Monday, April 25, 2016

BLOOM Sew Along - Week Fifteen - Block Fifteen!!


Good morning dear friends:)


Let's make another flower 
for our BLOOM quilt!

to download my free pattern



to get your templates if you 
haven't started your quilt yet:)


Today is block fifteen and it's a cute and simple double petal daisy:)



Here are my chosen fabrics.
We will be using 
A-2   A-11   A-19
BLOOM
Sew Simple Shapes



From BOTH fabric and Pellon:
Cut 1 - 3" square for the circle
Cut 2 - 2" x 3 1/2" for the leaves
Cut 5 - 2 1/2" squares for the daisy petals

From fabric only:
Prepare 5" long stem
Cut a 9" square for the background



1. Trace around the shapes onto the Pellon.
2. Pair up the Pellon and fabric squares and sew on the line...then trim.
3. Cut an "X" in the Pellon only.
4. Turn each piece and shape using the Clover turning tool and press.



Don't forget to clip each cleavage in the heart sew simple shape:)



Press your background fabric in half and
 place the stem in the center and even with the bottom.



Place the first petal on the center line and 1 1/4" down from the top edge.



Fan the petals around 
to form a circle like this.



Measure 1 1/4" from the bottom edge
 and place the right side leaf.



Measure 1 3/4" up from the bottom edge 
and place the left side leaf.



Place the circle in the center
 of the petals 
and pin or glue baste 
everything into place.



Appliqué away!



Trim your appliqué block
 down to 8 1/2" square. 
Cut your border strips and squares...



And sew your block together:)

#BloomBlockFifteen
is finished and super cute!

I'll chat with you here next week 
when we will sew block sixteen:)
xx
Lori


Monday, April 18, 2016

BLOOM Sew Along - Week Fourteen - Block Fourteen!!


Hello cute people and welcome to the 



It's time to add another
 BLOOM block to our quilt:)



I've been using my Calico Days fabric collection and I'm loving it!



I designed my 
especially for Calico Days
 and this sew along...
but of course they can be used with
 any and every fabric collection 
and I love to see
 all of those choices as well:)


Today is block fourteen.
I love this block...
it looks like a cute lolli-flower 
don't you think?



Here are my fabric choices for the appliqués.
We will be using the 
A-1   A-3   A-4   A-20
BLOOM Sew Simple Shapes
to make this block:)



From BOTH fabric and Pellon:
Cut 1 - 5" square for the large circle
Cut 1 - 4" square for the medium circle
Cut 1 - 2" square for the small circle
Cut 2 - 2" x 3" for the leaves

From fabric only:
Prepare a 5" stem strip and 
cut a 9" square for the background


1. Trace the shapes onto Pellon only.
2. Pair up with the fabric and sew directly on the marked lines.
Trim approximately 1/4" past the sewing lines.
3. Cut an "X" in the Pellon for turning
4. Turn right side out, shape using the Clover turning tool and Press.



Press your background fabric in half like this 
to make it easy to place appliqué pieces for basting.
Place the stem on the center fold and even with the bottom edge.



Place the large circle in the center
 and measure 1" down from the top edge.



Place the middle circle in the center 
and then the smallest one on top of that.



Place the leaves about 3/8" below the flower like this.



Make sure that both leaves are even on both sides.



Ready - Set - Applique!



Choose and cut your block borders and squares.



When appliqué is complete...
press from the back only 
and then trim your block to 8 1/2" square.



Sew your cute lolli-flower block
 together and take your photo.

#BloomBlockFourteen
is now complete!

Super cute...super easy 
and super fun:)
xx
Lori

Monday, April 11, 2016

BLOOM Sew Along - Week Thirteen - Block Thirteen!!


