Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Day 3: Flower Favorites Blog Hop

Hello! We're back with Day 3 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 the Benartex Blog Design Team is using the Palazzo collection by Greta Lynn from Kanvas to make a modern version of a basket block, using fussy-cut fabric as flowers. Keep reading for the tutorial, for directions on how to turn the block into a throw pillow and to find out how you can win some Palazzo fabric for yourself!

Materials:
  • 1 fat quarter each of light aqua and green pixelated prints and dark aqua small medallion print
  • 6" x 9" rectangle diagonal mesh print
  • 1/2 yard large medallion border print
  • 1/2 yard light aqua flower print (includes pillow backing--if you're only making the block, you need just four 2" squares)
  • Fusible web
  • 1 package light green medium rick rack
  • 14" square pillow form


From each of the 2 pixelated prints, cut two 3-1/2" x 21" strips. Sew a light aqua and a green pixelated strip together lengthwise. Make 2. Crosscut into a total of eight 3-1/2" wide segments.


Sew 2 segments together to make a four-patch. Make 4 four-patches.

Sew the four-patches together to make the 12-1/2" square block background.

Trace four to six 2-1/2" diameter circles and four to six 1-1/2" diameter circles onto the paper side of fusible web (Hint: We used the bottom of a can of basting spray for the large circle shape and the bottom of a spool of thread for the small circle shape.) Cut the circles out roughly and fuse to the wrong side of the fat quarter of dark aqua small medallion print, center a medallion within each circle. Cut out each circle on the drawn line.

Here's the fabric:

And here's what your fusible circles should look like:

Cut one 5" x 8-1/2" rectangle from the diagonal mesh print and one 4-1/2" x 8" rectangle from the fusible web. Fuse to the back of the diagonal mesh rectangle. Trim the fabric to the fusible web size. Measure in 2" from each of the bottom corners and draw a line from the corresponding upper corner to the mark. Cut on the drawn lines to make a basket shape.

Lay out the basket shape and the flowers on the block background. Play around with placement until you are satisfied. You may prefer to trim the basket bottom slightly if it's too tall for all the flowers you add.

At this point, you can fuse the shapes in place and add the rick rack stems afterwards; otherwise you can cut rick rack pieces for the stems and slide ends into place under flowers and under basket. (Hint: If you add the rick rack afterwards, be sure to use Fray Check on the ends.)
Fuse the flowers and basket in place and stitch down the center of each rick rack stem to secure. Stitch around appliques to secure.

Here's a look at the large medallion border print. For the pillow, we're just using the little check border (but don't worry...we have a bonus project showing you how to use up the rest of this gorgeous print! Scroll to the bottom of this post for more information). Centering the check border, cut four 2" x 12-1/2" strips.

From the light aqua floral print, cut four 2" squares for cornerstones. From the remainder, cut two 10" x 15-1/2" rectangles for the pillow backing. Sew two 2" x 12-1/2" check border strips to the top and bottom of the block. Sew 2" light aqua floral squares to both ends of the remaining check border strips. Sew these pieced strips to the sides of the block to complete the pillow top.

Here's the finished block, ready to be made into a pillow:

Fold one long side of a 10" x 15-1/2" light aqua floral rectangle over 1/2" and 1/2" again. Press. Topstitch to secure. Repeat on the second rectangle. Lay the flower block right side up and overlap the two hemmed rectangles on top, matching raw edges. Pin in place and stitch around all four sides using a 1/2" seam allowance. 


Turn right side out and insert a pillow form. You're done!


And...as a bonus, visit our Sew Interesting Facebook page for directions to make the coordinating pillow, which uses more of the large medallion border print that we cut the check border from for our flower block.


For a chance to win a fat quarter bundle of Palazzo, 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're a fan of applique or if you stick to straight piecing. Giveaway is open through Tuesday, May 6 at 11:59 PM EST. 
Be sure to visit Sew in Love with Fabric each day this week for another inspiring 
flower block tutorial.

