Flower Basket Quilt Block Pattern: Free Tutorial

Instructions

1. Start by gathering your fabrics. Here was my stack, before I added the green leaves. Try to go with good value differentiation so that your flowers and basket stand out.
2. Cut your fabrics per the cutting chart above. Determine the finished size of your quilt. Then, pick which size finished block you'd like and how many you'll need. Once you have that determined, multiply the number of blocks times the piece cuts needed for each block. Here are some of my pieces cut out for four (4) finished flower basket quilt blocks. I still needed to cut the leaves and side background rectangles.
3. Start by making all of your half square triangles (HSTs). Check out our article on Seven Ways to Make Half Square Triangles. Since I was only making four (4) finished blocks, I used the HST two at a time method. With this method, you cut squares 7/8" larger than the finished block size. I made 10-inch finished blocks, so my finished half square triangles were 2-inches. So I cut the squares at 2-7/8".
   
   To make the half square triangles. draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of lighest fabric using a removable fabric marker. I used a Frixion pen. NOTE: Always test your marker on a scrap of fabric before using! With a Frixion pen, the heat from your iron removes the line. Here I was marking the background fabrics for the flowers with the diagonal lines.
4. Layer the marked fabric, right sides together, with the flower fabrics. Sew 1/4-inch from the marked line. The mark is a stitching guide line.
5. Turn and sew again 1/4-inch on the other side of the marked line.
6. I like to chain stitch all of the half square triangle squares at the same time. Here is a big long chain with all of the flowers being sewn.
7. Next, cut along the marked line. This forms the two-color half square triangles.
8. Here is my pile of HSTs ready to be pressed!
9. Press according to your preference. Here is an article about pressing seams in quilting.
   
   When all of the seams are pressed, I like to lay out the quilt block. Here are all of the pieces ready to be sewn together.
10. I start by sewing the flowers together in rows. Here are the first two blocks being sewn together for the four rows. The goal is for the seam points to match. Note that the fourth row you add the leaf triangle. Cut the squares in half diagonally to make these triangles.
11. I wait to press after all of the rows are sewn together, since I don't need to sew over those seams (yet). Here I've added the third block to the three rows, including the leaf for the third row.
12. And, now adding the next block to the flower rows.
13. The flowers and leaves are all sewn together. Press the seams to your preference.
    
    Next sew the main basket piece to the flowers and leaves. Cut the larger basket square in half diagonally. Carefully sew it to the flowers and leaves piece. The long edge of the basket is now on the bias and can stretch. Press the seam to your preference.
14. Now it is time to add the side borders. Start by sewing the basket bottom to the side border which are the rectangle pieces. I lay them out again, making sure I have everything going the right direction. (Ask me why I double check? I've had to do some unsewing!)
15. Once these are sewn together, press the seams to your preference and then add them to the sides of the flowers in the basket. Again, press to your preference.
16. There is one step left, cut the background fabric larger square in half diagonally. You only need one of the pieces for one quilt block. Add it to the bottom of the basket and your quilt block is done and ready for a good press! The completed design!