Hive 3 January Tutorial: Bear Paw Block for Helen

Bear Paw Block for Helen

Hello everyone, Happy New Year to you all, I can't quite believe it is 2025 which is my 60th to go round the sun. This is my 7th Stash Bee and 4th as Hive leader. I don't take part in many swaps these days but I love this one and so join up every year. It is so much fun finding out which block each hive member would like us to make.

I am a member of Capital Quilters, a guild based in Lower Hutt, Wellington where I used to live. It is probably the largest guild in New Zealand at 180 - 190 members. It is their 40th anniversary in June this year (2025) and in celebration of this milestone, we are all encouraged to make a quilt featuring our signature block The Hand of Friendship (Bear Paw for short).

Last year my dear friend, Maree (who is in our hive again this year) asked us to make Halloween themed Bear Paw blocks and I thought "perfect, I will do that this year and kill 2 birds with 1 stone getting a Halloween themed quilt made of the Hand of Friendship block".

I am asking you all to make one block (you can make more for me if you wish - they are a bit addictive with the fussy cutting opportunities) of a bear paw block that is 14 inch unfinished and 13 and 1/2 inch finished in the quilt. 

Fabric inspiration.

I am looking for blocks made with a variety of Halloween themed fabrics in shades of low volume white, black, grey, orange, mauve, and purple with splashes of red, peach and crimson. If you have a fussy cut Halloween motif in another shade that is fine, just make sure you don't use it for the background, sashing or claws. Please make sure there is some contrast between the paws and the background/sashing fabrics. 

Here is 2 examples of blocks I have made.

As you can see I have featured skulls, pumpkins, cats, crows, crosses, owls, skeletons etc. 

Here is some fabric inspiration.

Background and sashing:

Bear paws and claws variety of fabrics:

                                                                                                                                                                     

Cutting Instructions

Piece	Fabric	Qty
1	A	1			2" x 2"
2	B4 or B8	4 8			4½" x 4½" 2½" x 2½"
3**	C	2			6¼" x 6¼"
4**	Background	2			6¼" x 6¼"
5	Background	4			2" x 6½"
6	Background	4			2½" x 2½"
Unfinished Block Size					14"

**These are the oversized patches that will be trimmed to perfection AFTER stitching.

Fabrics 

1. Fabric A is a small square which can be coloured or black and white - fussy cut if you wish
2. Fabric B - Halloween Fabric (or other fabrics as suggested) 
3. Fabric C - Black and White, Black, or Black and Grey or Grey or Orange or Mauve/Purple
4. Background - White or White on White or Slightly Off White Low volume fabric - with interesting black or grey details if you wish.
5. Background - White or White on White or Slightly Off White Low volume fabric - with interesting black or grey details if you wish.
6. Background - White or White on White or Slightly Off White Low volume fabric - with interesting black or grey details if you wish.

Fabrics 4, 5 and 6 can be the same or different low volume whites.

Making 8 at a time HST for the Claws

The HSTs that make up the claws (position 3 in diagram) are made using the 6.25" squares. You make 8 at a time and they come together quite quickly. I used directional fabric for one of my backgrounds and this method works perfectly in making sure the fabrics all end up the correct way.

Here are a few photos showing the stitching lines and cutting lines.

You need to join a background square and a Fabric C square with right sides together. Mark the 2 diagonal lines so that you have an X. Sew 1/4 inch either side of both of these lines. You will then cut down the centre top to the bottom, and centre left to right (like a +). You also need to cut along the diagonal lines which you drew initially. Repeat for the other set of squares and you will end up with 16 HSTs. These need to be trimmed down to 2.5" squares.

One of my favourite rulers is my Bloc Loc square which makes trimming these HSTs to size so much easier. I am also lucky enough to have a little rotating cutting mat which is also a favourite tool.

Mark the fabric with the X

Sew the 1/4 inch seams either side of the lines

                                                                                                        

Showing it cut apart ready to press open.

                                                                                  

I tend to press my seams open but you can press to the dark side it you wish. Trim these to 2 and 1/2 inch squares.

