Cherry Tree Block for the Little Forest BOM 2024

The long-awaited wait for the third block of the 2024 Little Forest BOM is over! Good thing the Cherry Tree quilt block is cute to make that wait worthwhile!

Well done on piecing your Stacked Pine quilt blocks. I know that one was a breeze compared to the long cutting in the Bonsai block 😉. Learning to piece on the bias will come in handy as you tackle this next modern quilt block.

So far in this modern skill builder, you’ve learned:

• The importance of tracking your progress through the Little Forest BOM Journal.
• Small piecing in the Bonsai Quilt Block, which will set the foundation of your quilting skills.
• How to stitch and flip (aka snowballing) in the Stacked Pine Quilt Block, which is an introduction to piecing on the bias!

This month, you’ll expand on those quilting skills by diving into two new quilting techniques. Read on to find out which ones!

The Little Forest BOM Quilt Pattern is available for instant download!

This post contains affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, if you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission.

Story Behind the Cherry Tree Quilt Block

When the Bonsai quilt block was released, I mentioned that I lived in Japan. That’s where the inspiration for this month’s block comes from.

I don’t think I’d heard of Cherry Blossom Season before I lived there. I remember driving around Toyama and being fascinated by seeing blooms emerging. It was such a welcome sight after a very long and cold winter. I lived in a very traditional Japanese-style house that had no central heating. We take that tech for granted here in Canada. Granted, where I was based, the temperature didn’t drop to the same negative temps we get here in Quebec. But it was still cold. Cold enough for my olive oil to freeze. Which I didn’t know was possible until I came home to find my bottle in one solid mass!

I also slept with multiple comforters, fully clothed, with a hat and gloves on. That probably should have tipped me off that things could freeze – ha!

To feel the warmth again and see life emerging was a glorious and encouraging sight. It also looked particularly beautiful set against the temple walls.

I have so many memories from this short two-week season. Suffice it to say, it marked me in the best way possible. It’s with those memories that I drafted the Cherry Tree block for you.

Quilting Techniques Featured

I know I snuck in two quilting techniques in the last block, but I’ve gone and done it again!

The reason for this was two-fold.

Foundation Paper Piecing

First, I knew I needed to bring in Foundation Paper Piecing (FPP) in order to help you keep those branch angles nice and sharp!

The fact that the FPP templates are already mirrored, means you’ll avoid encountering any directional piecing issues. The templates take the guesswork out of it for you 😉

I’ve also kept the fabric pieces nice and large for you. If you’re new to FPP you’ll be super happy to have this extra wiggle room to help get comfortable with how the fabric is placed and ultimately lays.

My FPP Flow

Since you attach the fabric on the back of the paper, but piece on the front, it can take a minute to wrap your head around how everything comes together.

Fear not! The pattern has you tackle all the FPP at the same time. This is a good thing as it will mean you can get into a foundation paper piecing rhythm. I like to batch sew all my FPP pieces at once assembly line style.

Here’s how that looks:

• I start by printing, testing, and gluing (if needed) my FPP pattern templates.
• I then grab all my notions (see materials list below)
• Then I cut all my fabric pieces and label them using the Cherry Tree Quilt Block Labels.
• I start by grouping the fabric pieces with the associated FPP template. That way I know I have everything I need for each of my templates.
• Once my pieces are organized, I work in alphabetical order starting with gluing all ‘A1’ pieces (this includes B1, C1, D1, etc.).
• With all my first pieces glued in place, I then work systematically through the templates adding all the ‘A2’ pieces.
• Chain piece (see the concept in action in this tutorial) all ‘A2’, set seams, and press (always towards the newly added piece).
• Continue cycling through these steps until all of the pieces have been stitched.
• Trim along the outer dotted line to complete the FPP templates.

Whew, break time!

Refer to this blog post for a full step-by-step Foundation Paper Piecing tutorial.

Curves

Now comes the fun for technique number 2, which is piecing curves.

