Well hello there! These four blocks are part of a new Sew Simple Shapes Series of tutorials that will be here on my blog. For the first project in the series... I'm going to be using all of my Sew Simple Shapes to make one quilt! All of the blocks will be 12" x 12" finished. I thought it would be really fun to show you that my shapes are not only for making "just that one quilt" that they were designed for... but can and should be used for many other projects... and in different ways that you may never have thought of! The two blocks on the bottom and the one on the top right are made using my new set available next month called Autumn Love. Currently... there are 5 different sets and so I will be starting the tutorials using the sets that are available now and when Autumn Love gets here I'll do those tutorials as well. Today's block is the one on the top left and I made it using some of the shapes in my BLOOM set:) Are you ready for this new adventure?! Let's sew! Grab your BLOOM set... And your package of Sew-In Interfacing. Trace around your shapes directly onto the interfacing. Here are the shapes that we will need for this block and how many to trace: A-1 trace 5 A-2 trace 1 A-12 trace 4 A-16 trace 12 I like to use a mechanical pencil for a nice thin line. Dig into your quilty stash... it doesn't take much for applique! These are the colors that I will be using for my quilt. I have 4-5 different prints in each color... plus a solid to match each. I'm using the same fabric for all of the stems in the blocks. This gingham is from my Cozy Christmas collection and I cut a bunch of strips 5/8" wide and ran them through a 1/4" bias tape maker. I have always kept my prepared stems wrapped around vintage spools. This one happens to be an empty spool that my small Vintage Trim came on and I used it all:) Decide which color and prints that you want for each shape. Place the traced shape on your fabric with both right side up and sew directly onto your traced line. I do not backstitch but instead I "over sew" a little where I start and stop to secure my stitches. After sewing I cut about 1/4" or a little less around my shape. I cut a small X in the interfacing ONLY and turn it right side out. All the shapes are sewn... And the "X's" are cut for turning. I use the pointy end of this POINT to POINT TURNER to shape each piece and then give them each a quick PRESS (not iron) on the fabric side. I decided that I am going to use the same green solid (Riley Green Confetti Cotton) for all of the leaves or at least somewhere in each block. You may have noticed that I like to add some stitching around my applique shapes when they are done with solid fabric. I love the look and the added texture that the stitches create. I use all six strands of my Aurifloss for the stitching. I pre-mark my stitches with a mechanical pencil:) One down and 3 more to go! I do my stitching onto each individual piece before its appliquéd... And hide the knots on the back in the interfacing. Now let's talk about the background for the blocks. I'm using my Bee Backgrounds... And for each block I will use 2 prints and cut TWO 8" squares from each one. On two of the blocks I draw a line on the back 1/4" on each side from of diagonal center like this. Then I place it with right sides together on the opposite print fabric and sew directly onto the lines. Repeat for the other two squares and cut them apart in the center. Press the seams open so that your block will lie flat. You now have 4 half square triangles! Sew them into a pinwheel like this. I do trim the inner corners before sewing... But I just leave the outer corners because they will be cut off when I trim the excess off of the block after applique. I like to have my background fabric larger than needed during the applique process to allow for a little shrinkage and fraying of edges etc. I also press these seams open. I like to piece my backgrounds when I applique for several reasons. I think it adds a lot of movement and interest to the block but because the seam lines are going in the center both diagonally and across both ways... it makes laying out each block a breeze! Now your background is ready. Time to add the shapes and prepare for applique! I cut 4 pieces of 3" long stems from my spool. I use both glue and pins for this step. I use glue by Sue Daley and it's my favorite... I call it "Sue Glue" for short:) I also use my Pretty Pins they all come in this cute mason jar shaped container. I use the "applique" ones for this step. I like to dump them into a pin bowl for easy grabbing:) I also use my 1 1/2" x 6 1/2" Cute Cuts Ruler when laying out my pieces.... and of course...a design board! You will need the large size for these blocks:) First I place and then pin the center circles with one pin straight down into the design board. I make sure that it's right in the center because that's important for this next step! The seams on the pieced background along with my 12 1/2" Trim it Ruler make it easy peasy. I measured 2 1/2" from the edge of the center circle and placed my flower center circle and pinned it into place like this. I made sure that the circle is centered across the seam line underneath. Then I measured 3" in from the corner of my background and placed the center petal like this. Just pinned it...no glue yet! To place the side petals I measured 1 3/4" from the edge like this and pinned into place. Now you can lift up those pieces on each side... keeping the pin in... and place a few dots of glue underneath. You can take the pins out after it's glued. This is how I glue baste my stems... and then the raw edges are tucked underneath the circles on both ends. I placed my green leaves centered right on the seam line and just touching the center circle. The same measurements are used for each quarter of the block so you can work your way around... first pinning and then glue basting each piece. You can leave your pins in for a few minutes until the glue completely dries... or you can do what I do and lay my 12 1/2" trim it ruler on top and then a couple books on that to keep it nice and flat until the glue dries. "Sue Glue" keeps your pieces in place while you applique... whether by machine or by hand... that's your choice! However... it is reposition-able if needed without ruining your shapes and also water soluble even though I don't wash it out. Most of the time I like to hand applique my shapes but I have machine appliquéd too. Either way I always use matching thread to each applique piece. When I hand applique I just use the same stitch as traditional needle turn applique but my edges are already turned making it super relaxing and easy:) When I machine applique... I just use a tiny zig-zag stitch and even though I change the thread on top to match the applique ... I just use white in the bobbin:) After applique use the 12 1/2" Trim It Ruler to trim it down to that size. Use all of the lines on the ruler and match them up to the seam lines and your block will be perfectly centered... YaY!! I always save this step until the very end when ALL of my blocks are appliquéd and I'm ready to sew them into the quilt. Block Number One!! I love this block... it reminds me of cute little forget me not blossoms. I will be making 2 more blocks using the BLOOM set of Sew Simple Shapes and I will have those tutorials up next Monday! I'm planning on making for sure 16 different blocks for this 12" Sampler Quilt... and maybe even 20:) I'll be doing 2-3 blocks a week until finished. The setting will be VERY SIMPLE so that each different applique block really shines! I hope you will sew along with me while I play with the Sew Simple Shapes! xx Lori