This week I'm presenting another pink flower block, this time a camellia. A friend kindly sent me photos of some of her beautiful blooms so creating this block was easy as I could work directly from her photos.
For my camellia block, I decided to create one large flower in the center of the block and this was made using one whole fabric section rather than individual petals. Was this because my last block (Peony) was made up of individual petals and I wanted something simpler? No, not at all..... it was because the curviness of this flower can easily be hand appliqued whereas the peony has concave dips between the petals (see the closeup of my peony block below pointing this out).
It is not impossible to hand-stitch these concave curves; it simply makes the project more difficult being suited for the experienced hand appliquer. When possible, I like to have these flower blocks suited for those less experienced.
So you may be wondering how I define the petals on this flower....
On my templates, I have the stitching lines indicating the edges of the petals. After I have cut out the applique shape, I use a lightbox (you can use any light source) to help show these lines through the fabric so I can transfer the markings onto the top of the fabric piece.
I prefer to embroider these petal details, but you may wish to use fabric pens instead. When doing so, it is preferable to use a slightly darker pen than the color of the fabric, or in my case, a slightly darker thread. You want these lines to show.
I have plenty of threads to choose from.... but that's because I've collected many over the years. You really don't need a lot. I only used five!
When it comes to stitching with the machine, I double stitch the line which means I can do all the stitching in one continuous line without cutting the thread. This cannot be done when stitching by hand - there are areas where you will need to end off and start again in a different place.
... and here is how the finished block looks:
I definitely had fun with this beautiful flower, from start (the drawing stage) to finish (the completed block). Now I need to think about how to use it in a project! Do you have a suggestion? Here are some creative ideas...
● Garden-Themed Quilts: Pair it with other floral blocks for a blooming masterpiece. See our BOW collection for other flower blocks.
● Mini Wall Hangings: Showcase the block as a standalone piece.
● Table Runners & Cushions: A charming way to bring flowers indoors year-round to adorn your table or sofa and other decor.
● Tote & Apron Decoration: Use it for a pocket on a tote or apron.
For a unique twist, experiment with different color palettes too - who says you have to be realistic? Give it a try... You can find the pattern here: Camellia Pattern
.... and please send me a photo when you're done, I'd love to see it too.