Layout

Lay your pieces out so you can see how your block will look and get any directional fabrics up the right way before you sew.

You can see this block has one of the paws as a 4 patch (see cutting instructions alternative above in the table). The 4 patch pieces are cut at 2 and 1/2 inches then sewn together to make a 4 and 1/2 inch patch.

                                                           

                                                                                                                                                                                          

Sew your claws together, sew the claws to the paws then sew the paws to the sashing.

 Keeping your points

It can be so easy to lose your points when sewing HST to other pieces of fabric. This is where the 1/4 inch seam allowance is so important. Please check your seam allowance. Once sewn, your seams should look like this so the points are crisp.

See the seam on the right - it just skims to the left of the point.

The other side of the block showing the lovely point. If your points are being cut off you need to check your cutting size and sewn seam allowance. Move your needle across so you get an accurate 1/4 inch seam.                                                                                                       

                                                                                                      

Hopefully you can find some Halloween or quirky fabric in your stash and make me some cute Halloween Bear Paw blocks. 

Your block should be 14 inches unfinished.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

And please have fun - can't wait to see your blocks.

Helen

Hive 1-Book Block for Megan

 This is very, very late and very, very sorry from me. But I finally got it done.

Sign Up for Stashbee 2025 is Live! Sign up by Dec 20th

 

Registration for StashBee 2025 is Live!

CLICK HERE to access the sign-up form. 

Registration will be open until December 20th 2024, and Hives will be announced before the new year via email. 

Please share the link with your Quilty Friends and encourage them to sign up too!

New to Stashbee? Read on, to find out more!

What is StashBee?

Stash Bee is an annual modern, international, online quilting bee.  It runs for 11 months (January-November) on multiple platforms including facebook, instagram and on this blog. 

StashBee is open to new and returning members. Stash Bee is international friendly. All hives can expect to have a mix of countries. In the past, the majority of participants have been American, with 1-3 hive members from other countries. Participants are responsible for the cost of mailing blocks to their Hive Mates.

Participants are divided into several hives, each containing 10-11 Hive Mates.  The total number of hives will depend on how many people sign up, so invite your friends! We need 10-11 people per hive, so there may be a wait list if there is an incomplete hive.

Each of the members acts as “Queen Bee” for one month. Before their month arrives, the Queen is responsible for testing out their choice of block and creating a tutorial post on the Stash Bee blog for their Hive Mates to follow. All of the hive members then create the requested block from their own fabric stash, and mails the block to the "Queen Bee".

As "Queen Bee" you specify the block, and the color scheme and type of fabric you would like your hive mates to use (ie. solids, prints, low volume, novelty, florals, tone on tone etc). Since this is a modern bee you  can ask for modern blocks, or a classic block but with modern fabrics. 

By signing up, everyone commits to making 10 blocks over the course of the year (January to November). In exchange, when its your turn as "Queen Bee" you will receive 10 blocks.

Reasons to Join

1) One block a month is an easy commitment!

2) Make new Quilty Friends around the world!

3) Try new blocks and new techniques!

4) Make a dent in your stash!

5) Make a quilt with a great story, and a wonderful diversity of fabric from other people's stash!

6) Have fun!

Rules & Expectations

Please review our Rules and Participant Roles & Expectations before signing up. 

If you have additional questions you can email me at the StashBee email:  Stashbee.blog@gmail.com

During the sign-up process, you will be asked what platform you would like to use (facebook, instagram, or the blog). Hives will be assigned based firstly on platform preference, then skill and design/fabric style preferences will also be taken into account. Anyone not assigned to a hive will be placed on the waiting list in the order that they signed up.

One more thing...

Follow our StashBee Instagram profile, and tag us in your StashBee makes!

@StashBee.blog

Hive 1 Book Block for Megan

 Sorry I missed the deadline. I put too many things on my plate!  Will mail today.

Chris

Finished Quilt, 2024 - Quarter Log Cabin - Hive 2

 Had the top together for a while, but just got around to quilting it. Did an easy diagonal grid on home machine and walking foot. Happy with the result. Thanks to Hive 2 members!

