"BLOOM" Sew Simple Shapes - How to Use for Iron On Appliqué Tutorial!

I'm so excited to announce that my 

BLOOM 

Sew Simple Shapes

 are finally here and

 available to play with!

I love appliqué and I have found 

over the years that 

some think it can be hard

and so they are afraid to try it.

Because of this...

 I decided to design a line of shapes

to use for appliqué so that 

I can show you how 

easy and fun it really is!

Appliqué can add so much 

to your sewing skills. 

Not only can it 

add personality 

to your projects...

I especially love appliqué 

mixed with pieced quilt blocks!

Everyday this week...

 I'll be posting to show you

 how to use my 

Sew Simple Shapes

 in several 

different appliqué methods.

This is what they look like

 in their cute little package:)

I named my first set 

"BLOOM"

because the shapes are flowers,

 leaves and petals:)

The set has 24 fun shapes 

to mix and match 

for super cute and

 easy applique designs!

For this week...

I'll be using shape A-12 to make a 

"SEED" block.

This is a traditional 

appliqué block with many names,

 but my grandma and great aunts 

always called this shape

 a seed...so I will too!

Each day this week 

while making a block...

I will be using a different method

 each time so that you

 can choose your favorite!

I designed a line a fabric called 

Calico Days

 to go along with my BLOOM set.

It will be here in December...

Just in time to start my 

BLOOM Sew Along in January!

We will be making the above quilt...

one block at a time ...

every Monday 

right here on my blog!

But for this weeks

 tutorials...

I'll be using this

 super cute fabric collection

called Fancy and Fabulous!

To cut fabric for the SEED blocks

for each tutorial and method this week... 

I cut 5" squares from the prints and

I cut 7 1/2" x 7 1/2" 

squares for the background.

(I'll later square them up to 6 1/2" square)

I always cut my appliqué background 

1" larger than needed

 because the appliqué process

 can shrink your blocks a little ...

so I like to appliqué first 

and then

 square up the block afterwards.

Today's method is Iron-On!

I don't use this method

 to appliqué very much...

but it certainly has it's 

place depending on the project ...

so I thought I would start out 

by showing you how to 

use my shapes in this way.

Whenever I do iron on...

I always use Heat and Bond LITE.

Each block consists of 4 "SEEDS" 

so I traced 4 onto the paper side of

 the Heat and Bond using

 a mechanical pencil:)

I like to cut my iron on shapes out by leaving about 1/4" 

on each side of the traced line.

*DO NOT cut out on traced line at this point...that comes later:)

Press...

yes I said PRESS (don't iron) 

each shape onto the

 WRONG side of a fabric square

(paper side up)

and then go ahead and 

cut out directly on the lines....

Just like this.

Now prepare your background square

 by pressing in half both ways 

and from corner to corner.

This is essential for correct 

shape placement of the SEED block.

Now peel your paper off like this.

You really didn't have to 

trim out the middle of the paper...

but I like to so that 

the entire shape isn't stiff...

just the outside where it matters.

Place the SEEDS on each square section 

of the background...

 keeping the points on each end 

aligned with the 

diagonal pressed lines.

Place them so that

 they are barely 

touching each other:)

It looks like this!

You could leave it like this

 depending on the project...

 but I don't think it

 would hold up to washing.

I like to do some kind of stitching 

around each shape 

just to secure it.

For this Iron-On block 

I just stitched about 1/8" 

in from the edge...

straight stitch 

with a neutral thread...

and backstitching 

when I stop and start.

The stitching secures it

 but looks cute too!

You could also 

zig-zag the edges...

satin stitch the edges...

or even do a buttonhole stitch:)

Now that the stitching is complete...

you can square up your block 

using a 6 1/2" square up ruler.

Easy Peasy!!!

I like how this photo

 makes it look like 

a cute little border...

that would be fun!

Cute right?

CLICK HERE

if you want to play too!

Tomorrow I'll show you 

the same seed block...

but using a 

different appliqué method:)

See you then!

xx

Lori