🌹 Enchanting French Rose Quilt Tutorial
What is a French Rose Quilt
The original French Rose Quilt Block was made with a single layer of fabric and attached with the turned edge applique technique. With the roses appliqued in place, the quilt sandwich gets prepared for the hand quilting.
Nowadays, it has evolved into a prominent quilt design of layered petals in a multitude of colors, prints, and styles. It’s become very popular and can also be personalized in how it’s made and assembled into a quilt.
How to Make a Scrappy French Rose Quilt Block
What’s Different About Today’s Methods
Today’s French Rose itself dominates its quilt block with large, colorful petals that add color and dimension. The original turned edge applique design is more commonly done with raw edge applique. This creates furled petal edges on each flower. Before you know it, a beautiful new rose is created, known as the Vintage French Rose Quilt Block!
Quilt as You Go French Rose Rag Quilt
A current popular method to make this block is with the quilt-as-you-go (QAYG) technique. This allows the rose petals to be attached to the block and quilted simultaneously which is a big-time saver. See this method demonstrated in the video shown above.
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Use this layered Shabby French Rose pattern
to make a pillow or this quilt!
How to make a French Rose Quilt Block
French Rose Quilt Block Assembly
The French rose quilt block is made with the traditional quilt sandwich method of quilt top, batting, and backing basted together. As you’ll see in the video, a quick basting method is to use temporary fabric spray adhesive. There are different quilting methods used depending on what each quilter prefers.
My technique is to first raw-edge applique the petals onto the background fabric with a layer of batting basted underneath. Once the rose is attached, then the backing is basted in place so the entire block may be quilted.
Suggested Quilting Supplies
While we are each inspired to quilt in our own individual way, there are common tools that every quilter uses when making quilts! Have a peek at what I always use for my quilting.
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45mm Rotary Blades
Schmetz Non-Stick Large-Eyed Needles are especially helpful sewing multiple layers of fabric.
FQS Fat Quarter Bundle What sold me with this fat quarter bundle are the varied pastel backgrounds. Having pale blues, greens, and pinks instead of just white or cream added a lot of interest to my finished quilt. Even better, the fabric was much better quality than I expected given the online price.
These prints coordinate with the florals above and add a bit of contrast to make the roses pop.
Suggested QAYG Rag Quilting Supplies
Even Feed Walking Foot My 2002 sewing machine came with one but I didn’t have any idea how to use it. Finally, I gave it a try. Its versatility has made this my go-to quilting foot. It works as well for quilting each block as joining the rag quilt seams. A walking foot does a fantastic job keeping multiple layers of fabric in place as you sew. If you quilt and don’t have a walking foot, you really should consider getting one. You’ll love how easy it is to use!
505 Temporary Fabric Spray Adhesive This has been kept on my quilt table for years with a spare in the cabinet just in case I run out. It’s fantastic for basting fabric and is repositionable, which makes it perfect for quilting. Best of all, it’s so much easier than those safety pins we used for years!
Large Quilt Clips These longer clips are great. I never bought the shorter style as I didn’t think they would hold very well. These are awesome and even come in a sturdy clear case that snaps open and closed.
Spring-Loaded Rag Quilt Snips If you make rag quilts, you’ll love these snippers! I once estimated how many clips I made in a single rag quilt and figured it was about 12,000! No wonder my hands were red and sore when I finished. A simple spring in these snips makes all the difference when you’re making lots of clips. It automatically separates the blades after you cut the clip. This saves so much wear and tear on your thumb which usually does that heavy job with regular scissors.
French Rose Quilt Top Assembly
Many quilters join the finished blocks together with sashing to cover the seams. My favorite QAYG method is to rag quilt the blocks into rows, then join the rows into the final quilt. Not only is this a quick quilt assembly technique, but the soft, frayed seams enhance the layered roses beautifully!
Choose your favorite quilting method to finish your Vintage French Rose Quilt and then make a Matching French Rose Pillow! Happy Quilting, Lea Louise
