Grandmother's Garden Flowers

Materials:

• Fabric for petals and centers
• Hexagon template
• Ruler and scissors or rotary cutter
  
   

Instructions:

1. Cut out one of the hexagon templates. This pattern uses fairly large hexagons because it involves machine piecing.
   
   
    
2. Depending on the size of fabric you're using, either cut hexagons individually from small scraps, layer several pieces or folds of fabric and cut several hexagons at once, or make strips of fabric. Make your strip width equal to the hexagon's diameter- from side to side. For this template the strip should be just a hair under 3 inches. Layer several strips, place flat sides of the template along the edges of the strips, and cut the remaining sides.
   
   
    
3. Decide on a color for your flower centers and cut those pieces. Traditionally, this fabric is the same one used for the "paths" that will border the flowers. You will need a LOT of these hexagons when you start putting the borders on.
   
   
    
4. Begin piecing by sewing a petal to every other side of a center hexagon (right sides together). Don't worry about securing thread ends on these seams.
   
   
   
   
    
5. When you have all three petals on, it will look like this:
   
   
    
6. Next you will sew the remaining petals onto the center. Pin right sides together, matching the ends of the petal and center pieces.
   
   
   
   
    
7. Sew between the two lines of stitching you already have from the previous petals. Don't cross these seams or your petals won't lie flat. You need to secure these ends - I just took one stitch forward, one backward and one forward - you can also stitch in place a few stitches if your machine does this easily. And you can always tie the ends if you enjoy that sort of thing! Just don't do a lot of backstitch/forward stitching or you'll get a thick layer of thread that makes it hard for your petal to lie flat.
   
   
    
8. Your block will look like this from the front.
   
   
    
9. Add the last two petals in the same way.
   
   
    
10. Next, sew each petal to its neighbor. Match the petals edges, twisting the sewn end a bit until you get it to lie flat. Pin the unsewn end. Begin sewing at the already sewn seam line and secure the beginning of your stitching (since it's a finished corner - you can tell finished corners because you begin sewing at an already sewn seam).
    
    
    
    
     
11. This is what it will look like with all the petals attached.
    
    
     
12. Now iron and you have a finished block!
    
     

Use these flower blocks to make Grandmother's Flower Garden Quilted Pillowcases.