Welcome to the 
BLOOM Sew Along


So far we have 3 rows completed...
it's been sew much fun 
doing appliqué with you:)



I love using my 
BLOOM
Sew Simple Shapes
and I hope you do too!

if you need a set of your own:)


Today is block thirteen.
We have used this flower shape before but turned it differently:)


Here are my fabric choices for this week.
We are using
A-1   A-2   A-11   A-23
BLOOM Sew Simple Shapes 



From fabric and Pellon both:
Cut 1 - 5" square for the flower
Cut 1 - 3" squarer the large circle
Cut 1 - 2" square for the small circle
Cut 2 - 2" x 3 1/2" for leaves

From fabric only:
Prepare a 4" stem
Cut a 9" square for background



1. Trace the shapes onto the Pellon.
2. Place Pellon with fabric and sew on the traced line. 
Trim approximately 1/4" past traced line.
3. Cut an "X" in the Pellon only for turning.
Clip the 4 "cleavage" areas in the flower...
clip to your stitching but not into it.
4. Turn right side out...shape and press.



Press your background square in half like this to mark the center...
place the stem in center even with the bottom edge. 



Place your flower on top of the stem and 1 1/4" down from the top edge.



The leaves are 1 3/4" up from the bottom edge:)



Center the two circles and pin or glue baste everything into place.


Appliqué your block using 
the method that you have chosen:)




When your appliqué is complete...
cut the borders and squares and 
sew your block together:)


Take a photo and hashtag it
#BloomBlockThirteen

I really love this one and I think the 
double circle in the center is fun!

Block fourteen is next week...
I'll see you then!
xx
Lori


Monday, April 4, 2016

BLOOM Sew Along - Week Twelve - Block Twelve!!


Happy Monday Morning!!


Welcome to our sew along:)


It's time to make another BLOOM block:)
to download the free pattern



to purchase the 
BLOOM 
Sew Simple Shapes



Today is block twelve...
3 cute little aqua tulips!



Here are my fabric choices.
We are using 
A-13 and A-18 
of the BLOOM shapes.


Grab your rotary cutters and let's get started! 
From both fabric and Pellon:
Cut 3 - 3" squares from 3 different fabrics
Cut 4 - 2" squares from two different fabrics.

From fabric only:
Prepare 3 stems - 3 1/2", 4 1/2" and 6 1/2" long
Cut 1 - 9" square for background 



1. Trace the shapes onto Pellon.
2. Sew the Pellon to the fabric stitching directly onto your traced line.
Trim approximately 1/4" past your stitching line.
3. Cut an "X" in the Pellon for turning.
4. Turn, shape and press. 
Let's have another chat about turning:)



This is how my little leaf looks when I first turn it right side out.



Then I use my Clover turning tool to shape it. 
I always have the Pellon facing me...



And I make sure the the point of the turner
 is BEHIND the seam allowance (both  Pellon AND the fabric) 
In other words...I'm gently pushing out the top layer of fabric only. 
I push that fabric while moving the point 
across to the right while I'm turning the shape towards the left.



You can see here that there is a flat spot...which is totally normal.
I round out that flat spot by taking the point of the turner to it again...



 I work it back and forth until I've pushed the fabric out until it's curved.
Cotton has a bit of a stretch to it so it can be manipulated.
Just remember to work the front of the fabric only
 by keeping the seam allowances behind the turner 
so that you are never pushing on the Pellon at any time.



See? 
A cute little leaf shape is acheived by just smoothing out the edges with the turning tool.
Press...don't iron after shaping.
A good hot iron with NO STEAM is a must.
100% Cotton shrinks with steam... the Pellon is NOT cotton
 and so your fabric will end up smaller than the Pellon
and so your shape will be distorted.



Okay...I hope that little chat helped.
I know I said all of this in my video tutorial during week one...
but I thought it might be worth repeating!

So press your background in half when all of your appliqués are ready:)



Place the longest stem on the center line
 and then place the center tulip on top of that stem 
by first measuring  1 1/4" down 
from the top edge of the background fabric.



Place the 4 1/2" stem to the left by measuring 1 1/2" in-between the two...



Then repeat on the right side using the 3 1/2" stem.



Measure 3 1/4" up from the bottom edge of fabric to place the tulip.



On the left side...
measure 4" up from the bottom to place the remaining tulip.



Place the leaves on each side of the stem and pin or glue baste all into place...



so that you can applique:)
When complete...
trim your block down to 8 1/2" square.



Choose your border fabrics and squares...
and sew your block together:)



Take a cute photo of your adorable
#BloomBlockTwelve


Then sew the third row together and add it to the top two rows.
YaY!
I'm loving how it looks:)
Next week we will start on row four!
xx
Lori