Carolina Lily Block

Carolina Lily Block, Pattern by the Fat Quarter Shop

​I am so excited to be participating in the Fat Quarter Shop Carolina Lily Block Quilt Along. The block is from their popular Classic and Vintage Quilt Series. 

You can get your free pattern download here. Today I am giving hints and suggestions based on my sewing of the block. I used Sunny Side Up fabric by Corey Yoder for Moda.

The pattern uses the sew and flip method to make smaller units in the block. When using this method, I sew just to the outside the line toward the corner. This gives you a little more fabric to accommodate the fold. I recommend that you press as you go as indicated in the pattern. This allows seams lock and makes a flatter block.

The first step is to make Flying Geese blocks using the sew and flip method. Make four Flying Geese using the red and background fabrics.  Be sure to press as indicated in the pattern. See photos below. 

Mark Squares.

Sew Close to the Line and Press.

Sew the Other Side and Press.

Next make the base of the flower in the upper left-hand corner of the block. You use the sew and flip method here as well. See photos below.

Mark the Square.

Sew Close the Line and Press.

Now, make the upper left-hand flower. Align pieces as shown and sew, pressing as indicated in the pattern as you go. See photos below.

Align Pieces.

Sew Pieces, Pressing As You Go.

​Using the sew and flip method, make the Flying Geese base of the other two flowers. Don't forget to press as indicated in the pattern. See photos below.

Mark Squares.

Make Flying Geese Blocks As Before.

Using the red and background fabrics and the sew and flip method, make the flower centers. See photos below.

Mark Squares.

Sew and Press.

Align the flower pieces and make the remaining two flowers. Be sure to press as you sew. See photos below.

Align Pieces.

Sew Pieces and Press As You Go.

Align the pieces of the block and sew. Be sure to lock seams where possible. Press. See photos below.

Align.

Sew and Press.

The last step is to applique the stems on the block. It is important to make bias strips for the stems. Otherwise, the stems for two of the flowers will not bend as indicated. I did not have a bias strip maker, so after I cut the bias strips, I folded a quarter inch under to the wrong side of the fabric on each side of the strip. This left a one-half inch strip with folded under edges.

Then, I aligned the curved strips on the block as shown, pinning as I went. I turned under the raw edge of the strip next to the flower. (The other raw edge was covered later by the straight strip.) I sewed next to the edges of the bias strips.

Then, I pinned the straight bias strip on so that it hid the raw edges of the curved stems. Finally, I turned under the edge of the strip next to the flower and sewed along the edges of the bias strip. See the finished block below.

Completed Carolina Lily Block

Hope you enjoy making this vintage block!

This post was first published by JANDA Bend Quilts.

​Happy Quilting!