Hive 4 - April Tutorial- Tulip Block for Lisa!

 

Hi All

Much like my block last year, this too is inspired by my daughter, Melanie Ham, who at 36 died of a rare cancer.  I think all you know that she was an online content creator and left us many videos that provide great instruction and memories. Last year I mentioned one of her videos that I like to call, “You don’t have to know, just sew”.  It tells the story of how when she needed inspiration, sort of stuck, she just found some fabric and started sewing.  I find myself in that space often while dealing with grief and just the challenges of life.  If you want to know more about her offerings or her journey, her website is: www.melaniekham.com, or join her community on Facebook at Melanie Ham’s Happy Stitchers.

Melanie loved tulips!  I can’t wait to see all of the beautiful tulips you all will make!  My pattern is a slightly modified version of the one on Missouri Star Quilts YouTube Tutorials.  You can refer to that video for construction, but please follow my fabric and cutting instructions. 

Missouri Star Totally Tulips

Here are the details for my block:

The Tulip bulbs will be pinks, raspberry, fuchsia, strawberry, rich reds and should be tonal prints or clearly read as those colors, please no solids, character, juvenile – batiks are fine.

The leaves and stem are various green prints that are tonal or clearly read as green.  Please no solids for the leaves, no character prints or juvenile – batiks are fine.  Solid green may be used for the stem.

Background is white solid – like Kona Snow, Kone White or similar that is white not leaning to ivory or beige. 

 

Bulb Prints                                         Leaf and Stem fabric

                

Tulip Bulbs Instructions:

4 – 5” squares of the same bulb fabric

2 – 2.5” background squares

2 – 3.5” background squares

Draw a line diagonally from corner to corner on the wrong side of the 4 background squares.  Place the 2 - 2.5” squares right sides together with the upper 2 - 5’ bulb squares as shown on the inner / upper corners.

Place the 2 - 3.5” squares right sides together with the lower 2 – 5” bulb squares as shown on the outer / lower corners.

Sew ON THE LINE corner to corner - Roll the corner back and make sure it covers the corner and is square before trimming the excess ¼” away from the sewn line.

 

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Press the corners back and square to 5” and sew 4 patch together pressing seems opposite each other so they will nest tightly together.  Press horizontal seem open.

 
Tulip Leaves and Stem Instructions

2 – 5” squares of different green prints

2 – 5” squares of background white

1 – 1.5” x 8.5” strip solid green for the stem

Pair 1 Green Print with 1 white 5” square, right sides together – draw diagonal line corner to corner.

Sew ON EACH SIDE OF THE LINE ¼’ – Cut on line – result in 4 – half square triangles – square to 4.5”.

Place your 4 half square triangles opposite each other and pointed like leaves - watch your placement as follows.

Sew the half square triangles together top to bottom – watching placement

Sew these to the center stem piece.  Pressing horizontal seems open.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Now join the bulb to the leaves and stem piece with one horizontal seam pressed open.

 

 

I hope this gives everyone a little taste of spring and a chance to find some beautiful colored tulips to add to my field!

Any questions, reach out on Instagram or email.

Lisa…