Sew Simple Shapes - Patchwork Flower Garden Tutorial!

Because our 

BLOOM SEW ALONG 

starts one week from today...

I thought I better 

show you what I ended up 

making with some of the 

patchwork flowers and leaves 

that I have been making 

during my latest 

tutorials on my 

Sew Simple Shapes

If you haven't seen them;

Just Click HERE HERE

 HERE HERE HERE and HERE

I wanted to do this series of 

tutorials to show you 

just a few more things 

that you can do 

with these shapes 

aside from the 

BLOOM SEW ALONG

My wish is that once you've

 learned how to use them...

 that you will have the 

freedom and knowledge 

to add some fun appliqué

 to some of your 

future projects!

CLICK HERE

if you don't have your set

 of Sew Simple Shapes yet:)

Okay...

so last time I showed you

 how I made the stems 

for this project...

and it's time 

for the next step...

which is laying out 

the pieces and 

basting/pinning them to

 prepare for appliqué.

I cut a piece of 

background fabric 15" x 29".

I plan to make a sofa pillow

 using a 14" x 28" form 

that I purchased at JoAnns.

Then I started laying out

 the flowers and leaves to

 fit the background.

I used some bakers twine 

in place of the stems 

just for laying out because

 I didn't want to cut my stems

 from my prepared spools 

until I had the layout 

that I wanted and knew

 how long each stem 

needed to be cut.

After laying out...

I saw that I needed 

just a few more leaves.

So I made them using 

the A-14 and A-16 

Sew Simple Shapes:)

I also took a photo of my layout 

and saved it to use for

 reference when it came time

 to layout and baste.

I do this all the time...

my iPhone has become 

an essential tool 

in my studio:)

So let's get to it!

I don't think that

 you can see it here...

but I lined up my 

background fabric with the

 center of my cutting mat 

so that I could use 

the lines on the mat 

for even placement of 

the flowers leaves and stems.

The first thing that I do

 is to work from the center out.

I placed the first flower 

where I wanted it...

and made sure it was centered...

then grabbed a spool of

 prepared stem strip and 

cut the length needed.

In this photo you can see

 how I'm using the lines

 on my mat for accuracy.

I traced a straight line 

down the center below

 the flower using a ruler

 and a mechanical pencil.

These stems are long

 and I want them to be straight...

and I don't want to guess 

because that 

never works out well:)

I am going to machine appliqué

 so I decided to use 

appliqué glue to hold everything

 in place during that process.

There are a few appliqué glue's 

out there and this one

 happens to be by 

Busyfingers (Sue Daley)

I have used Roxannes a lot 

and I also use Elmers ...

but make sure it's

 the School Glue kind:)

I use the glue sparingly 

for flowers and leaves

 but on the stems 

I use several little dots 

to keep them in place.

I tuck the top edge

 of the stem underneath 

the flower and cut the

 bottom of the stem 

about 1/4" longer 

than the background.

I can trim off the excess

 on the bottom after 

appliqué is complete.

I continue by glue basting 

the flowers where I want...

using about 4 dots of

 glue for each flower.

Then I trace the lines 

for each stem when 

I'm sure where I want it.

Some of my flowers 

and leaves overlap the 

stems so I make sure 

to add them last:)

I changed my layout 

on the left side 

just a little 

from the original...

but all in all 

it's pretty close!

It's all basted and 

ready for appliqué.

You could use pins 

instead of glue 

if you want 

and I do a lot...

but because this project

 is so wide and I

 will need to roll it up

 on the sides while I am

 machine appliquéing...

I chose to use glue

 so that the pins wouldn't

 poke me or get in the way:) 

Here's a sideways close up

 view of my 

Patchwork Flower Garden...

I just love the cute flowers 

that have grown using just the 

Sew Simple Shapes 

and scraps of fabric

 from my stash.

Scrappiness is Happiness!

Right now it remains 

on the design wall

in my studio.

I have a few other 

designing and sewing 

deadlines to complete 

before I can get back to it...

but I promise to show you 

as soon as I do.

I have been seeing 

lots of Sew Simple Shapes

 patchwork flowers from my 

tutorials popping up on

 my Instagram feed 

and they are so cute!

Be sure to use the hashtag 

#SewSimpleShapes 

so that I can see them all!

Tune in here next Monday 

for the first day of the 

BLOOM 

SEW ALONG

I really can't wait!!!

xx

Lori