A Tutorial - How to make a Rose Block

In the past couple of years, I've made 2 really fun French Rose quilts. One was done as a baby quilt, and the other was done as a "Quilt as you go" quilt. It's my friend Willa who inspired me when she entered her French Rose quilt into our local guild's bed quilt show. Then as an added bonus, she won the Ribbon for Viewer's Choice. It was a real winner. I really like this raw edge technique for the shabby look.

Willa found the pattern in a "Quilt Pink" magazine and the pattern was developed by a gal in Florida named Heather French. Now my pattern is not the same, but Heather's idea of a shabby frayed rose really spoke to me.

I used this rose block again recently to make a few blocks for a baby quilt. Here is how I made the rose block with very little waste.

For each block, you will need

• 7.5" background square, but you can start with a square any size that suits your needs.
• Cut a contrasting color splat shaped fabric that is at least 1/4" in from the sides (Mine is white).
• Then cut another contrasting splat, that is about 1.5" smaller in diameter..

With both right sides facing up, position the larger splat shape on top of your background square. Stitch approximately 1/4" from the splat's edge, all around.





Turn the block over and pull apart the 2 layers so that you can take a careful snip and cut out the splat shape about 1/4 inch from the seam. Remove and set aside for another project. You will not reuse this background fabric in this block, but it would be good for another block.


Now take your second smaller splat shape and set on top of your first splat.








Again, sew all around the top splat about 1/4 inch.










Again, turn the block over to carefully snip the back layer of fabric.
Cut out the splat about 1/4 inch from the edge. Place this piece right side up on the top of the block.





Keep repeating until you are pleased with your block.










Now you see all these splats magically turn into your rose.









The last step is to snip around each of the rose layers so that when the block is put into the quilt, and the quilt is washed, the rose block will bloom and have that shabby look.






This is a picture of what the block will look like before and after washing. (after on top and before below..:)