Scrappy Vintage Leaf Block Tutorial | Go-Go Kim

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Monday, June 15, 2015

Scrappy Vintage Leaf Block Tutorial

I cannot remember the last tutorial I wrote for the blog.  It has been way too long for sure! I was so inspired by this block, I simply could not help myself!  This is  an excellent scrap buster and works beautifully with a variety of fabrics! For my blocks, I used Denyse Schmidt Katie Jump Rope, Flea Market Fancy and a smattering of Hope Valley that I adore! The charm of these blocks is the variety of colors and the imperfect feel of the stems keeping it more folksy.





To make this block you will need:

Fabric requirements:
3 3" squares in a solid color
8 3" squares in a variety of prints
9 3" squares in a solid white, off white or neutral ( I used Robert Kaufman Kona snow)

For half square triangles:
4 3.5" squares in a solid color
4 3.5"squares in a solid white, off white or neutral

Center Block:
1 5.5" square in a solid color

Leaf Stem:
You can either used curved piecing or appliqué for the stem.  It is whatever you feel most comfortable doing.  I will give directions for the curved piecing.  To keep with the feel of the original ( the stem was hand appliquéd) the stems are not perfect since they are more free form. Imperfect works with this block!

For curved pieced stem
1 7" in block in a solid white, off white or neutral
1 7" of brown fabric cut with the template

For hand appliquéd stem
I am not a hand appliqué expert, so I will give you the template which is the same for either method and would love for you to check out Jen Kingwell's video tutorial on Fat Quarter shop for some expert tips!
1 5.5" in square in a solid white, off white or neutral
1 strip of brown fabric cut from template



Other
Thread:  I use Aurifil 50wt 2600 for all of my piecing
Quilting pins for curved piecing
Marking tool
Rotary cutter




Please read through all the instructions before starting this block.  If you have any questions please shoot me an email. All seams are 1/4in unless otherwise noted.

Making the half square triangles first, take the 4 3.5in squares of the solid and the solid white, off white or neutral and place right sides facing together





Sew 1/4 in from the marked line in the center


Then sew 1/4 from the center marked line the other side.  I used chain piecing to save time and thread!

Using your rotary cutter or scissors, cut through the center line

Press the blocks your preferred way.  I chose to do mine 1/2 to the dark side and one half to the light.

Trim the hst to 3inches.

Lay out your leaf to get an idea for the scrappy placement! Then start start stacking your squares in each row right sides facing.

I pin all of mine on the side I will be sewing so I do not get confused and sew the wrong two together ( has totally happened many times)!


Using a 1/4 in seam, I chain piece all the squares together!

Press them in your chosen method.

And you are already this much closer to having finished this block!


You will be sewing together the rows again but in the middle section, instead of doing the row across, you will be sewing the two star points together.


When sewing the seams together, you should try to but up the upper and lower sides and then pin so there will be no shifting.  I am a firm believer in pinning as you will see coming up!

****UPDATE the leaf stem is directional!  It can be placed in two ways, if you are placing it the way show in the following photos, in the arc down position, when you are trimming leave about an eighth to a 1/4 in of the white fabric above the top of the stem.  If you are facing it in the arc up position, trim it with the middle of the stem being in the center of upper left corner.****

When you have sewn almost everything together, there is one part left to complete.  The stem!   If you will be doing hand appliqué, use the same template, press the outer sides 1/4" under, place on the 5.5" square and follow the link to Jen's tutorial mentioned above.

For the curved stem, I sewed a number of different ones and this was the best one that keeps with the feel of the original one without the hand stitching.

Print up and cut out your template, then pin to your brown fabric.  This is a bias cut so make sure to  lay the template as shown.






For the curved piecing stem place the template that you cut out of the brown fabric and place it on the 7in square.


Cut around the template piece and the solid square.



Discard the solid cream fabric and flip the stem piece so the center of the curves match up and pin in place.


The fabric is cut on the bias and you will be able to manipulate it to bend around the curve.  It is really very cool!  I LOVE pins, I may have mentioned that previously ;)  There are geniuses out there that CAN sew curves without pins...I am not one of those people!  If you can do it, go for it!


Again, using a 1/4in seam, slowly sew around the curve making sure the bottom fabric is not bunching up under. I take the slow and steady path.

If your fabric does get bunched up and you realize it after the fact, take a few stitches out ( no need to rip it all out) and then smooth it out, pin it and sew it up!


Press the seams toward the center

Flip pin, sew and press the opposite curved side!

The stem will look very wonky!


 This is totally OKAY!  I made it a bit larger so we can trim it down to a 5.5in block!





Now you can finish up the rest of your rows, press them and you have some amazing Vintage Leaf Blocks!



I hope you love this tutorial and make lots of these beautiful blocks! I already have the orange/yellow and pink picked out to make this week!  Please join me!  If you do make the blocks I would love for your to share them, please add the hashtags #vintageleafblock and #gogokim so I can see them all!  I am planning a linky party with a giveaway sometime in the next month to make it more fun!










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3 comments

margaret said...

thank you for this tutorial, i have made a reference to it and will have a go, maybe not the branch though that might have to have an applique straighter one!

Anonymous said...

A very cool block and an excellent tutorial! Pins are a gal's best friend, IMHO!!!

Anonymous said...

What beautiful blocks - those curved stems stole my heart!

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