Pattern of the Month

Modern Love is the Pattern of the Month for February—and what better time to sew a heart quilt with a modern twist?

This design plays with simple block shapes, a touch of rotation, and just enough negative space to let the illusion do its work. The hearts aren’t obvious at first glance—but once you see them, you can’t unsee them. That little brain trick (technically called pareidolia) was part of the fun: using geometry and layout to suggest a shape, not shout it.

I made this quilt partly to round out my portfolio with a Valentine-appropriate design—and partly to use up some bright, candy-colored pinks from my resource center. It’s a scrap-friendly project that makes the most of those medium-sized offcuts that are hard to match but too good to toss. The heart blocks are constructed in columns with background framing pieces that give the full quilt its signature shape.

To really lean into the theme, I quilted looping hearts in both the blocks and the negative space. The result is soft, sweet, and graphic all at once. Whether you’re sewing for Valentine’s Day or just looking to add a little joy to your winter sewing, Modern Love is a bold and confident-beginner friendly option.

You can read more about the design inspiration and story behind this quilt in the 100 Quilt Project, or head straight to the Quilt Patterns portfolio.

100 Quilt Project #23