The regal blooms and slender leaves of the purple iris make this pattern a delight to appliqué.  Its delicate contours create an almost 3-dimensional work of art.

Fabric Selection:  The long dark leaves of the iris look especially nice when a mottled or dappled green fabric is used.  The stems should be slightly darker in hue.  The blooms themselves are beautiful in dappled or variegated fabrics with some pink or blue touches in the overall purple color family.

Appliqué Specifics:  The yellow “beard” of the iris can be created with fuzzy yarn, chenille, strips, or by hand or machine embroidery.

Widely regarded as the epitome of floral beauty, the rose blooms in a multitude of varieties, one of which has been designated the national flower of America.

Fabric Selection:  The petals of our rose, four different shades of pink were chosen.  Variegated fabrics as well as hand-dyed pieces work well when depicting the multitude of shadings found in a live flower.

Appliqué Specifics: The greenery surrounding the blooms (calyx) can be cut from one piece, with individual leaves being set off by machine embroidery.  The sepals (greenery at the base of each bud) are created in our sample with a narrow machine satin stitch.

Commonly called “lady’s eardrops,” because the dangling blooms resemble earrings, the fuchsia blooms is about 100 species.  Some grow wild, but many are cultivated to thrive in North America.  Predominant colors are red and purple.

Fabric Selection:  In our sample three coordinated colors are used for the blooms; pink, fuchsia, and purple.  Variegated fabrics and batiks work well for this flower.  The leaves are created in a dark green dappled fabric which connotes varying degrees of light play.

Appliqué Specifics:  The divisions of petals on the central portion of the blooms are created by machine embroidery, as are the hanging tendrils at the ends of the flowers.  The primary stems are created from ¼” bias strips, but the smaller stems of the leaves are sewn with a narrow machine satin stitch.

The simplicity of the poppy’s petals make this flower a joy to appliqué.  Large vibrant red petals and dusty green leaves make a bold statement with simple stitching.  The poppy, which has been grown in the Orient since ancient times, is also found in white, pink, and purple colors.

Fabric Selection:  In our sample, two different hues of coral red are used, a lighter shade is employed in the foreground petals, and a darker shade is used for those in the background.  Likewise, darker leaf colors are found in the background leaves, and lighter hues in the foreground.

Appliqué Specifics:  The stamens and pistils are hand embroidered using yellow floss for backstitches and French knots.  Individual segments of the buds can be cut in one piece and defined with machine embroidery.  The petals are cut individually so as to create a realistic look, lending itself to the use of different shades of red.  The sepals, or greenery at the base of the bloom, are cut in one whole piece and appliqués on top of the stem and bloom.

Pansy

The pansy is actually a type of violet.  Flowers may be purple, violet, blue, yellow, white, brown, deep red, or a mixture of these colors, and different varieties live from 1 to 3 years.  The name, “pansy,” is derived from the French work, “pensee,” meaning thought.  The European wild pansy is called the “field pansy,” or “Johnny-jump-up,” and has much smaller blooms.

Fabric Selection:  Depicted in our sample are four of the colors found in pansies.  For each flower head, three different hues were used, ranging from very dark to medium.  To create a beautiful look, be sure to coordinate the shades so that they blend well within each flower.  The leaves are created in two different shades of green with the darkest colorations appearing at the rear, or in the shadow, of the plant.

Appliqué Specifics:  The black centers, yellow stamens, and leaf veins are all machine embroidered with thread of a slightly darker hue.

Tulip

Although the tulip is now associated with the Netherlands, it actually originated in southern Europe and Asia.  Now, Dutch growers produce almost 2,000 varieties, and they can be found in almost any color.  Variegated blossoms that are streaked with bright pink or orange,  are called “parrot” tulips.

Fabric Selection:  For the tulips in this block, various pinks and purples were chosen.  Then contrasting blue veins were added with machine embroidery.  If an even more variegated look is desired petals can be colored and shaded with crayons or fabric markers.  For the leaves we recommend using at least two different shades and/or texture of green.

Appliqué Specifics:  When depicting a leaf which is turned to show the underside, we recommend joining the two different colors of green with right sides together at the point of their convergence.  The piece is then opened out and needle turned in the usual manner.  If the fusible method is used, this step becomes un-necessary.

Hollyhock

Hollyhocks come from Asia, and can be found in many colors such a white, yellow, salmon, red, and purple.  They grow on tall and hardy stems, and are often used as background borders in gardens, or along fences.

