Hive 2 - May Tutorial - Louisiana Pinwheels for Élise

Hi everyone! Thanks so much for being flexible and allowing me to be the Queen Bee a few months early while I recover from surgery. 

A few months back I purchased this Mardi Gras Fat Quarter Bundle and knew the only way to properly use it was to do the state block.

This month we will be doing the Louisiana Pinwheel. The finished block will be 12.5 x 12.5.

Fabric Selection

I am looking for greens, purples and yellows. You can use any shade you like and they can be textures, blenders, batiks, grunges, etc. 

You can also use white, but I'd prefer it to be white on white or a white that has one or more of the other colors in it. Solids are okay too, as long as the whole block isn't solid.

Cutting List

For one block you will need:

One - 7 1/4 inch square

Four - 3 1/2 x 6 1/2 rectangles

Four - 3 7/8 inch squares

Instructions

You can assemble your flying geese using whatever method you'd like, but I prefer the no waste method. I know these are supposed to be "no waste" but you will have to trim the finished geese a tiny bit.

Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of each 3 7/8 in square.

Place one of the 3 7/8 inch squares in the corner of the 7 1/4 inch square right sides together and then layer another 3 7/8 inch square on top so that the diagonals line up. Pin the smaller squares in place.

Sew a scant 1/4 inch seam on each side of the line.

Cut in half along the drawn line.

Press the triangles open with the small triangles away from the large one.

Place a 3 7/8 inch square in the corner of each unit, right sides together, with the drawn lines going up and down. Pin in place.

Sew a scant 1/4 inch seam on each side of the diagonal line.

Cut in half along the drawn line. 

Press the small triangles away from the large ones. You now have a small gaggle of geese.

Trim the geese to 3 1/2 inches x 6 1/2 inches. Leave a 1/4 inch seam at the top of the geese. If they end up being a little off, it's okay. 

Pin a 3 1/2 inch by 6 1/2 inch rectangle to the top (point) of the flying goose, right sides together. Repeat for the other three geese. Sew a 1/4 inch seam along the long edge.

Press the seam allowance towards the rectangle.

Arrange the units as below. Sew the first row together using a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Repeat for the second row.

Pin the first row together and sew a 1/4 inch seam. Repeat with the second row.

Press the seam allowance on to top row toward the goose pointing to the right. Press the seam allowance on the bottom row toward the goose pointing to the right.

Pin and sew the two rows together using a 1/4 seam allowance. 

Don't worry about pressing the final seam because I'm not sure how I want to join the blocks yet.

Here are some examples of blocks I've already made:

Laissez Le Bon Temps Rouler! (Let The Good Times Roll!)

Happy Sewing! 

Hive 1 May Tutorial, Morrocan Tile Block

Hello Hive 1 Bees,

This year I would like you to help me sew a ‘sophisticated’ Sofa Quilt for myself.

Last year, after my husband moved out, I bought a lovely second-hand chaise as sofa for my living room. As this is quite an elegant piece (in my opinion), I think, it deserves an equally elegant quilt to go with it.

Below a picture of the sofa, with Dana in front of it, ‘helping’ me baste the ‘Cleveland Ricky’ quilt.

I found the free quilt pattern ‘Enchanted’ by SewCanShe, which I find, would look really classy in black and white.

https://sewcanshe.com/enchanted-free-fat-quarter-friendly-quilt-pattern/

So, I’m following her instructions to sew the block, but will ask you to add the sashing already on two sides.
This will make the completed block (incl. seam allowance) then 16 ½“ by 16 ½“ big. Just the maximum I can ask you to do.

Below the tutorial I’ve put together for one block, but if you want to check out Caroline’s instructions as well, go to the link above.

For One Block you will need:

For this quilt I would prefer plain black and plain white fabric.

• White-on-white will be okay.
• If you don’t have any solid black fabric, please go for the one fabric in your stash, which is nearest only black looking.

White Fabric:

• 4 times 6” x 6” square

Black Fabric:

• 8 times 2 ½“ x 2 ½“ square
• One 5 ½“ x 11 ½“ rectangle
• One 5 ½“ x 16 ½“ rectangle

 

For all steps I am assuming ¼“ seams. All pieces are sewn right sides together.

