Raindrops and blossoms

The blossoms are pieced before appliqueing to the background to create this simple block.

Mom's House Dress

This pieced block will allow you to practice the skill of set-in seams. Have fun with the embellishments that make the block uniquely your own.

If you fold the supplied background piece in half horizontally and again in half vertically and then press, it will make it easier to center the applique elements.

Draw the stems with pencil and use a chain stitch to create the stem or applique narrow satin ribbon for the stems.

Don't cut to size until after you have appliqued all of the pieces.

Select a piece of green for the leaves and a bright flower color suitable for petals. Fold the fabric in half and cut three pairs of the petal piece and three pairs for the leaves. The petal pieces should have a quarter inch seam allowance. An eighth of an inch is enough on the leaves if you plan to use the needle turn method of applique.

Cut three center petals for blossoms and add a quarter of an inch seam allowance. From a water print fabric, cut three raindrops with enough allowance for needle turn applique.

Applique the blossoms, then the leaves, and the rain drops according to the pattern placement. Embroider french knots at the tip of each flower.

Trim finished block to 14.5 inches.

Don't forget to sign your work on the back behind an appliqued element so that it cannot be seen from the front.

Select dress and collar fabric. Fold right sides together to make it easier to cut the pattern pieces.

Cut pattern pieces apart from the template diagram. You should have pieces A, B/BR, and C/CR for the dress; D/DR for the collar; and E, and F/FR from the background fabric provided.

A piece of masking tape on the back of each pattern piece will help hold it in place for cutting.

Sew A to B and A to BR. Then sew C to B and CR to BR. Use a set-in seam to add background piece F and FR to the dress. You might find that you have more control if you hand piece this portion, but if you choose to do it by machine, make sure that you stop and start your set-in seam on either side of the seam allowance on the dress pieces. If you include the seam allowance in the stitching, the unit will not lie flat.

Sew the collar D/DR to either side of the background piece E using a quarter inch seam allowance. Press seam toward collar.

Sew the two halves of the dress together and use a set-in seam to add the collar unit.

Embellish the collar with lace or decorative stitching. Add buttons and a belt to complete the dress.

Square the finished block to 9.5 inches.

Write your name in a seam allowance.