March Stash Bee Hive 4 Tutorial

March Hive 4 Block Tutorial 2015

Hi everyone! My name is Amanda and I have been bumped up a few months early for my block. You can find me on Instagram ADTSKI31 or on flickr Amandadaretodd31. I live in Cary, North Carolina with my dog Bogie and longtime boyfriend Ed. By day I work in the schools as an Occupational Therapist with children.

I had a hard time choosing a block but I think I found one that I like. We are going to make a Starry Night Block.  This block comes from Faith at Fresh Lemons Quilts. It is a foundation paper piecing block but very easy!

I would like similar colors to what she has used but you can use solids or blenders. Here are some that I pulled from my stash. They look a little dark but are all teals, bright yellows and low volume/white fabrics.

Teal solids: Kona Kale, Kona Cypress, and RJR Cotton Supreme Solids Putting Green.  Other solids that are similar are Moda Bella Caribbean, Bermuda, Peacock and Jade.

Yellow Solids: Kona Buttercup, RJR Banana Cream Pie and RJR Citron. Other solids that are similar: Kona Citrus and Canary, Bella Sunshine, Daffodil, and Sunflower. 

Here are options for the white strip. What I use below has a pattern but is white on white. Anything similar to this would be fine but if you have a solid white that would be great. 

Here is a link for the pattern. You need to print out 4 copies and make sure fit to page is NOT clicked.

Faith gives very detailed instructions that are easy to follow. She has you cut out rectangles for the pieces. This is what I did but you do have a lot of excess fabric if you would like to cut it to the actual piece size like we did for Renae's block in January. 

There are a couple of requests I would like to make in hopes that the secondary pattern wont be entirely lost when I put it together.

You will need 4 different teal fabrics if you have them. If not, then my only request is that the smaller 5x3 pieces be 2 different fabrics.

Here I have cut:

 Fabric 1: 4 pieces each 5x4

Fabric 2: 4 pieces each 5x4

Fabric 3: 4 pieces 5x3

Fabric 4: 4 pieces 5x3

Fabric 5: (not pictured) white 4 pieces (all the same fabric please) 10x2

Fabric 6: use 2 yellows if you have them 2 pieces 7x4 of one fabric and 2 pieces 7x4 of the other

(Always pair fabrics 1 and 3 together and 2 and 4 together)

You will be using printed 4 templates. 

2 of the templates will be identical and the other 2 will be identical. 

So for 2 of your templates:

 Fabric 1 in the picture above will be in the 1 space. It will always be paired with fabric 3 and fabric 6 in the same column will be used.

For the other 2 templates:

Fabric 2 will be in the 1 space it will always be paired with fabric 4 and for these 2 templates you will use the other 2 yellow pieces. So that it looks something like this:

Green arrows identical blocks, Pink arrows identical blocks

Numbers are template placement of Fabric 1. 

In the 1 space for 2 blocks and in the 2 space for the other 2.

Essentially all you are doing for 2 of the templates is switching the placement of fabric 1 and 2. If you do that and always pair fabrics 3 and 4 with their counterpart then those fabrics will match up when you sew the 4 templates together to make the completed 12.5 unfinished block. You can leave the main part of the paper on for me.

Here are 2 of my finished blocks.

So that is all probably clear as mud. Dont stress, I am sure what ever you sew for me will be great!

Oh my question, I almost forgot! I love to travel so if you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go and why?

Hive 7 March Block

Hello! My name is Melissa, from Hive 7.  I generally prefer the summer because I have more time to sew, and to post, (and try to come up with a block!) but I am excited I got March since it's my birth month!

I enjoyed the Stash Bee SO much last year.  I finished this quilt for my sister:

I love scrappy quilts.  I have made quite a few, and they turn out so lovely with so much character!

The block I chose is Bonnie Hunters' sister's choice block (there are a few variations of this block, I like hers)

Here are two of the blocks I made.  They finish at 10", so I knew I would need to add some of my own to the ones I am being sent, and they are really quick and easy!

The only "requirements" I have are :
* to use purple for the star points, and have it be the same.
* 9 patch can be any two fabrics, a color and a neutral, both of the ones I shared have 5 colored and 4 neutral, you can do it however you would like, some of the ones I made have 5 neutral and 4 colors.
* It can be as scrappy as you would like! If scrappy isn't your thing then don't make it as scrappy.  I chose this block to help use up my 2.5" blocks/strips.
* Please save the little corners from the star points (as bonus triangles explained here: Bonus triangles [you do not need to be exact, I am not :p I was thinking about using them in the border] If you don't want to sew them, could you please send them to me?

Thank you!! I am so excited to see the variety you choose!