Step 1 – Snowball Corners

Add 2 black snowball corners to opposite sites of the white squares.

For this you will need the white 6” x 6” squares and the black 2 ½“ x 2 ½“ squares.

Mark diagonal lines on the back of all of the black 2 ½“ x 2 ½“ squares.

Pin two of the black 2 ½“ x 2 ½“ squares right sides facing to one white 6” x 6” square on opposite corners and sew on the marked lines. 

It helps if you are sewing a thread-width just outside the marked line, to allow for the pressing fold of the fabric afterward.

Trim the seam allowance to ¼“ on both corners and press the seams open or to the black corner. 

Repeat with the remaining 3 white and 6 black squares to make four snowballed squares in total.

Step 2 – Join the Snowballed Squares

Lay out the four snowballed squares like in the diagram / pictures below and sew them together, first into rows, then the two rows into the (part) block.

Pressing the seams open, is the most practical option for this step.

      

The resulting (part) block should now be 11 ½“ x 11 ½“.

Step 3 – Add the Sashing Strips

Sew the one 5 ½“ x 11 ½“ black rectangle to the right side of the (part) block.
Press the seam open or to the dark side (if you are a Jedi like me…).

Then sew the 5 ½“ x 16 ½“ black rectangle to the bottom of the resulting piece.
See pictures below. Press the seam open or to the side, as you prefer.

The resulting block should now be 16 ½“ x 16 ½“.

Thank you all so much in advance for sewing for me. 

If you have a question, just send me an email.

I am looking forward to receiving lots of post this month – for a change!

Happy sewing,

Rita.

Hive 1 April block for Kathrin

 Just barely under the wire--April was a hectic month, and to top it off my sewing machine stopped stitching for about an hour in the middle of this block! Luckily it was an easily fixed user error--once I figured out the problem. :) This is a beautiful block and color scheme Kathrin, can't wait to see the final product! 

Hive 1 Block for Kathrin

Hi Kathrin -

I put these in the mail about a week ago. Love your color scheme and love that you gave us block options! Can't wait to see your finished quilt top.

Enjoy!

- Julia H.

April Block for Kathrin

 

This block was very fun to make. I hope you like it! The plant theme sounds like a great idea. Can't wait to see how the finished quilt comes out!

-Nicole

April Block for Kathrin

 

Hopefully it is OK that I just made one. I am a bit new to paper piecing and wanted to take it slow. Your tutorial was very helpful on that front. I think I understand now why my last attempt ended up as a mirror image 😅. This one went much more smoothly. 

April Blocks for Kathrin

 I had so much fun picking out fabrics for these - I hope you like them!

Finished Quilt from 2019

 Finally finished this quilt from a top completed in 2019. Am happy with it and I hope some of you that contributed blocks are still on the blog. 

 

April Blocks for Kathrin (Hive 1)

Nothing makes me happier than a paper-pieced block. :) Thank you so much for giving us that option. They came together so quickly that I made 2 for you. I hope the colors work with the other blocks you receive.

~ Diana @ Red Delicious Life

Finished Quilt, Hive 1 2020 (November)

 

Hi All,

After 2 1/2 years Stashbee, I was finally able to finish the first quilt with blocks from my Hivemates! I started putting this quilt together in January. It's 57" x 79".

In 2020 I requested 'wonky tree' blocks for a Christmas quilt. "Wonky Winter" did indeed become a Christmas / Winter quilt, but also much more.

I dedicated it to my mom, who passed away last Summer. On the back I added a Christmas poem, which my mum often recited for us kids before Christmas, when I was small. 

I didn't have the best relationship with my mother, but I want to remember her by these happy memories of Advent-Sunday evenings spent around the Advent wreath, singing carols, reciting poems and reading Christmas stories.

While I was quilting 'Wonky Winter' last weekend, I enjoyed all those georgeous blocks my hivemates made for me - I love every single one of them and will treasure this quilt because of your generosity (you are all on the label).

Some even send additional green fabric pieces. I used some of them for the extra tree block I made for the bottom row.

Thank you all so much!

I am planning to start on the quilt with last year's blocks next weekend.

Happy sewing,

Rita