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
Love It? Share It! Facebook Twitter Google Pinterest Email

126 comments:

  1. Very nice tutorial and I love the outcome. The fabrics are so pretty.

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  2. i love what you did with this beautiful fabric. thank you so much for sharing. i am a happy follower of your blog and love all the inspiration that flows from these tutorials babscorbitt@gmail.com

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  3. Love the use of the ric rac for the flower stems :-)
    I follow your blog via Bloglovin

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  4. I also follow you on Facebook

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  5. Forgot to say, I generally stick to straight piecing. Although since recently updating my machine, I'm now happier with applique.

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  6. I follow on bloglovin.
    kdavis1@centurytel.net

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  7. I follow Benartex, Inc.on FB as Kathy Newsom Davis.
    kdavis1@centurytel.net

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  8. For a pillow with plump, filled out corners, use an insert 2" larger than the pillow cover. Then you don't have the saggy, baggy elephant look.

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    1. Weedy Mama,
      Thanks so much for the tip! There's a *slight chance* that we didn't have the correct size pillow to use for the photo shoot... :)

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  9. I follow your blog! Lovely pillows and fabrics!

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  10. I follow the blog with email and GFC. I prefer straight stitching over applique.

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  11. I am a blog follower -- thanks for the sweet tutorial with the delish fabric!! I am definitely an applique person -- cotton and wool... the less piecing the better ;)

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  12. Thanks again -- I also follow on Facebook and will jump over to Sew Interesting to see the bonus! Cheers!!

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  13. I follow your blog by email. I do a little applique but prefer straight stitiching

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  14. I follow you on bloglovin'. I have never tried applique, I want to though.
    jen dot barnard at btinternet dot com

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  15. I follow you with Bloglovin.
    I seem to always do all my applique by hand. Not a bg fusible fan!

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  16. Love the use of the large print to make such cute applique flowers. I follow with GFC

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  17. Love the fabric on these pillows. I prefer to do straight stitching and quilting instead of applique. My skills are limited when it comes to applique.

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  18. I follow on Bloglovin. Great tutorial...Thanks!

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  19. WOW! That is a super cute block. I love to do needle turn applique. I find it very relaxing. Thanks for the giveaway. I follow your blog through GFC.

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  20. I follow you by email. I love both applique and piecing, although I pretty much stick with raw edge applique. I just love the richness of this fabric in the green shades. It's gorgeous.

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  21. I like Benartex on facebook. Thanks.

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  22. I'm a happy follower! I enjoy applique, but not so much needle turned, just raw edge. Thanks so very much for the giveaway!

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  23. This is very sweet! I follow your bog via Bloglovin' and via email! Thanks for the blog hop... I am very much enjoying to learn new ideas, tips and processes.

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  24. I follow by email and GFC. Love the pillow and the fabrics! I love applique and think adding a bit of applique to a pieced quilt really makes it special. Plus I can get a small amount of applique done without investing a huge amount of time.

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  25. I prefer piecing although I have done appliquƩ. I follow via GFC.

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  26. OH, you made that in my favorite colors!!!! I want to make just like this one!!! I do more piecing than applique, but I recently got a Brother Scan and Cut so that will make the applique much easier (when I get brave enough to try it!)

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  27. And I now am a facebook follower too!!!

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  28. Mostly a straight piecer, but I do a little applique here and there. Follow via Bloglovin

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  29. I follow on Facebook. I'm fairly new to appliquƩ but I'm really enjoying doing it!

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  30. I follow your blog via email. I love applique!!

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  31. I love all forms of quilting & follow thru email. This is such an adorable project!

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  32. I follow your blog via email!

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  33. I like you on facebook!
    I like applique and piecing

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  34. I follow you via email. I love the look of applique but haven't done much of it. It's on my list though.

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  35. I also follow on e-mail, love this blog it's full of ideas. Thanks so much.
    I don't do Facebook. So this is a double like :-) I have done both appliquƩ and piecing. Quilting is my therapy .

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  36. I follow your blog via email!

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  37. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  38. I follow with bloglovin'. So far I have not had any luck with my attempts at applique, but I keep trying every once in a while

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  39. I follow you on bloglovin and I prefer paper piecing to applique at the moment. Thanks for the opportunity! The Palazzo collection is very nice. notwendy gmail

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  40. I also follow on Facebook! Thanks!

