This improv flower block is a wonderful exercise to practice curves while playing with color. Because everything is pieced freehand, no two blocks ever come out the same — and that’s exactly the point. You can vary the size of your flower, the shape of your curves, and the orientation of your stem, giving you endless ways to make each block unique while keeping the same simple concept: a flower. It’s a playful way to build confidence with improv piecing and explore color combinations at the same time.
SUPPLY LIST (to make one block)
- Sewing machine with a ¼” foot, I use a Janome M7 Continental.
- Rotary cutter and cutting mat
- Quilting ruler
- Iron and ironing surface
- Fat quarter of background fabric.
- Square of fabric for the stem, approximately 4″
- Square of fabric for the flower, approximately 8″
- Thread
Step 1: Cut Your Flower
From the square you are using for your flower, cut two freehand curves with your rotary cutter, going from bottom to top and from thinner to wider. This creates the shape of your flower.
Step 2: Prepare the Background and Cut the First Curve
Cut a strip of background fabric 8″ wide by the length of your fat quarter. Place your flower piece on top, both right side up, positioning it so there is a 4″ distance from the right top edge of the background fabric down to the top edge of the flower piece. Using your rotary cutter, cut the background fabric following the same curve as your flower.
Step 3: Sew and Press the First Curve
With your ¼” foot and a stitch length of 2.0, place the flower and background right sides together and sew the soft curve from top to bottom. Handle the background fabric gently with your left hand and go slowly, keeping both edges aligned as they feed through. Once sewn, press the seam toward the flower (or toward the darker fabric).
Step 4: Cut and Sew the Second Curve
Place the flower-and-background unit on top of the remaining background remnant, both right side up, overlapping so the flower’s second curved edge sits over it. Cut along this second curve with your rotary cutter, then sew right sides together the same way as before and press toward the flower. Finally, trim the left side of the background fabric to a distance of 4″ from the top of the flower.
Step 5: Add the Top of the Block
Cut a piece of background fabric approximately 6″ x 12″ for the top of the block. Overlap this piece with the flower rectangle by about 1½”, both right side up, and freehand cut a soft curve through both layers with your rotary cutter. Sew right sides together the same way as your other curves, then press toward the flower. Your flower is now ready — next comes the stem.
Step 6: Cut and Sew the Stem — First Side
From your green square (approximately 4″), cut a gentle curve on the right side. Cut a piece of background fabric approximately 14″ x 4″. Place the green piece right side up with its curve facing right, positioned about 6″ in from the edge of the background piece. With your rotary cutter, cut the background fabric following the same curve. Sew right sides together and press toward the stem.
Step 7: Cut and Sew the Stem — Second Side
From the seam where the green stem piece meets the background, measure about 1″ over and cut the second curve for the other side of the stem. Place this piece on top of the remaining background remnant (from the 14″ x 4″ rectangle), both right side up, overlapping about ½” to 1″. Cut along the curve with your rotary cutter, sew right sides together, and press toward the stem. This completes the stem.
Step 8: Assemble the Block
Align the stem unit to the flower unit, trim both pieces to a straight edge where they will join, and sew them together right sides together using your ¼” foot. Press seams open. Your block is now ready!
Final Thoughts
Finally, trim your block. You can leave it as a rectangle if you plan to sew several blocks together in a traditional way, in rows or columns. Or, you can leave it in a more organic size and play with different sizes, mixing them together in an improvisational layout — it’s up to you. In this example, the finished block measures 11½” x 15″.
With this as your starting point, try smaller sizes, bigger sizes, and vary your curves, colors, and stem orientation to bring variety to every block. With many of these blocks, you can create a beautiful quilt.
