Hive 1 April 2025 Improv Stars for Julia

 

This month's blocks were definitely a challenge! I finally made one I'm proud of (the lower-right star), and a friend made the other two blocks and sent them to me to mail--I love how hers are more improv; I had to draw cutting lines and really focus to get the points to point! The mail just came, so I'll run to the post office today. <3

Hive 1 - April Stars for Julia

 

I loved the concept of this block and how it looks in the long run. I have done curves before, but we have a long standing impatience for each other unfortunately. I think one of the two I did will be ok and the other you might be able to disassemble and try again or use for scrap. Sending extra fabric for you to make more as I have spent more hours fighting and seam ripping than I should (I think its just a bad month for me personally and not the block or the tutorial.)

I dropped it in the mail this morning - happy star gazing!

-Tasha from PA

Hive 1 April - wonky stars for Julia

 Man alive, those curves! I stuck it out and persevered and these wonky stars are on their way to you Julia. I've also sent along my cutouts in case you want to use them because I know I won't be! 😄

Thanks for a simple, yet challenging block.

Kind regards, 

Nicole from CA

Hive 1- April Stash Crasher

 I have NEVER seen a block like this and when I saw it I DROOLED! I want!

So I did!

First time doing curves- but I think the "it's all improv, you can't screw this up" philosophy made me brave. I thought I had made good strong curves but when I put them together they seem more straight than curved. Still happy with the results- see below!

Thanks for letting me crash- it was my first time as a crasher!

Hive 1, April Block Improv Stars for Julia

Hi Julia,

This will be such a striking quilt! 
These blocks are already on the way to you.
Hope you like them.

Happy quilting, Rita

 

Stars for Julia

 Hello Julia!

Your block choice is fun...but curves are not easy.  Since you believed in me-as per your tutorial- (😂), I did not give up! Wishing you a spectacular starry night quilt! Marie

Hive 1 April Tutorial: improv stars for Julia

Block:

I've chosen an improv star block for my month as queen bee. I'm using a tutorial from I'm Feelin Crafty, which you can read here. Our blocks will be larger, finishing at 8.5 inches. 

Please make 3 blocks. (If you are struggling with the curves, just make two and send me a 8.5 square of dark blue fabric as your third. But I believe in you! Curves aren't as bad as you think!)

Fabric selection: 

Colors: dark blue and yellow. Solids, batiks, and prints all go. Please make sure it reads clearly as being blue/yellow. 

Cutting: for each block, you will need one 10.5" square of dark blue and one 7.5-8.5" square of yellow. The yellow depends on the size of star you want to make! 

Assembly:

See the tutorial here for detailed instructions. One note on curves: if you're starting out or a bit nervous, try to cut a wider, straighter angle: it will help you. The block on the left is easier to piece, the block on the right is trickier!

Once you've sewn all the corners back on, press and trim down to 8.5 inches square. A wonky angle is okay! 

Thanks everyone! Can't wait to get my stars 🤩

Hive 2 April Tutorial- Fluffy Cloud Dreaming

Hive 2 Tutorial for April

Mandi Holmes

Circa 1934 Cosmic Cricket Moda Pattern

“Fluffy Cloud Dreaming”

12 ½” x 12 ½”

This is a Moda pattern, you can find it here. 

FABRIC

I was inspired by this piece of fabric that came in some scraps from a friend. It was a decent enough size that I always wanted to feature it in some way but could never figure out how/where, so I used it here as my background and color scheme inspiration.

Light blues, greys, and whites, with black for the “stick”.

I’m trying to keep things desaturated and dreamy. The choice for background should have a pattern or is a batik.

The churn dash can be black, grey, or white so long as it’s solid or appears solid like a tone on tone. 

The gray I used is a bit washed out and has a few minor color shifts, which is fine because it’s still basically a solid. I honestly don’t know if they are part of the fabric or actual discoloration from the sun from the place that I got it, but I actually love the variation. A batik is fine for the Churn Dash if you have a good pattern behind to set it apart.

Here are some examples for backgrounds.

I don’t love traditional floral patterns generally, I prefer more geometric, abstract or grunge, or batik. No novelty fabrics, please. I always love the Ghastlies, however :) 

CUTTING

Stick:

1 - 1” x 22” 

Churn Dash:
4 - 2” x 6 ½”

2 - 4”x4”

Background:

4 - 2” x 6 ½”

1 - 6 ½” x 6 ½”

2 - 4” x 4”

Step One: Sticks

Fold and press the long sides of the 1”x 22” black strip a ¼” on each side, leaving you with a ½” wide strip. You can use bias tape. I actually made mine with my ½” bias tape tool, which is incredibly handy.

