BLOOM Sew Along = Week Seven - Block Seven!!

Welcome to the 

BLOOM Sew Along!

If you are just tuning in...

no worries...

it's not too late to begin:)

This is the BLOOM quilt 

that we are making together.

Click Here 

to download my free pattern.

I designed this pattern to go with 

my latest fabric collection called

Calico Days

And my first set of 

Sew Simple Shapes 

called BLOOM

Click Here 

to get them and let's get sewing!

Today we are doing Block Seven.

These are my fabric choices for the appliqué shapes in this block.

There are a few different ones from the pattern

because I felt like doing a yellow flower:)

Of course you can follow the same fabric selections as in the pattern...

it will all work out!

Here is the cutting for this week.

Cut from BOTH Pellon and fabric:

1 - 5" square for flower

1 - 3" square for circle

2 - 2 1/2" x 3" for leaves

From fabric only:

1 - 9" background square

1 - 5/8" x 5" for stem

(this was before I trimmed mine down) 

Trace around the shapes

onto the Pellon...

easy peasy!!

Then sew and trim.

You will need to clip the

 four "cleavage"  areas

 in the A-23 flower shape so that it will

 lie flat after turning right side out.

Make one clip just barely short of your stitching lines like this.

Then cut an "X" in the Pellon only 

and turn right side out.

Press them flat from the front only.

Use the point on your Clover turning tool to 

push and smooth out along the edges at the same time.

This is one thing that helps to get your edges smooth...

the other thing is practice.

Just remember...

you are striving for progress...not perfection.

Most important is to enjoy the process of learning 

and making something fun at the same time!

I pressed my background fabric in half for  reference of center placement.

I prepared my stem just like I showed you in the 

Block One Video 

Then I basted my stem right on the center crease.

I measured 1 3/4" down from the top

 of my fabric and placed mmy flower like this.

I placed my leaves 1 1/4" up from the bottom edge like this.

My circle goes in the center of the flower...

and now for the applique:)

After appliqué...

trim your block to 8 1/2" square.

Cut your border strips and squares...

And sew your BLOOM block seven together.

Remember to use the hashtag

#BloomBlockSeven

when you post yours on social media:)

We all want to see them!

See you next week for block eight and until then

"BLOOM" 

Where you're Planted:)

xx

Lori

BLOOM Sew Along - Week 6 - Block Six!!

YaY!

It's week six of our 

BLOOM

Sew Along:)

I am sew excited about how our quilt is coming along!

If you are just getting started...

CLICK HERE

to download my free pattern for the BLOOM quilt:)

If you still need my BLOOM

Sew Simple Shapes

I'm happy to say that the backorder has come in...YaY!

CLICK HERE

to purchase a set to make the quilt.

Today is block 6...

a sweet pink daisy:)

Choose your prints...

(I'm using Calico Days fabric)

We will be using

A-2   A-16   A-17

BLOOM Sew Simple Shapes

Cut the following from

 BOTH your fabric and Pellon:

7 - 1 1/2" x 2 1/2" for the petals

1 - 3" square for the center

2 - 2" x 3" for the leaves

From fabric only:

Cut 1 - 5/8" x 7" strip for the stem

Cut 1 - 9" square for the background

Trace onto the Pellon around

 each shape as usual...

except for A-17...

leave the bottom untraced. 

And when you sew these petal shapes...

Sew all the way down to the edges 

like this

 and backstitch when 

starting and stopping to secure.

The circle and leaves are sewn as usual.

Trim off extra on all pieces...

leaving an approximate 1/4" seam allowance.

Cut an "X" in the Pellon only 

on the circle and the leaves...

we are going to do something different

 with the petals.

Make a small cut at the bottom center

 of the Pellon only to make them easier to turn.

Turn them right side out and use the tip of your turning tool

to push out the top curve.

Remember to push ONLY on the fabric and

 not the Pellon so that you don't poke through.

Because the raw edges are being tucked under the circle they will never show!

Prepare your stem strip for basting:)

Press your background square in half...

and glue baste or pin the stem on the center fold...

  and even with the bottom edge as usual.

 Line up the first petal on the

 center crease and on top of the stem 

measuring 1" down from the top edge 

of background square like this.

Pin or glue baste into place.

Baste the two side petals next...

measuring 1 3/4" from the edge...

using the lines on the background fabric

 to make sure that they are straight.

Your block should look like this so far:)

This is how I layed out

 the remaining four petals.

I didn't measure in 

from the edges but placed them

like this until I was happy.

There is no right or wrong...

just try to make them

 symmetrical on both sides.

