Because our
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
If you haven't seen them;
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
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!
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
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
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
I really can't wait!!!
xx
Lori