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  41. I follow your blog by email. Definitely an applique fan. Love the Palazzo collection. lyn.robyn.smith@gmail.com

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  42. I follow your blog by email. Enjoy reading the blog.

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  43. I follow your blog by email. Thanks for the giveaway and your tutorials.

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  44. Love applique. Right now I am working on a trapunto applique.

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  45. This is delightful! I love the fussy cut flowers. I love applique. And I follow Sew in Love with Fabric via Bloglovin. Thanks for sharing!

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  46. I follow you on Facebook! Thanks for all the inspiration. I love the Palazzo fabric.

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  47. I follow with bloglovn and I just started to learn applique. I am loving it. thanks!

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  48. I love the clever way you utilized this fabric. I'm a fan of piecing myself and follow your blog via Bloglovin and email.

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  49. I follow your blog via email.

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  50. Very nice block. I really love the Mosaic/pixelated fabrics.
    I am already a follower you blog via email and on Bloglovin'

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  51. I already follow/liked Benartex on Facebook.

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  52. This is cute! I follow your blog via email and Bloglovin

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  53. I follow Benartex on Facebook, too. Cute!

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  54. I am a follower on Bloglovin I do raw edge appliquƩ, but tend to stick more with piecing.

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  55. I follow via e-mail. :) Haven't had much experience in applique, being a newbie.
    craftyccain@gmail.com

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  56. I also like your FB page. :)
    craftyccain@gmail.com

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  57. I like the pillow, the fabric colors are perfect. I am a follower on BL. Applique is not my strongest area but I'm getting better all the time.

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  58. i get your blog emailed to me ksmith8@emich.edu

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  59. i follow on FB.
    I like to machine piece, but I want to learn how to applique this year. Thanks!

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  60. I follow via Bloglovin. This pillow is darling!

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  61. Love that fabric and your cushions are stunning! Thanks for the tutorial.

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  62. I do both, but lately I have been doing applique a lot. I follow by email. Thanks!

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  63. I follow your blog via email. I love to do applique, although I've never combined it with quilting. That's on my bucket list!

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  64. Following with bloglovin'. Your hedgehogs in the banner are so cute.
    24Tangent@gmail.com

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  65. I follow you with bloglovin. Thanks for the giveaway! sarah@forrussia.org

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  66. I follow you via bloglovin' and email. Don't want to miss out on anything, don'tchaknow! :P

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  67. I am one of your "Likers" on FB

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  68. I am a big fan of applique. I follow you on Bloglovin! crystalbluern at onlineok dot com

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  69. I am happy to LIKE Benartex on Facebook. crystalbluern at onlineok dot com

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  70. I follow you on Bloglovin. I love to do needle turn applique.

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  71. I follow Benartex, Inc on facebook.

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  72. I really love the block. I love applique. I follow by blog lovin

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  73. I follow Bernatex on facebook

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  74. I am a regular blog reader through email, am Facebook follower and get Mr B's preview packs. I love applique and have started doing needle turn hand applique as well as piecing

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  75. I follow with bloglovin. Thanks for the tutorial.

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  76. I like both applique and piecing.

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  77. I follow your blog via Bloglovin'.

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  78. I follow your blog via bloglovin . Great tutorial !

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  79. I follow your blog via bloglovin

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  80. I follow on bloglovin' and I have done a little applique but not much.

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  81. I already "Like" you on FB.

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  82. Replies
    1. I follow the blog with Bloglovin. I live this pillow and the colors!

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  83. I like applique. It makes you,I explore new ways to put blocks together

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  84. I do both plain and applique. Have fun doing both.

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  85. I follow your blog via bloglovin'

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  86. I follow you on Facebook. Thanks for a sweet giveaway.

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  87. I follow your blog by email.

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  88. I do like applique, it was what I did first when I started quilting.

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  89. Gorgeous pillow!
    I follow via email.

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  90. I follow on FB.
    I just love applique!

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  91. Very pretty fabrics and a lovely tutorial. I follow via email.

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  92. These fabrics play so well together. What a great color combo and very pretty fabrics. I follow thru Bloglovin.

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  93. I follow your blog with blog lovin.' I enjoyed the tutorial!

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  94. I follow you on Facebook. I love applique, and like piecing -- but the best fun is combining the two in one project!

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