I'm so excited to announce that my
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
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?
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
