Here is a sample of a simple applique flower for a pillow. For this design I used Batik Cotton fabric. Teal for the background, Orange for the flower, and sage green for the leaves, black border, and black felt for the center of flower. You may vary these colors as desired. I'm proud to say the featured artist is none other than my mom Joanne Merrow. Joanne is an artistic genius who really knows the art of quilting inside and out. Her designs and techniques have a lot of thought, talent, and love into each piece.

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Step One

Print out the page and use the drawings above as your template. Draw the petals for the flowers (left petal qty (5), middle leaf qty (2), and right leaf qty (1)) onto freezer paper dull side up until they stick to the fabric.

Before cutting them out, add 1/8 inch to make room for the turn under to make the applique.

Step Two

Place petals & leaves onto the background fabric that is 10X10 inch square and pin in an even manner overlapping a little so that there is a small opening in the center of the flower. The leaves are placed under the flower, either (3) or (5) of them.

Pin in place and sew leaves first and flower petals on top overlapping the leaves.

Now sew them with a blind stitch and turned under 1/8 inch on the edge of the petals all around.

Step Three

Turn petal edge under with your right hand thumb and forefinger, then hold it down using your left hand thumb and forefinger.

Take the needle and a single strand of thread using the exact color of the fabric and start it from the backside and bring it up through to the folded edge.

Step Four

Put the needle down in the same place and pull it with a little tug and sew them an 1/8th inch apart. This will look neat and the thread won't show. This is referred to as a blind stitch.

Sew all petals around and then cut out a small circle of black felt for the center of the flower. You can use a nickel and draw around it on freezer paper and then onto the felt and cut it out.

Then sew around it in small stitches for the center. You can sew some beads on the felt if you choose.

Step Five

Now you can make the borders of black fabric to machine stitch onto the Teal square. They will be 2 1/2 inches wide.

When they are sewed on, the whole thing should measure 14 1/2 inches.

Cut a square of backing fabric using green or black and put right sides together and sew all around on 3 sides with a 1/4 inch stitch. The fourth side will be left open and then turn it inside out.

Put the 14 inch pillow form into this.

Turn the edges under about 1/2 inch, then press and pin together.

Blind stitch together to close the last side.

Pillow finished!