Day 6: Flower Favorites Blog Hop

Hello! We're back with Day 6 of our Flower Favorites blog hop. We're featuring blocks made with flower fabrics and/or blocks that are themselves flower-themed. We're excited to share these tutorials with you, and hope they'll inspire 

your next quilt, wall hanging, or table runner! 

Today we're combining themes--since it's May 5th, we're using the Cinco de Mayo collection from Kanvas to create a flower-themed block for the hop (and more...we've got an entire celebration for you!)

First, take a look at these fun fabrics: 

Chili peppers, sombrero-sporting dogs, cactus flowers, guitars...so much color and so much opportunity! (And don't forget large desert blooms--just what we needed for the Flower Favorites blog hop!)

We started with this block (turned into a hot pad), which had a southwestern feel to it that mimicked the fabric:

(Don't you love the fussy-cut dog in the sombrero at the bottom?!)

And then altered it to make a rectangular placemat, perfect for Cinco de Mayo parties or patio eating:

You'll Need:

(for 2 matching placemats)

• 1 fat quarter red hat print
• 1/2 yard white pepper print
• 1/2 yard large floral on black
• 1/2 yard backing fabric
• Two 14" x 19" backing pieces

To make one placemat:

1. Cut one 7-1/4" square each from white pepper and red hat prints. Cut diagonally in half twice. 

2. You'll be sewing the triangles together along a short side. To create points and allow for seam allowances, make sure you overlap the two triangles by 1/4" as shown before stitching. Sew and press open. 

3. Make 3 pairs of triangles.

4. Now sew the pairs together to make the triangle row. Again, you'll need to overlap the tips 1/4", but make sure to take the seam allowance into account. (In other words, depending on how your previous seams are pressed, it might look like you've overlapped more than 1/4"--see the right side of the photo below.)

5. Here's the three pairs sewn together into the triangle row.

Here's a close-up of the 1/4" created past the points. This will become your seam allowance when you stitch the triangle row to the large triangles.

6. Cut one 13-1/2" square from the black floral. Cut diagonally in half once.

7. Matching points, sew the large black triangles to opposite sides of the triangle row. Try to avoid stretching the fabric, as you're working with the bias edge of the large black triangles.

8. Layer with 14" x 19" backing and batting rectangles and quilt as desired. Use two 2-1/4" x 42" strips to bind. Placemat measures approximately 12-1/2" x 17"

We made the placemats in a different colorway as well--which do you like better?

In case you'd rather make the square block on its own (or to make into a hotpad), here are the measurements to cut:
Cut two 4" squares and cut diagonally in half twice (you'll use two of each)
Cut one 7-1/2" square and cut diagonally in half once (you'll use one)
Cut one 10-3/4" square and cut diagonally in half once (you'll use one)
Cut two 2-1/4" x 42" strips for binding.
Cut one 12" square for backing
Make the block in the same manner, but your triangle row will have five triangles rather than 6. Sew the larger triangle to one side and the smaller triangle to the opposite side. 
If you make this into a hotpad, don't forget a layer of insulated batting to protect against heat!

What else would you do with these fabrics?
We'd use the large white floral and the black chili pepper prints to make double-sided napkins, and wouldn't the dogs wearing sombreros on orange make talk-of-the-party coasters?!

For a chance to win a fat quarter bundle of Cinco de Mayo, leave a comment letting us know that you follow our blog (you can sign up via email or a blog reader in the right hand sidebar). For a second chance, follow us on Facebook and let us know that you do. Also, let us know if you've got any Cinco de Mayo plans for today. Giveaway is open through Thursday, May 8 at 11:59 PM EST. 

Don't miss the other tutorials featured in our Flower Favorites Blog Hop!

Day 1: Debby Kratovil from Debby Kratovil Quilts featuring Fossil Ferns and Palm Springs

Day 2: Erica from Kitchen Table Quilting featuring Palm Springs

Day 3: Benartex Blog Design Team featuring Palazzo

Day 4: Jackie Robinson from Animas Quilts featuring He Still Loves Me

Day 5: Benartex Blog Design Team featuring Venezia