Hive 6 October Tutorial: Funky Chickens for Elise

                                                 This lovely lady is Rose. She lays colored eggs.


Happy October!

This month, we will be making the chickens from the Dear Stella Poppie Prairie Flock Party Quilt Pattern as a birthday gift (though more likely, Christmas gift) for one of my best friends, who raises chickens.

Chicken feathers actually come in a variety of colors and patterns, so feel free to use the link as inspiration or create your own breed of funky chicken.

Fabrics

• no florals
• any shade of green for the background

Cutting Instructions

    

These Lavender Orpingtons are the inspiration for my sample block.

Beak

A: 1 ¾ x 1 ¾ inch square 

Chicken

E: 2 ⅛ x 2 ⅛ inch square

F: 1 ⅛ x 1 ¾ inch rectangle

G: 2 ⅜ x 2 ⅝ inch rectangle

I:  two 2 ⅝ x 2 ⅝ inch square

 J: 8 x 5 ⅞ inch rectangle

Background

 B: 1 ¾ x 3 inch rectangle

 C: 8 x 3 inch rectangle

 D: 2 ⅛ X 2 ⅛ inch square

 H: 3 ⅞ x 6 ⅛ inch rectangle

 K: two 3 ⅜ x 3 ⅜ inch square

 L: 1 ¾ x 10 ½ inch rectangle

Piecing Instructions

1. For left-facing chicken: Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of A. Place A right sides together on the right end of B with the diagonal line starting in the upper right corner. Sew. Leave 1/4 inch seam allowance and press triangle open. For right-facing chicken: Draw a diagonal line on wrong side of A. Place A right sides together on the left end of B with the diagonal line starting in the upper left corner. Sew. Leave 1/4 inch seam allowance and press triangle open.

2. Sew AB unit to short end of C.

3. Make 2 HSTs with D and E. Only one is needed. Press toward the darker material. Trim to 1 ¾ x 1 ¾ inch square.

4. For left-facing chicken: Sew F to E/D HST and press toward F. Sew FED to G and press toward G. For right-facing chicken: Sew D/E HST to F, then DEF to G; press toward G.

5. Draw a diagonal line from corner to corner on the wrong sides of the two (2) I squares. Place an I square, right sides together, in the lower corners of H. Sew along diagonal line and trim, leaving 1/4 inch seam allowance. Press triangles open.

6. Draw a diagonal line from corner to corner on the wrong sides of the two (2) K squares. Place an K square, right sides together, in the lower corners of J. Sew along diagonal line and trim, leaving 1/4 inch seam allowance. Press triangles open.

7. For left-facing chicken: Sew FEDG to HI and press. For right-facing chicken: Sew DEFG to HI and press.

8. Sew above unit to KJ and press seam allowance toward KJ.

9. Sew ABC unit to above unit and press seam allowance toward ABC unit.

10. Sew L across top of block and press.

The final block should be 10 1/2 x 10 1/2. Don't worry if the final size is a bit off. The blocks will have sashing, so wonkiness will be hidden.