Bloodroot Flower Block with Lettering

There’s something special about bringing native wildflowers into our quilting, and this week I was inspired by a subtle yet striking early spring bloom.... the Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis). This little white flower with its yellow center and uniquely lobed leaves makes a gorgeous addition to my collection of flower blocks.

For this design, I chose white fabric for the petals to contrast against a dark background, making the flower stand out. Can you imagine if I used a white background for this block? It would not work well at all. The leaf with its turned-up edges mimics its lobed structure in real life.

I worked using my usual fusible appliqué method, but this block would also look beautiful with needle-turn, embroidery, or quilting (included in my pattern). One thing I love about the Bloodroot flower is its simplicity - it doesn’t require complicated shapes or stitching, yet the result is so elegant.

As an optional extra, I used a fabric pen to add background coloring to the stitched center. Often I use fabric for this, however I wanted to keep the flower as simple as possible.

To make this block even more special, I decided to add its name directly onto the block using a stencil and a fabric marker. This small detail helps identify the flower and brings a botanical touch to the finished piece.

If you want to try this yourself:

1. Start with a slightly larger background piece to ensure you can fit the name in.
   
   
2. Choose a stencil with lettering that suits your block’s style. If you are purchasing a stencil, ensure it has both upper and lowercase letters.
   
3. Position the stencil where you’d like the name - below the flower, like I have or across one corner works well.
   
   
4. Use a fine-tipped fabric marker and a steady hand to print the letters. (Tip: Practice first on a scrap!) You may also wish to lightly draw the letters onto the background first with a quilter's pencil. Because I had used a dark background for this block, I opted to use fabric crayons instead of fabric pen. I shaped the end of the crayon to give a finer point before starting, and yes, I practiced first!
   
   

Learn from my mistake .... I started writing the Latin name (Sanguinaria Canadensis) but soon realised I didn't have enough room as I wanted to add it to a frame. I should have stuck to writing Bloodroot instead!

As you can see, I framed my block....

.... but there are numerous other ways you can use it. Here are some suggestions:

• Use in a block quilt with other flower blocks
• A mini quilt on its own
• A decorative pillow or cushion
• A pocket on a tote or bag

If you'd like to give this block a try, you can find the pattern here: Bloodroot Appliqué Block

Want to start your own floral quilt journey? Explore my full flower block collection.

[EDIT] After receiving several inquiries about framing my flower block, I wrote another blog post on how to do this. You can find the instructions here: Framing a Flower Block

Happy quilting!