Hive 4 July Tutorial - Monochrome Madness for Kate

Hi guys,

This is my first time participating in a Monthly Block Swap and also Stash Bee. Loving it so far! 

Slightly scared now it is my turn, but I hope the below is understandable.

Fabric

I am going for a black/white/grey monochrome look. I have included some ideas for fabrics, these 

are all from my stash and are what I have made/will be making the rest of the blocks from.If you 

don't have much variation in your stash, please don't worry about it and just use what you have.

Off white, large prints, batik, novelty prints, text prints, florals, all fine, just treat them as their "main" 

colour. To see where they fall, you can use the B/W filter on your camera to find the value, similar 

to what we did for Sara's block in March. As you can see in my examples below, I've used some 

dark fabrics with a tiny amount of colour, this is OK, but I’d like the main colour to read as black/

grey or white.

If you don't have a massive array of shades, happy for it to be a stark black and white block too. 

The main point here is to have fun not using colour! I've had this in mind for a while, so have been 

collecting fabrics!

Essential tools:  Ruler, Rotary cutter, Cutting mat, Hot dry iron, Ironing mat/board, Glue or safety 

Pins. And, of course, a sewing machine!

Nice to have tools: EPP Glue stick, Add a quarter ruler, Rotating cutting mat (I don't have one, 

but it is on my wishlist!)

Instructional FPP videos and guides: 

Foundation Paper Piecing: 

Tiny Orchard Quilts YouTube Video

Whole Circle Guide

Paper piecing made simple | Quilting Tutorial with Angela Walters for Craftsy

Sewing a curved seam: 

Secrets to sewing curves

Patterns

There are two main options, zigzag or circle. I am happy for you do do either one or both if you 

fancy mixing it up! The zigzag creates a star or diamond shape when 4 pieces are combined, 

the circle is likewise made of 4 pieces. The circle can be made of 4 plain pieces, or from a variety 

of FPP options, which are all included below in the PDF patterns. 

I forgot to put the inch square as the printing measure, however you can check they are correct 

as one of the quarters should be 7.5 inches along each side (this is including the 1/4 inch seam 

allowance on each side) , and the final block should be 14.5 inches. If you print to actual size, or 

100% scale, it should work. However, if it is too big or too small, don't worry, as I am happy to either 

cut it down to size, or add a border to make it up in size. 

 

The PDFs can be found here:

Circle 

Zigzag 

Please let me know if this link does not work and I can email them to you directly instead. 

Block ideas: 

The first one is slightly skewiff as I was experimenting with an asymmetrical zigzag. It didn’t 

quite work how I wanted it to, but you can see the difference that the fabric choice makes when 

you compare to the second one.

You will need 4 copies of the zig zag pattern to achieve either of the below options: 

This is an alternate way to layout the zigzag, to create a diamond in the middle. You will need to 

print 4 copies of the same pattern for this option as well, but the layout is different. 

This is the circle option. Within it, there are a few variations as well. 

This is the basic block, just curved seams. 

 

Part A, B, C and D from pages 1 and 2 as below

This is the basic block with a striped FPP band in a white to black colour gradient. 

Part A, B, C (option 2) and D from pages 1 and 2 

This block was done in dark fabrics. You have a subtle flying geese, as well as the corner and centre 

being the FPP blocks. 

Part A (option 2A and 2B), B, C (option 3) and D (option 3A and 3B) from pages 1, 3 and 4. 

Due to the way they come together, Parts A and D are in two pieces. 

Apologies for the smudge at the top of Part C Option 3, the original paper tore and I didn’t realise 

it would show up on the scan. I’ve had a bit of a mare with scanners, so I decided to leave it, lest 

it refuses to work for me at all!

This is the same as above, but using a greater variation of the colour gradient. 

 

 

Thanks for participating! Any questions or issues, please let me know!

All the best, 

Kate @toodlipoops

Xxx

 

Hive 2 July Tutorial - Fall Leaves for Susan

   July 2024 Hive 2 Tutorial - Fall Leaves for Susan

July is here already! The good months go by so fast!

This is my first time being part of a Stash Bee and this is my month so I hope this goes well. I have always lived in New Hampshire. The falls here are glorious with color and I have never made a quilt celebrating fall so that's why I chose the leaf pattern. The background can be any shade of off white fabric - solid of print on print. The leaf squares can be all sorts of yellows, reds, orange, rust and anything in between! The colors are here every fall. I do love bright colors so use them if you have them! Any brown for the stem block will do.

So here goes........

Background colors cut as follows:

A Block -  1  5" x 5" Square

B Block - 2  2.5" x 4.5" Rectangle

C Block - 3  3" Square

D Block - 1  2.5" Square

E Block - 2 -  2.5" Square

Leaf Colors - cut as follows:

F Block - 2  2.5 x 4.5" Rectangle

G Block - 3  3" Square

H Block - 6 -  2.5" Square

Stem - 1  1" x 7" Rectangle

All seems are a scant 1/4"

Using the C and G blocks place right sides together a background fabric and leaf color. Draw a diagonal line on the background side of each set. Sew on each side of the line a scant quarter inch. Cut down the line and iron to the dark side. Trim each to 2 1/2"

           This will make 6 half square triangles

This will be the layout.

