A Panel That Does the Focal Work for You
A good fabric panel gives you a finished-looking centerpiece without hours of applique or piecing. You start with the artwork already composed, then decide how to frame it. The Love You Always Heart panel is a clear example: a bow-wrapped heart surrounded by flowers, designed by Sandy Gervais for Riley Blake Designs. Learning how to square it up, border it, and quilt it opens up fast, giftable projects.
What This Product Is
This is a single printed panel, 35 1/2 inches by 43 inches, made from 100 percent cotton. It comes from the Love You Always collection by Sandy Gervais for Riley Blake Designs, a collection described as great for quilting, apparel, and home decor. The design centers on a heart tied up with a bow and surrounded by flowers, so the mood is romantic and celebratory — well suited to Valentine's Day, anniversaries, weddings, engagements, and heartfelt gifts at any time of year.
Because the panel is a standard, manageable size, it works as a project in its own right rather than just an ingredient. At 35 1/2 by 43 inches it is large enough to become a small quilt, wall hanging, or table topper as-is, and easy to grow with borders when you want something bigger.
Start by Squaring Up the Panel
Panels are printed, not woven to size, so first check the edges. Lay the panel flat, smooth it gently without stretching, and use a large square ruler and the printed design itself to find the true center and edges. Trim conservatively, keeping cuts parallel to the design rather than to the raw fabric edge. A light press before measuring helps, but avoid pulling the cotton on the bias.
Once squared, decide on its finished role before cutting anything else. Keeping the heart whole preserves the bow and floral surround as the focal point, and with a single centered heart, the strongest results usually come from letting the whole image stay intact.
5 Project Ideas for This Heart Panel
1. A bordered throw or lap quilt. Add one or two borders in coordinating solids or small prints from the Love You Always collection to build the panel out to your preferred throw size. A narrow inner border frames the artwork, while a wider outer border gives the eye a place to rest.
2. A wall hanging. Used on its own with simple quilting and binding, the panel makes a cheerful seasonal wall hanging for February, or a year-round piece for a bedroom, nursery, or sewing room.
3. A table topper. Quilt and bind the panel as-is for a romantic centerpiece under a vase or candle. Its proportions suit dining and side tables nicely.
4. A pillow front or sham. Trim the panel down carefully around the heart, or use it whole for an oversized cushion front, pairing it with a simple envelope or zippered back.
5. A gift quilt center. Surround the panel with pieced blocks — simple squares, half-square triangles, or a patchwork border — to turn a quick panel into a personal wedding, anniversary, or baby gift.
Color Pairing and Quilting Tips
Let the panel lead the palette. Pull border, binding, and backing colors from the heart, bow, and flowers rather than introducing competing prints. Small-scale coordinates and solids support the artwork without stealing attention. For quilting, stitch in the ditch around the panel's design elements first to stabilize it, then add gentle echo quilting around the heart and flowers, keeping density even so the panel lies flat.
Care
This cotton panel carries simple care instructions: machine wash cold and tumble dry low. Washing a finished quilt or topper the same way will help the colors and cotton stay in good condition. As with any quilting cotton, gentle handling and prompt removal from the dryer keep it looking its best.
Shop the Love You Always Heart 35 1/2" x 43" Panel at Linda's Electric Quilters.