My question - What is your favorite color?  Is it your favorite color for quilting also?

My answer - My favorite color is purple, but I don't use it as much in quilting, unless it's something for me.

Hive 1 March Blocks for Robin

March Madness   HST Hysteria

Hi, I am Robin Tilsworth of Arlington, Virginia (4 miles from Washington, DC).  I am a retired foreign service officer (agriculture) and have quilted around the world for quite a while. 

This month instead of March Madness we are going for Half-Square Triangle (HST) Hysteria.  The key to HSTs that fit together well is to TRIM THEM prior to putting together the blocks.    

Details:

Block dimensions to be sent to me:  12.5 inch square. 

Block components:  Sixteen 3.5-inch HSTs (unfinished), which translates into 3-inch finished) HSTs

Color scheme:  turquoise/aqua (my current absolute favorite color, but that changes!) and white.  You can use one or a mix of turquoise/aqua fabrics.  For the white, please use a solid such as Kona white or a white-on-white.  No creams please.  If you do not have any turquoise/aqua fabric substitute navy or royal blue.

Technique: 

Step 1.  Create 16 HSTs either two at once or four at once.  The tutorial in this link explains the process.  I have calculated the size of squares to start the process.  I found her calculations resulted in HSTs that were too small.     http://www.thatgirlthatquilt.com/2011/11/half-square-triangles-3-ways.html

For two at once, start with 8 four-inch squares of turquoise/aqua and 8 four-inch squares of white.  With right sides together of one white and one turquoise, mark a line through the diagonal of the square.  Sew ¼ inch from either side of the line then cut them apart along the drawn line.  Press the HST open with the seam towards the turquoise. 

For four at once, start with four 5 ¾-inch squares of turquoise/aqua and four 5 ¾-inch squares of white.   With right sides together sew around all four sides, ¼ inch from the edge.  Cut across both diagonals.  Press the 4 resulting HSTs open with the seam towards the turquoise. 

Step 2.  Trim each HST to 3.5 inches square.  THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT since the sewing along the bias distorts the squares slightly.  I also use a bit of starch to keep these blocks square.

Step 3.  Assemble the HSTs any way you want…just have fun!  Here are some ideas but there are lots of possibilities.  The two in the middle use just one turquoise/aqua fabric and the others use 4 different fabrics.  

Hive 6 March Block

Hi All!  

My name is Chelsea, I blog over at Patch the Giraffe. This is my first bee and I am very excited to be apart of your group! Up here in the north country it's been exceptionally snowy and wintery. Not exactly my idea of a good time. This got me thinking about spring, and if I can't have spring weather, I did pull some spring colors. 

The block this month is called ROCKY MOUNTAIN PUZZLE. I saw this block made into a quilt a few months back and really wanted my own. So, ahead of time, thanks for helping.

Colors: 

This all about spring here. You can see below the colors/fabrics I am looking for in this quilt. **Please no batiks.** Peach, lime green, aqua, emerald/ dark teal, navy, lavender, low volume, and grey. Feel free to go crazy with the color combinations!

Cutting: 

Center Square - (1) 4.5 inch square

Center Frame - (2) 4.5 inch x 1.5 inch, (2) 6.5 inch x 1.5 inch

Points - (5) 4 inch squares

Background - (5) 4 inch squares, (2) 3.5 inch squares

Directions: 

*Sew all seams with a scant 1/4 inch seem

* Press all seams open 

1. Sew 4.5 inch x 1.5 inch pieces to either side of center square. Press open.
2. Sew 6.5 inch x 1.5 inch pieces to other side of center square. Press open.
3. Draw a line along the 5, 4 inch square background pieces, sew a scant 1/4 inch on either side. Cut down center and press open.
4. Square the 10 half square triangles to 3.5 inches square.

5. Sew the remaining blocks together. Pressing open.

6. Block should finish at 12.5 inches square.

Question: If you could go back in time to any decade, which would be it be?

Happy sewing all :) 

Chelsea

Hive 3 March Tutorial

Hello Hive 3!  My name is Carolyn and I live in Lanoka Harbor, NJ, along the Jersey Shore.  I hope that you are all doing well and looking forward to spring.  I know I am so over this crazy cold winter.  It’s been below freezing more this year than above here in NJ.  I have been quilting on and off since a teenager, making my first quilt in 1998 when I worked at a fabric store.  I blog over at Sweet Boater Chick, the name is from being a white water kayaker. You can read my full bio here from last year at stash bee. 

Me with Flight of the Seagulls

This month I am super excited to have you all create a flying geese block.  Flying geese are my favorite block.  I love that they can go any which way and still all work together.  I have made a number of flying geese quilts already, my favorite is Flight of the Seagulls, but there is always room for one more. 

