August Block, Hive 2

Happy August! 

Hi everyone! I’m Miranda, better known as TheGeek. I’m a math and science teacher for grades 7-12 in the beautiful mountains of Northern New Mexico. I started quilting a few years ago after I lost my job for being in a car accident (sprained wrist = no ice cream scooping for a few weeks. No ice cream scooping = no job) and got stuck at home in the boonies for several months. It’s become a bit of an obsession, and I’m now the youngest member of my local quilter’s guild by a couple of decades (I'm 26 this month).

I’ve selected the Urban Chicken block, tutorial here (https://wombatquilts.com/2013/10/23/playing-with-urban-chickens/) with some adjustments. I’m not fond of 4x4 blocks, or any square-based block that doesn’t have a defined center, so my block will be a 5x5. It should finish about 15" to 15.5”

Here are the ones I've made already

A note on fabrics: I’m doing this one in all colors, but please, no brown and go easy on the pink. I like to combine my pinks with reds whenever I can, but if you want to do a whole pink block, just please try to veer away from hot bubblegum pinks. Try to stick with tone on tone fabrics, solids, blenders and the like- if you have a green block, for example, I’d prefer there not be other colors in it, but black and white bits are fine. For the white parts, off white, white, white with a small black print or white-on-white patterns are all super okay. I’m using solids because I have very few of the aforementioned options. 

I’m a sucker for polka dots and botanical prints. 

For each block you need:

5 shades of the same color (I used FQs)

White scraps

Cut:

1 strip 3.5” by 18” from each colored fabric. 

10 pieces of white scrap at least 2.5” wide

I cut my white scraps in triangles to limit waste, but you don't have to.

Make the base:

1. Cut 1 3.5” square from each strip and set aside

2. Sew all 5 strips together lengthwise with a 1/4” seam allowance and press the seams to one side. 

3. Sew one end of this strata to the other to form a tube

4. Cut the tube into 4 3.5” wide sections and unpick each in a different location. 

5. Spread the strips out and arrange in whatever way suits you. Nest the seams and sew into a 5 x 4 block with 1/4” seams. Press seams open

Make the hens:

1. Lay a piece of white fabric diagonally over a colored square. Sew a scant 1/4” seam on the INSIDE of the diagonal. Press outward and square up.

2. Repeat to make the other side. 

3. Please make sure there is at least a generous 1/4” at the top of your triangle so the chickens don’t lose their heads. 

4. Arrange chickens in a strip and sew together with a 1/4” seam. Please make sure your chickens are all facing the same direction (up or down)

You'll notice that some of my chickens are a little...broad in the beam. No worries! I love fat chickens!

5. Sew chicken-strip to one side of the base block. 

6. Press seam open

One of these chickens has a broad side sewn against the block. I don't mind this either.

HAPPY STITCHING!