Fabric Selection:  The individual blossoms on a hollyhock stalk very little in hue, but a nice effect can be achieved by selecting several fabrics with different “textures,” with the same intensity of color.  The leaves are rather sparse and are created in a medium mottled green fabric.

Appliqué Specifics:  The individual blossoms on the stalk are cut in one piece regardless of which method of appliqué is used.  The petals are outlined with machine embroidery.  For the stalks, a dark green fabric should be used, since they are definitely in the shadow of the many blooms surrounding them.  Veins in the leaves, as well as the leaf stems, are embellished with machine work as well.  The yellow flower centers can be created in fabric, or yarn, which is couched down with invisible thread.

Tiger Lily

There are more than 200 genera with about 4,000 species of lilies.  Twelve are native to the United States.  Several types have red-orange petals with purplish spots, including the Tiger, pictured here.  This orange beauty probably derived its name from the fact that it does have spots.  Growing wild in some regions, its bulbs have been harvested, and used as a spice.

Fabric Selection:  For the orange petals of the tiger lily, batiks work especially well.  Striations or dark veins running lengthwise on the petals lend a look of realism to the appliqué motifs.  Using two or more shades of orange also creates a nice effect.  Consider the light source, and use lighter shades for the blooms receiving more light, and darker shades for those which are shadowed

Appliqué Specifics:  In our sample, the yellow pistils were created with hand-embroidered French knots.  The dark spots on the leaves can be applied with a permanent pen or embroidered French knots. 

Daffodil

The daffodil’s cherry yellow petals nod in graceful elegance, connoting unrequited love, hope, and chivalry.  Pictured here is the Trumpet Narcissus, the best-known variety.  Growing wild in the woods of Europe, and being well-suited to most areas of the U.S., it blooms in early spring.

Fabric Selection:  When considering the greens for stems and leaves it is a good idea to select two or three different shades in order to create a more realistic shadowed effect.  For the blooms themselves, three different yellows would be a good choice; one rich medium for petals at the bottom of the bloom, a lighter shade for the top petals, and a very pale yellow, or off-white, for the center of the flowers.

Appliqué Specifics:  One of the aspects of the daffodil that makes it such a joy to appliqué, is that the individual features are generous in size.  Shadings, as well as the stamens, can be added with the appropriate color of embroidery thread.

Sunflower

The sunflower originated in North America and was taken to Europe in the 1500’s.  The head on the flower can grow up to 12” in diameter, producing seeds that are rich in protein and yield the world’s 3^rd most important vegetable oil.

 Fabric Selection:  Four different shades of yellow can be used for the petals, and two different shades of gold or brown work well for the flower centers.  It is well worth one’s time to consider the light source before arranging fabrics for these petals, which are very large and can well depict light play.  When selecting shades of yellow, it is important to consider whether you prefer a buttery, more subdued shade, as in our sample, or a brighter, cheerier color.

Appliqué Specifics:  The leaf veins are added with machine embroidery.

Columbines grow naturally in Asia, Europe, and North America from April through July.  They are the Colorado state flower.

Fabric Selection:  Growing prolifically in the mountains, the large blue petals can be depicted well with different shades of violet blue fabrics.  If hand-dyed fabrics are used for the petals, a very realistic look can be achieved.  The individual petals are very thin and light shows well through those located higher on longer stems.

Appliqué Specifics:  The center petals of this flower are white and these can be cut from one piece of fabric, with machine embroidery setting them apart. The very center of each bloom is a star-like pattern, done in purple machine embroidery thread.  The stamens are created with hand-embroidered yellow French knots.  The thin “spines” or “horns” at the rear of each bloom are easiest when done with a machine zigzag stitch.  Variegated thread works well in this application.

Daisy

The name "daisy" originated from the Old English words "day's eye", referring to the fact that the flower opens during daylight hours, and closes at night.  The white daisy, or oxeye, is the most common wild daisy in North America.

Fabric Selection:  To achieve heightened contrast in appliquéing this flower, we recommend using a very white fabric for the petals and a medium to brilliant yellow for the flower centers.    The leaves look very realistic in a dappled olive green fabric.

Appliqué Specifics:  The petals of the daisy are easy to appliqué when they are cut in clusters, as indicated on the layout, and then applied in layers.  They can be differentiated from one another in the quilting phase of the process by using a medium grey thread.  The slender stems for this flower work best using a wide satin stitch, whether you choose to do hand or machine appliqué.