YaY! It's time for episode four in the Sew Simple Shapes Series If you are just joining us now click on these links to the first three weeks WEEK ONE WEEK TWO WEEK THREE Okie Dokie... Let's get started on Block Nine! We are using the FRUIT SALAD Sew Simple Shapes for the next 6 blocks in this series:) Trace and sew the following shapes from the set: 5 - C-1 4 - C-4 4 - C-7 4 - C-8 4 - C-12 Sew your pinwheel block for the background:) For this block you will need to prepare brown 1/4" bias for the stems. I cut about 5/8" x 42" for mine. After running it through the maker I wrapped it around one of my cute little wooden empty Aurifloss spools:) *FYI* - I used this brown 1/4" bias for 3 blocks in the series. For each Pear stem... Cut 4 - 2" long pieces and press one end under by about 1/4" like this. After sewing and trimming each C-12 pear shape you will need to clip the inner curves before turning. Remember to clip right to your sewing line but not into it. You will also need to clip the cleavage each time you sew the C-8 heart shape. We will be using this shape in the next 5 blocks:) Prepare all of your cute shapes for this cute block!! The first thing that I glue basted were the petals for the center flower. All four points meet in the middle. Glue baste the flower center next. Always use your 12 1/2" Trim -It Ruler to check if it is correctly in the center. I always think that I can "just eyeball it" but I never can! I measured 4" in from the corner of my background block and pinned the top of my pear. The top of the stem is placed 2 1/2" in from the corner and the raw edge is tucked under the pear. The leaf is placed straight across one side of the pear with the point in the center of the stem. I measured in 1 3/4" from the edge and placed my aqua gingham circles:) I removed the pins after my Sue Glue was dry... about 15 minutes. I used the aqua penmanship and red honeycomb prints from Bee Backgrounds Collection for the background block:) I used Bee Basics fabric for the rest with the exception of the green polka dot is Bake Sale 2 and the aqua stars print for the flower petals are my upcoming Autumn Love that will be here any day! All ready for applique:) I love this block! I think the making of 4 fruit blocks will be a sweet addition to our quilt:) BLOCK NINE Now let's make some cherries! Trace and sew the following shapes from the FRUIT SALAD set: 8 - C-2 1 - C-3 8 - C-4 8 - C-7 4 - C-8 Cut 8 - 3 1/2" long brown stems and press one one end 1/4" Sew your pinwheel background block:) All ready for pinning and glue basting! Place your flower petal points 1/2" from the center and 1" apart. Use your 12 1/2" Trim-It Ruler to center and check for accuracy. At this point... I can see that I need to move the petal on the top diagonal right out just a bit. The flower center is up next after the petal dry. As a reminder... I always use my Applique Pretty Pins and pin directly into my design boards to hold my pieces into place after measuring... and then I glue baste. I measured 3 1/2" down from the corner and place my leaves like this. The stems are place 3" down. The cherries are 2 3/4" from the side edge and the hearts are 1 3/4" in from the side edge. The inside corner of stems are 1/2" from the center(diagonal)seam making them 1" apart and the cherries are about 1/4"-3/8" apart. For the background block I used the Nutmeg "X" print from Bee Backgrounds and the Green baby chicks print from Bee Backings and Borders. The cherries are plaid from Calico Days and daisies from Sew Cherry 2. The hearts and the flower petals are from Bee Backings and Borders and the flower center is from Bee Basics:) All ready for applique! What could be cuter than cherries with flowers and hearts? BLOCK TEN Tune in next week for blocks 11 and 12:) But in the meantime... show us your progress on INSTAGRAM and be sure to use the hashtags #SewSimpleShapes and #SewSimpleShapesSeries so that your post will go onto the page that we can all see! xx Lori