There was no getting around stitching curves in a skill builder 😉. First, it’s such an important skill to have in your quilty back pocket, and opens up so many new designs for you. The other is that the Cherry Tree needed a curved canopy. It just wouldn’t have looked right without it! Hopefully, the adorableness of the block will be such a reward in conquering this quilting technique!

Materials & Notions

Here’s what you’ll need to have on hand to stitch up the Cherry Tree quilt block:

• Cherry Tree quilt block pattern – part of the Little Forest BOM pattern
• Fabrics in colours:
  • Colour 4 Cerulean ¾ YD
  • Colour 11 Shrimpy
  • Colour 12 Nova
• Piecing thread
• Sewing machine
• Cutting mat
• Rotary cutter with these blades
• Rotary cutter for paper cutting
• Ruler – long
• Ruler – short
• Small scissors
• Pin cushion
• Pins
• Iron
• Wool pressing mat – Receive 10% off your entire order on thefeltstore.ca or thefeltstore.com, when using code SHANNONFRASER10 (valid through April 30, 2024).
• Tailor’s clapper
• Cardstock or magazine insert (optional)
• Glue stick (optional)

Top Tips

I encourage you to leave your FPP papers in until after you’ve finished piecing your Cherry Tree block.

Why?

This will help give stability to your block while piecing your curved canopies, which should help limit stretching.

You do have a little trimming wiggle room, so don’t stress too much!

Pressing matters

Pressing matters here. Be mindful to set your seams before first finger pressing your curved seam, and then laying your hot iron on top to set that seam.

A wool pressing mat paired with a tailor’s clapper can go a long way in helping those seams lay ultra flat.

Caution

Too much steam can be a bad thing

Last month, using too much steam was a concern for over-relaxing your fabric. This month, too much steam can cause your FPP papers to distort, or the ink to run and stain your fabric.

I often skip steam when FPPing. If you’re finding it tough to get your fabric to lay flat without it, try giving a seam roller or a tailor’s clapper a go to see if that does the trick. I haven’t personally tried it, but several of my quilting buddies have and they love them.

My go-to is to use a hot dry iron paired with a wool pressing mat and a tailor’s clapper. It gives me lovely crisp results!

March Little Forest BOM Giveaway

You might have noticed I’ve mentioned in some form another the importance of pressing in your quilting practice. How you press and what you press with matters. I started incorporating a wool pressing mat in my quilting a couple of years ago when I noticed my blocks were flatter with using one.

This is why I reached out to my friends at The Felt Store Canada and The Felt Store USA to give you the chance to win the exact same 17” x 17” wool pressing mat I use on the daily.

To enter the giveaway, you must: 

• Be following @the_felt_store and @shannonfraserdesigns on Instagram.
• Post a photo on Instagram of your Cherry Tree Block between March 15, 2024, and April 14, 2024, at 11:59 pm Eastern.
• Instagram account must be public.
• Tag  @the_felt_store _ and @shannonfraserdesigns
• Include the hashtags #TheFeltStore #LittleForestBOM #LittleForestQuilt

This month’s giveaway is open to USA and Canadian shipping addresses only. If I first randomly choose someone who’s based internationally, then I’ll have a little gift for you!

The winner is to be announced in the April 15, 2024, Little Forest BOM Newsletter!

Exclusive Discount

Receive 10% off your entire order on thefeltstore.ca or thefeltstore.com, when using code SHANNONFRASER10 (valid through April 30, 2024).

Remember, this is just fabric! I know piecing curves can be intimidating, but I have full confidence you can do this! Have fun with these two new techniques the Cherry Tree quilt block is introducing you to. I look forward to seeing yours pop up on the ‘gram or in our Facebook group.

Be sure to check in with your journal. It will feel good to track how you feel and you’ll love being able to look back and see how you felt along the way.

If you haven’t already, be sure to get your Little Forest BOM Quilt Pattern and sign up for the Little Forest BOM Newsletter so you don’t miss any of the quilt-along details 😊

Happy stitching!

xo

Shannon

PS Don’t forget to share your Cherry Tree quilt block on the ‘gram to be entered into the giveaway!

---

Never miss a post – sign up for the weekly newsletter.

This post uses affiliate links. For more info, visit the FAQ page.