 

 

Hive 1 Bookcase Block for Megan's Mom

 Hi, Megan,

I hope your mom likes this block I made. You said she liked cats so I embroidered her a marble one. I also top-stitched some pages into some of the books.

This kitty will be there fro you soon.

-Caela

Bookcase block for Megan('s Mom)

 

I've been in love with the idea of a bookcase quilt for as long as I've been quilting, but this is the first time I've actually made a bookcase block! Thanks for the great block idea, Megan. I hope your mother likes it!!

Hive 1: 📕📗📘📙 block for Megan's mom!

Woohoo bookshelf block! These are always fun :)

This is pretty basic, but hopefully Mom will still like it!

Library Books for Megan

Hello Megan and Mom,

Here are some books to add to your collection.

I added interesting reads on pagodas and the Eiffel Tower😉

Happy Stitching!

Marie

 

Hive 1: Bookcase for Megan

My bookshelves are always too full and we frequently have to jam things in wherever they can fit, especially library books! So here’s a little taste of that chaos for your mom’s quilt. I hope she has fun building her bookcase!

Hive 1, November Block, Bookcase, for Megan

 

Hi Megan,

As Reading is one of my oldest hobbies, I did enjoy 'making' books again! Hope your Mum likes them. They'll go on their way to her today.

Happy quilting,
Rita

Crashing Hive 4 - my town blocks for Ruth

 I've had my eye on this pattern for a while and couldn't resist making a tree and house for Ruth. These were so easy to cut and sew that I'm definitely putting it my To Do pile.

I can't wait to see your finished town Ruth!

Hive 5 - November 2024 Tutorial - 1/4 Log Cabin for Susan

Hello from the rainy Northwest. Winter has come to Vashon, WA, and that makes me want a little more color in my world.

This is my first block exchange, and I've really been enjoying making the blocks we've worked on this year. I look forward to seeing what each of you has done with the blocks you've received.  Another thing I have loved about the process has been getting to know my own stash again and finding bits of fabric I had completely forgotten about!

I went back and forth over which block to request, and finally decided on a 1/4 Log Cabin block. The design is based on the classic log cabin block, starting with a square and building out around it - but you only add 'logs' on two sides of your original square, so that first square ends up being in one corner of the finished block.

 

The photo below shows the colors I started with, based on a "quilt challenge" from my local quilt guild. Participants each received one color each month for 6 months, and we did NOT know (at the beginning) what any of the future colors would be. In order to get the next month's new color, we had to show at least one block using the previous month's color somewhere in the block. We received the most colorful block (with birds and flowers and swirls) first, so that's the main palette I decided to include in each block somewhere.

Since I didn't know what to expect, I decided to do a really scrappy block, and it's been such a fun process I thought it would work well for this block exchange, and then I'll have more to add to this quilt!

No need to have every log in your cabin be one of those colors - I'm hoping each block will have a bit of one of those colors in it somewhere, but it's more important that the colors in your block blend with or complement those basic colors. The overall look of the squares can be quite scrappy, with the unifying theme between the blocks being that bit of blue aqua/lime/grass/salmon pink range.

Here are some of the squares I've sewn so far - you can see they're all over the place with color:

And here are some photos of my scrap strips laid out for picking from as I'm working on new blocks. I'm going with the bright colors, dots, stripes, tone on tone, florals, batik - all OK as long as the fabric is bright and complements at least one of those 5 basic colors. No cartoons, juvenile prints, or logo fabrics, no solids. Other than that, this is an opportunity to use up some scraps and express your wild, playful side.

  

 

Please make TWO 6.5" blocks for me. 

Kim Brackett has a good tutorial on making the 1/4 Log Cabin block at her Magnolia Bay Quilts blog here: 1/4 Log Cabin Tutorial.  She explains the "squaring up" process really well too, with annotated photos (which I couldn't quite figure out how to do) so that part might be extra helpful in a way I am not provide below (sigh).  

The biggest difference between her tutorial and the blocks I am requesting is that all the blocks should start with a 3.5" square.

Your log strips that border the two sides of the 3.5" square can be any width strip between 1" - 2.5", your choice.  