I found this block on Displacement Activity.  She does have a tutorial, but I have switched up the 2.5” x 4.5” geese making method to make it easier and faster with the 4 at a time method with no trimming at the end.

   

For the geese I would like the colors to be lime, turquoise, chartreuse, teal, and dark gray.   For the background I would like you to use a variety of light gray prints with a white base.  There is a section of 4 mini geese and I will make that optional for you.  With the 4 at a time method to make the geese you make enough to fill the space where the mini geese are, otherwise you have one extra goose. 

You will need

Geese fabrics

3 - 4.5” x 8.5” rectangles

5 - 5.25” x 5.25” squares

*optional 4 - 1.5” x 2.5” rectangles

Background Fabrics

3 pairs – 4.5” x 4.5” squares

5 sets of 4 – 2 7/8” x 2 7/8” squares

*optional 4 pairs – 1.5” x 1.5” squares

I would love the geese to be different fabrics.  I would also love a scrappy background, but would like the sets and pairs to be the same fabrics so the geese don’t have different background in the individual blocks.  (I hope I explained this well)

I started by drawing a line on the diagonal on the back of all the gray background squares.  I used a number 2 pencil.

The first of two methods for the block is the stitch and flip.  Using the 4.5” x 8.5” rectangles and the 4.5” x 4.5” squares we will create the large geese.    Place one background fabric on top of the rectangle with right sides together, lining up on one side.  Stitch on top of the drawn line.  Trim .25” from the stitch line and press the background out.  Then add the next background square, sew, trim, and press.  This is the same method if you choose to make the optional mini geese.

Since you cut the corners of the large geese after you made them, I would love it if you would create one into a half square triangle and sign the block with your name and where you are from in the background fabric so I can add it to the back of the quilt.  

 

For the four at a time method, take one goose square and two background squares (keep the sets together).  Put them face down on the diagonal.  Pin in place.  Stitch on either side of the pencil line, .25” away.   

After they are sewn, cut the block in half along the pencil line.  Press the background squares out, they will look like a heart.

Now take the same background squares and place on the goose fabric corner of the heart with right sides together.  Again, stitch on either side of the pencil line .25” away.  

 Cut on the pencil line and press out.  Each section creates 2 geese.

With all our geese made we sort them in to the 4 quadrants. 

A

B

C – *This is where the optional mini geese are.

Optional

D

I normally press open, but with the geese I pressed to the point of the geese.  I did press the 4 main joining seams of the quadrants open. 

Since I have shared my favorite quilting block I am curious what is your favorite quilting block?

If you have any questions feel free to ask.  Happy sewing! 

March Block for Hive 8

My name is RobinSue and this is my 2nd year with Stash Bee.  I really enjoyed the variety of blocks and techniques that were chosen last year.  This year is starting out no different.  It's great to see new block designs.  I admit that I stalk all the hives and even make a few of their blocks just for fun.

As for this month's block, I had a most difficult time deciding.  After seeing Raspberry Kisses by Wooden Spoon Quilts, I was inspired.  Then I saw a post from Sew Delicious and was certain that this is the block for me. I got right to work trying out the block.

Colors: Center Cross - Bright and bold (your choice), center cross outer blocks -low volume,  outer triangles-"text" print  

The tutorial on Wooden Spoon Quilts is amazing.  The instructions are clear, and each step is accompanied by pictures. The original block is adorable at 4 1/4".  I chose to resize the block to something a bit larger (13 1/4").  For this block, I used the following sizes:

Fabric cutting:
(2) 3 1/2 square center color - a bright, bold color
(1) 9 1/2 x 3 1/2 center color- a bright, bold color
(4) 3 1/2 square low volume
(2) 7 1/4 square "text" print

Excuse the wrinkles!

Here's a photo of how I pressed the seams.  

I made the smaller version from the scraps. 

I made a second block to check the measurements.  

For this block, I experimented with scrappy around the center cross.  I think it would work better if the two darker squares were lighter, it blends too much with the center.

Tip:  For the blue block I cut the center 9 3/4 x 3 1/2 and then trimmed.  I also cut the outside squares at  7 1/2 square and trimmed.  Either way, both blocks are 13 1/4" square.

In searching my stash for the center cross color I hesitated when I saw a few colors I have acquired. What was I thinking?  When will I ever use olive or ochre?

So my question for you is: What color are you most resistant to use in your quilts?

Hive 9 February Block

Hi all.  Here are my February blocks for Meghan.

These were fun blocks to make.  I hope that you like them.

To answer the question, my first quilt has the most meaning.  It was the first one that I totally completed myself; piecing, quilting, and binding.  I just love it.