Block 23: Lotus flower smocking – Textured quilt sampler

Detail of lotus flowers

This block requires hand sewing.

Block type: log cabin

Block size: 11 inches

Colour scheme: reds and neutrals

Texture/fabric manipulation: smocking

Quilt size: The finished quilt is 52 1/2 x 52 1/2.

Needs:

10 in x 10 in square in white
two 5 in x 3 1/2 in rectangles and two 11 in x 3 1/2 in rectangles for the border

Making the smocked lotus flower

Cut a 10 in x 10 in square and mark it at 1 inch intervals leaving 1 1/2 inch allowance on the edges.

Now, pick up dot 1 from underneath the fabric and double stitch. Pick up dot 2, 3, 4 and then 1 again and pull together. Double stitch so that the dots stay together.

Now pick up dot number 1 in the next square without pulling. Double stitch. Pick up dot 2, 3, 4 and then 1 again and pull together. Double stitch so that the dots stay together.

And so on until you finish the row.

This is a closeup of how you pick up the four dots.

Then you pull them all together.

You may get a flower pattern just after pulling though often you have to pull the flowers up with your fingers.

After you gather all four dots do a double stitch to keep dots together.

Then put the needle through to the reverse side and go and pick up the next dot number 1.

The smocking is complete. In a 10 inch square you will only be able to fit 16 flowers, 4 per row.

To get the flower pattern, push the fabric from the reverse side with your fingers and then pull it up to give it some petal shape.

Now stretch the smocking on a padded surface using pins and use the iron to steam the fabric. Do not press.

I used a water soluble pen to mark the fabric. To remove the ink I dropped a small amount of water on every marking and the ink just vanished.

Let the fabric dry.

Remove the pins.

Trim to 5 inches square.

You are now ready to attach the border.

Cut two 5 in x 3 1/2 in rectangles and two 11 in x 3 1/2 in rectangles for the border.

Attach the border and your block is done.

Textured blocks tutorials

This is the 23th block in a series of 25 exploring texture in fabric.

Each block is made out of a centre 5 inch square featuring some fabric texture such as pin tucks, smocking, shirring and the like. Then a 3 1/2 wide border encloses each centre square.

The colour scheme is red and white/cream alternating reds and white/cream for the centre square and border.

Some of the textures show better on plain colours than on heavily patterned fabric.

See all Textured quilt sampler tutorials for this quilt.