted strips and rectangles as you piece to ensure that they are long enough. Cut one 5-sided shape from assorted green print, floral, or mottle (Diagram I). Shape should be approximately 3-5″ across. Referring to Diagram II and aligning edges, position green strip, right sides together, on one edge of 5-sided shape. Pin in place. Green strip/rectangle must be at least as long as corresponding edge of shape. Using seam, sew strip and shape together along aligned edges. Open strip and press (Diagram III).

2. Working in a clockwise direction, position a second green strip/rectangle right side down on 5-sided shape so it aligns with second edge of shape and completely crosses just-added strip (Diagram IV). Pin in place. Sew strip/rectangle to shape. Referring to Diagram V, trim excess fabric along edge of strip (end of first strip added). Open strip and press (Diagram VI).

Continue in this manner to add 3rd and 4th strips/rectangles to shape in clockwise direction (Diagrams VII and VIII).

Add fifth strip to shape, aligning strip with last unsewn edge of shape (Diagram IX). Strip/rectangle must completely cross both 1st and 4th strips. Stitch, trim, open, and press as before to complete first round.

3. Draw a new 5-sided shape on pieced fabric (Diagram X). Cut along drawn lines to create new pieced shape (Diagram XI).

Working counter-clockwise, use Step 1 and 2 techniques to add more strips and rectangles to shape. Continue in this manner, alternating clockwise and counter-clockwise rounds, until pieced fabric is approximately 11″ x 12″ (Diagram XII).

Tip: To add a greater variety of fabrics, you may wish to stitch 2 or more fabrics together (with non-parallel seams) and then cut a strip or rectangle from the pieced fabric (Diagram XIII).

4. Note: Follow manufacturers instructions for paper-backed fusible web. Template A is a hollow heart shape to keep bulk of fusible web to a minimum. Trace A on paper side of fusible web. Cut out, leaving small margin beyond outer drawn line. Cut out center. Fuse to wrong side of pieced fabric. Cut out heart on outer drawn line only. Finger-press white print 13 square on both length and width. Use folds as placement guide. Center heart on square and fuse in place (Diagram XIV).

Edge-stitch using machine blanket stitch and green thread (Diagram XV). Trim square to 12½” x 12½”, centering heart.