Step Two: Main Block

1. Place the stick on the right side of the 6 ½” background square and pin in place. I marked the ¼” seam allowance with chalk so I made sure to measure the 2” down and 1 ¾” up marks on the actual block edge.

2. Sew 2 - 2” x 6 ½” Churn Dash rectangles to the square, enclosing the Stick in the seams. Press away from the center.

Sorry - I didn’t get a great 1:1 pic of this step, but this is what it looks like from the back

3. On the wrong side of the block, mark where the Stick crosses the edges of the Churn Dash rectangles. 

4. Add 2 - 2” x 6 ½” Background rectangles. Transfer the marks to the back of those rectangles. Move the stick out of the sewing area. Sew the rectangles to the block, stopping and starting (be sure to backstitch) at the marks. This will leave an opening for the Stick to be moved to the front of the block.

5. Press the seams towards the center of the block. Thread the Stick through the holes and press. Applique the Stick in place and the holes closed using a small zigzag stitch and a black or invisible thread. Trim the Stick even with the sides of the block.

6. Layer 1 - 4” x 4” Churn Dash and 1 - 4” x 4” Background square, right sides together. Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of the lighter square. Sew ¼” on each side of the diagonal line. Cut on the line. Press open to make 2 half square triangles. Repeat to make a total of 4 half square triangles (HST). If necessary, trim to measure 3 ½” x 3 ½” with seams.

7. Combine 1 - 2” x 6 ½” Churn Dash and 1 - 2” x 6 ½” Background rectangle. Join a half square triangle to each end. Make 2.

**this picture has ruler ¼” down from top of HST which is why the seam is on the 3” line**

8. Combine all the sections to make one Main Block.

Cut away the Stick areas that are on the back of the block.

Thank you!

Hive 6 April Tutorial - Lemon Blueberry Block for Meg

 

Lemon🍋 Blueberry🫐 Block for Meg

Hi Stashbee friends, Happy April!  I am so excited that you all will be sewing for me this month, thank you so, so much!  The block I chose is a block designed by Yvonne Fuchs (Quilting Jetgirl) called the “Oceanglow” block.  Here is her original tutorial: Paintbrush Studio New Block Blog Hop & Giveaway! – Quilting Jetgirl.

Fabric Inspiration: Lemon yellows, sunshine yellow, pastel yellow, and golden yellows.  Royal blue, true blue, bright blue, and light blue.  White on white, solid white, low volume prints on white. Prints, solids, blenders, whatever makes you happy!  I particularly love small floral prints :) I love busy, scrappy quilts!  I will love any fabrics that you pick, and I love to see everyone's creativity, so you are free to think as far outside the box as you want with this color palette.

Select and Cut Fabrics: Choose 2 blues (one darker and one lighter), 3 yellows (varying shades), and one white.  Here are the fabrics I selected for the sample block:

Fabric A – your darker/richer blue

• A1:  Cut (4) 2”x2” squares
• A2:  Cut (6) 1.5”x2” rectangles
• A3:  Cut (2) 1.5”x12.5” rectangles

Fabric B – your lighter blue

• B1:  Cut (2) 2”x7.5” rectangles
• B2:  Cut (3) 1.5”x7.5” rectangles

Fabric C – your white

• Cut (1) 2”x7.5” rectangle

Fabric D – your lightest yellow

• Cut (1) 2”x7.5” rectangle

Fabric E – your middle yellow

• Cut (1) 2”x7.5” rectangle

Fabric F – your darkest/richest yellow

• F1:  Cut (1) 2”x7.5” rectangle
• F2:  Cut (8) 2”x2” squares

Piecing Instructions:

1. Lay your pieces out just like this diagram:

2. Sew three columns (indicated by the pink arrows at the top in the photo above) using a ¼ seam allowance.  You do not need to square up after each seam, but a consistent ¼ seam will make the next step more successful.  Press however you want – I pressed to the side so that I could nest seams in the next step.

3. Your pieces now should look like this:

Pin the side columns to the inner column and sew, pressing seams open.  Here’s a photo of mine after pinning - I nested the seams and used a pin on each side of every seam intersection:

Here she is after sewing and pressing:

4. Sew pieces A3 to the block, press towards piece A3, and you’re done!  You can square up to 12.5” or just send her on her way : ).  Thank you so much, I can’t wait to see what you all make!

Sending you all lots of love from Alabama,

Meg 💙💛