Pin or glue baste into place.

When I placed my circle on...

I measured 1 1/2" in from the petals.

Your measurement may be different 

according to how you placed your petals

 but just make sure to measure the same

 on both sides so that your circle is centered.

When I placed my leaves I measured 1 1/2" up from the bottom edge.

After your shapes are all basted...

appliqué using your chosen method.

I am doing hand appliqué for this quilt.

Cut your border strips and squares and sew your block together.

Don't forget to trim your block to 8 1/2" square after applique.

(this is before I trimmed mine)

YaY!

Block six is complete:)

When yours is finished post it on

Instagram

and use the hashtag 

#BloomBlockSix

It's so fun to sew everyones progress on our sew along!

If you are just joining us...

 and want to see each sew along post from the beginning

I have added these links below

for your convenience.

Just click on each title

 to take you to that post:

Get Ready for the BLOOM Sew Along

BLOOM Block One

BLOOM Block Two

BLOOM BLOCK Three

BLOOM Block Four

BLOOM Block Five

Organizing Sew Simple Shapes

Sew Simple Shapes - How I keep them Organized!!

Hello cute people! 

I thought I would do a quick post 

to show you how I keep my

 Sew Simple Shapes 

organized.

As you know...

they come in a bag like this.

But there are 24 shapes 

in all different sizes...

and I want to be able to

 get to the one that I want quickly.

So here's how I did it!

So...a while ago I was at JoAnn's and 

bought this cute little

 pink with gold polka dots binder by DCWV.

I bought it for Kassidy 

to make a little scrapbook

 using her Instax photos 

from her pink Fuji camera.

I bought the little photo pages

 that go with the binder there as well.

I liked the different divided sizes

 for the photos 

 and thought she could have fun with them.

It was about the same time 

that we started the 

BLOOM Sew Along

and as I was looking at

 the little photo pages...

 I just knew that they 

would be perfect 

to keep my 

Sew Simple Shapes organized!

I discovered that they fit perfectly:)

YaY!

So this is how I keep my 

Sew Simple Shapes.

I put them in the little photo pages according to size 

like this...

 I can see them clearly

and easily remove the ones needed

for each block.

I also kept the package header

 and put it in one of the pages.

I purchased this set of rings

 to hold the pages together.

I like how small they are.

I also got these at JoAnn's

in the scrapbooking section

 with the Tim Holtz stuff.

You could use bigger ones as well...

I'm sure you can find them 

at any craft store.

Just make sure they are

 the kind that open like these.

 These are the 3 different style pages.

Each photo page measure 4 3/4" x 5 1/2".

They have some that measure 4"x 4"

but they are not large enough to hold the large templates.

If you don't have a JoAnn's near you...

No worries.

You would not need to use 

the exact same ones that I have.

You can buy many photo pages and matching binders in the scrapbooking

 section of your local craft store.

You will just need to take or measure your largest template

 to make sure that it fits.  

These are by DCWV just like the little binder that I bought for Kass.

I purchased 2 packages of each style

 because I'm planning to use them for my

 up-coming set of 

Sew Simple Shapes called Cozy Christmas:)

Here is a sneak peek!

I suppose you are wondering why

 I bought those little rings to hold the pages together

 and not a little binder like the one I bought for Kassidy?

Well...that would work but I wanted a standard size binder 

so that I could hold the

 BLOOM pattern and other things

 for the sew along as well.

This is a Martha Stewart binder

 that I've had and used for a few years.

I love it and I'm sad that

 they are not available anymore.

But there are cute binders everywhere

 so I'm sure that you won't have a hard time

 finding one if you want to organize 

your templates and pattern like I did.

If your binder has inside pockets 

you could easily store 

the BLOOM templates there...

But I'm keeping mine in a 

binder pocket that zips closed.

I keep my pattern in sheet protectors

 for easy access ...

just turn the pages to

 the block you are working on:)

I also added lined paper for notes.

It's so easy to 

grab my shapes from the pocket 

when I'm working on each block and

 I know they are protected 

and best of all...

I won't lose any!!!

You could even keep your turning tool and

 bias tape maker in the zip pocket as well.

And your fabric and Pellon pieces 

for each block in the sheet protectors.

I love to be organized and

have fun at the same!

  

It makes each block for the

 BLOOM quilt easy peasy to make:) 

I hope you like how I organized my 

BLOOM Sew Along project and

 Sew Simple Shapes...

I shared it with you 

because it's working out so well 

and I thought you just 

might want to do the same thing!

xx

Lori