How to Make Scrappy Quilted Flowers
Looking for a quick, creative project to use up your fabric scraps? These scrappy quilted flowers are fun, fast, and the perfect way to turn leftover fabric and batting into something beautiful. They’re beginner-friendly, satisfying to make, and completely customizable.
Whether you use them to decorate your sewing room, add as an accent to bags or pillows, or gift to a fellow quilter, these flowers are a sweet, simple way to play with color and texture and are great for beginners!
This blog post includes instructions on how to make Scrappy Quilted Flowers. If you would like a PDF version of these instructions, along with the templates used in this project, click below to purchase for $3.
Why You’ll Love These Scrappy Flowers
- Perfect for stash-busting – You only need small squares of fabric and batting, so nothing goes to waste.
- Endless combinations – Mix and match colors and prints to create flowers that are completely unique to you.
- Quick finish – Start and finish a flower in under an hour for instant satisfaction.
- Decorate anything – Turn them into a garland, add a pin backing for a wearable flower, or stitch them to a quilt label for a fun finishing touch.
Materials
In addition to pinking shears, here’s what you’ll need for each flower:
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Print and Check Your Templates
Print the Flower Templates page (or draw out your own). If you print out templates, make sure your printer is set to print at 100% scale. Double-check by measuring the 1″ test square with an acrylic ruler — it should measure exactly 1″.
2. Trace Your Flowers
Cut out the templates and use them to trace flower shapes onto the right side of your 6″, 4″, and 3″ fabric squares. Do not cut out the flowers yet.
3. Layer and Baste
From bottom to top, layer the following: backing square (right side down), batting square, and traced flower square (right side up). Pin or baste the layers together so they don’t shift.
4. Sew Around the Shape
Using a free-motion foot or walking foot, sew ¼” away from the inside of the drawn line all the way around the flower shape.
5. Cut Out the Flower
Use pinking shears to carefully cut out the flower just outside your stitching line.
6. Create the Center
Cut rough circles from your reserved fabric squares to make pistils (flower centers). Layer them with the smallest circle on top, mixing prints and colors for a playful look.
7. Stitch the Pistils in Place
Start with the largest circle and sew it onto the center of the flower 1/8″ away from the inside edge. Continue until all circles are stitched down and your flower is complete.
Design Inspiration: Made with GeoBloom
I designed these flowers using GeoBloom, my fabric collection with Art Gallery Fabrics, and I love how the clean lines and warm palette make the layers pop. Of course, you can make these with any mix of fabrics you have on hand — bright and bold, soft and muted, or completely scrappy.
Ready to Make Your Own?
This project is a perfect way to add a little color and joy to your day. If you’d like a printable version of the instructions to keep forever (no scrolling back to find them again), you can grab the PDF for just $3.
Once you make your first flower, you won’t want to stop — these are that fun and addictive. Share your creations with me on Instagram at @sweetpotatoquilts so we can cheer you on!
