French Bouquet Block

DIFFICULTY LEVEL ‣ ADVANCED FINISHED BLOCK SIZE: 8¼” x 9″

If you need a portable hand-sewing project, nothing beats joining hexies to make French Bouquet blocks. This is a favorite of our Editorial Director, Susan Guzman. Simply prepare the pieces ahead of time and put them in a pouch to take them with you to ball games, doctors’ appointments, or your lunch breaks. Be sure to see our French Bouquet quilt in Classic Quilts for instructions on how to join the blocks into a quilt.

Instructions:

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:

Read through entire pattern before beginning project. Use ¼” seam allowances with fabric right sides together. Pressing arrows are included with illustrations. Basic quiltmaking supplies are assumed. If working with directional prints, you may want to begin with more fabric than called for.

WOF = width of fabric

FABRIC:

Fabric A: (1) 2½” x 2½” scrap yellow

Fabric B: (1) 2½” x 18″ strip pink

Fabric C: (1) 2½” x 30″ strip blue

Fabric D: 1 fat eighth (9″ x 20″) cream or white

ADDITIONAL SUPPLIES:

Marking pen/pencil
Thin cardstock or pre-purchased ¾” paper piecing hexagons (Each finished side of hexagon measures ¾”.)

CUTTING:

From Fabric A, cut:

• 1 hexagon from French Bouquet Template

From Fabric B, cut:

• 6 hexagons from French Bouquet Template

From Fabric C, cut:

• 12 hexagons from French Bouquet Template

From Fabric D, cut:

• 18 hexagons from French Bouquet Template

Block Assembly:

STEP 1

Trace finished size hexagon template onto cardstock, or use pre-purchased ¾” (on each side) paper piecing hexagons. Trace hexagon to wrong side of Fabric A. Cut around shape, adding a ¼” seam allowance. Fold seam allowance over cardstock edge and press. Baste seam allowance to wrong side, stitching through paper (if preferred, use basting glue instead of running stitch). Repeat for all hexagons. Referring to Diagram 1, place Fabric A hexagon over Fabric B hexagon with right sides facing and folded edges aligned. Whipstitch one edge and open. Add next Fabric B hexagon by whipstitching seam to Fabric A hexagon, then align and whipstitch to adjoining Fabric B hexagon. Repeat to form Inner Flower Unit.

French Bouquet Block, Diagram 1