Draw a diagonal line on 2 of the 2 1/2" background squares.

Place them as shown on the 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" leaf colored rectangles and sew on the lines.

Trim to 1/4" from the stitch line and press opened towards the background fabric.

Cut the 5" background piece in half diagonally to make two triangles. Place the brown stem piece centered between the triangles and sew each side to make the block. Press seams and trim block to a 4 1/2" square trying to get the stem centered at the points.

Assemble as Pictured

This is the block that I made. It finished at 10 inches

I hope you enjoy making it!

                                          Susan Craig-Newton

Hive 1: Changing Squares for Jennifer

 

The picture doesn’t really do the cream tone-on-tone justice. Sigh. You’ll just have to wait until it reaches you. I do have to apologize, though. I finished sewing this yesterday after the post office had closed for the day, but it’ll be in the mail on Monday. June has been a crazy month in my house.

Hive 1: Changing Squares for Jennifer!

Hello!!

These may look familiar... but I did do different color layouts from last year! Maybe having more of the same colorway will, uh, add some balance or something =) 

They'll be in the mail ASAP!!

Hive 1 June Block

 I had fun with this block! There were two options so I made one of each (they’re just really close together in this picture).

June Block for Jennifer

 I love how you can change the placement of the colors in this block and it can look so different. I used green, orange, dark purple and cream for this one. Hope you like it!

~ Diana

Hive 1 Changing Squares-purple version!

 

This was a fun block to make. I'm sending it in units because it fit in an available envelope better! 

~ Grace

Hive 1 Changing Squares for Jennifer

One of these blocks includes a very slightly stretchy fabric (it's the solid terra cotta) that didn't really hit me until it started feeling a little wonky when I pressed it. I suspect if may have snuck into my stash from a garment. I'm very sorry! So you've got a second block that better meets the standards, but if you don't mind the content, or if you're interested in only keeping selected bits of it, I hope you can make use of both! These were a lot of fun to make; it's so exciting when something very simple comes together to look a lot more intricate. They'll be on their way to you tomorrow.

Hive 5 June Tutorial – Irish Chain Bunting Block for Denise

 Hive 5 June Tutorial – Irish Chain Bunting Block for Denise

Hello Ladies,

I’m Denise and this is my first year participating in a stash bee.  I’m loving it so far, as I get to make some cute blocks and converse with some interesting ladies. I live in Tauranga, in the Bay of Plenty in New Zealand. We grow avocados, and at the moment we are in the thick of winter. My most hated season, but good for sewing. We have two daughters, one who is married, and lives in England, and the other who lives in Vancouver, Canada. My goal was to bring up strong independent women, and I have succeeded too well.

For this month, I have called on the resources of a past block posted by @evannonearth, last year. It is called the Irish Chain Bunting Block.

For the background fabrics I would like a scrappy mix of low volume, white or off white.  Small patterns and little bits of colour are fine, but as the other colours are medium values, the background needs to be as light as possible. The main colours of the bunting chain in the block are orange and teal. Any orange and teal will be fine, but I’m aiming for a softish look in the finished quilt. Prints are fine, but no Christmas or ‘American Patriotic’ prints please.

Here is my fabric pull for inspiration.

Cutting instructions

From both Orange and Teal fabrics cut

1 - 3” x 3” square (this will be for the centre pinwheel)

4 - 2.5” X 2.5” squares

From the Background White fabrics cut

2 - 3” X 3” squares

8 – 2.5” X 4.5” rectangles

4 – 4.5 X 4.5 squares

All Seams are ¼” and pressed as directed. 

Step 1.   Draw a diagonal line on the back of all the orange and teal squares.

Step 2.   Pair each 3” colour square with a corresponding white 3” square. Sew a scant ¼” either side of the drawn line. Cut along the line and press open with the seam to the colour side.  You will have 4 half square triangles, which now need to be arranged in a pinwheel. Sew together and if possible, press the seams in the back so they form a spiral.

Trim this part of the block down to 4.5”, ensuring that the centre of the pinwheel is in the centre.

Step 3.   Place one of the coloured fabrics that measures 2.5” right sides together with a background rectangle and sew on the line. Trim ¼” from the seam and press the seam towards the coloured fabric.  Make 8; 4 x Orange and 4 x Teal

Step 4.   Arrange all the units and background 4.5” pieces to resemble the bunting block.  Press towards the background squares. Then sew the rows together to form a 12.5” block.

Finished block

Changing Squares for Jennifer

Hi Jennifer,

I'm glad I had the chance to contribute to your quilt that has been two years in the making! This was a fun pattern😁, thanks for introducing me to "Changing Squares"!

Marie

Hive 1, June, Changing Squares Block for Jennifer

 

Hi Jennifer,

I love the graphic look of those blocks!

They'll go on their way to you this coming week.

Happy sewing,

Rita