Start by cutting a 3.5" square of fabric, and choose a different color for the first log strip you will add.

                                                   

Build the square by adding a 3.5" long strip on the top side of the block.  Press open the log you just attached, toward the outside. Measure the new length of of the right side and cut your next strip piece (the same width and fabric as your previous piece) long enough to extend along the full length of the right side of your block. 

                                               

Add this new strip on the right side of the block. I find the simplest way to do this is to precut my strips the width of the fabric, and then just lay the strip across the side I need to cover and cut the needed length (plus a 1/4" or so, just in case...) and then square it off after each log is added.

Sew that log on, press open toward the outside of the block, and trim any edges that extend beyond the block edge. I neglected to take a photo of this process for the first striped row, so here are photos for the next row on the same block where you can see the places that need trimming.  You can also refer to Kim Brackett's tutorial for good photos on trimming your block too!

And here's a photo of the block so far, ready for one last trim before adding any other rows:

          

Continue in this manner, adding one strip on the "top", pressing open toward the piece you just sewed on, trimming any extra fabric, adding another strip of the same color on the "right" side of the block, pressing open and trimming until your square is at least 6.5". And then your block is done!  

Here are a few more photos of my blocks so far.

 

         

I hope you enjoy making these blocks as much as I have. Please let me know if you have questions about any of these instructions. I look forward to seeing all the results of your color play this month!

Happy holidays all.

Susan

Hive 3: November block for Debbie

 Dear fellow Stash Bees,

I have so enjoyed making all your blocks and using up some of my “Stash”. 

For my block, I am excited to have you make me blocks for a summer picnic quilt. 

My inspiration came from a free pattern called Ventanas by Timeless Treasures. I can no longer find it on their website, but had kept a copy for myself ages ago wanting to use it for just this purpose.

It is made from a log cabin variation starting in a corner and building only on 2 sides. .There are several different blocks making the interesting patterns as they are joined.

  I am including 2 different blocks for you to choose from.  You only need to do ONE.  

My colors are red, white/cream, and light, dark or medium blue.  Each block has 6 rounds, so you will need 6 fabrics. A variety of shades and patterns are great.That’s what gives it interest and lets your eyes wander. You can use plain white or cream or evensmall prints with reds and blues.  I wouldn’t mind a patriotic print, but otherwise no novelties. 

Here are 3 different blocks I made. You can see the variety of fabrics.

Here is another sampling of fabrics.

The only difference between the 2 blocks are the size of the strips. The construction is still the same.

Each letter is a different color : A , B, C, D, E, and F. B and B1 are the same fabric , C and C1 are the fabric, and so one. 6 different colors radiating from the corner.

Block A

A     4 3/4 by 2 3/4                        

B    4 3/4 by 2 3/4                        B1    5 by 2 3/4

C    7 by 2 3/4                               C1 7 1/4 by 2 1/4

D    8 3/4 by 2 3/4                        D1     9 1/2 by 2 1/4

E    10 1/2 by 2 3/4                        E1 11 3/4 by 2 1/4

F    12 1/4 by 2 3/4                        F     14 by 2 1/4

Here are all the logs cut out and placed in position.

Sew in order of position : A ( the bottom right corner ) to B, then both pieces to B1, Add C and then C 1, and so forth until you get all the logs in place.

Finished block: should be 14 inches square.

Back of the block: I ironed all the seams towards the outside.

Block B

A     2 3/4 by 1 3/4

B     2 3/4 by 1 3/4                            B1     5 by 3 3/4

C     5 by 2 1/4                                  C1     6 3/4 by 2 1/4

D     6 3/4 by 1 3/4                             D1     8 by 1 3/4

E      8 1/4 by 3                                 E1     10 1/2 by 3

F     10 1/2 by 4                                 F1      14 by 4

Placement after cutting: may appear slightly different from actual block, measurements adjusted.

Sew in order of position : A ( the bottom right corner) to B, then add both pieces to B1, Add C and then C 1, and so forth until you get all the logs in place.

Finished block: 14 inches square