Hive 3- June Tutorial - Space Block for Bonnie

 

Hi, Everyone! My name is Bonnie and this is my third year participating in Stash Bee. If this post looks familiar, that's because it is a re-post of my last year's post... with some minor tweaks. I have not yet assembled the beautiful blocks I have already received, so there is opportunity to add more!

The Plan:

With your help, I would like to create a space-themed sampler quilt. I have found that I absolutely love samplers, because I love making lots of different types of blocks, trying new patterns and techniques, and putting them all together like a puzzle. So for this quilt, I’d love it if you could make ANY block(s) you want that fits the theme. Think stars, constellations, planets, spaceships, black holes, eclipses, suns, meteors, comets, aliens (if you can figure out how to make me a xenomorph, we will be friends forever, haha), moons, galaxies, or anything else you can think of. Use whatever techniques you’d like. Straight piecing, curved piecing, big pieces, tiny pieces, FPP, EPP, applique, crumb piecing, string piecing, seriously whatever. Be as creative (or not) as you want to be. I’d like it to be more “adult” and a little less "juvenile." So please keep that in mind. Words/phrases could be okay, too, assuming they still fit the theme. The pattern itself does NOT have to be space-themed. If you hate stars, try a circle (for a planet) or a row of flying geese or something for filler. Stick to the color palette and I'm sure I'll still love it.

Colors & Prints:

I’m envisioning BOLD, BRIGHT colors against a BLACK background for maximum “poppage.” I made that word up, but you get it, yeah? Contrast is key! Try to avoid dark, muted colors for the accents. Take a look at my inspiration collage below. Notice that there is not any green, which is shocking because green is my favorite color. Please avoid green (😭).

 

While I also LOVE botanical prints, I don’t feel they are in keeping with the theme, so please avoid florals, leaves, trees, and the like (also😭). Blenders, geometric designs, stars, dots, etc. would all be appropriate prints for this. Novelty science prints COULD be okay, but please use your best judgement re: whether they read adult or juvenile. I got a block last year with a little space man and I LOVE it. If you think you have something really fitting, but worry about the appropriateness, feel free to ask!

Background: Please use white on black prints, black on black prints, bold colors on black prints, or solid black prints for the background. Please make sure they read black and not gray or navy.

Celestial Spacy Stuff: I’m super eloquent. Please use Maroon, Coral, Firey Orange, Yellow, Teal/Turquoise, Blue, Purple, Magenta, White, etc. Please NO green or red. If you’re doing something made of metal, like a spaceship, please stick to realistic-looking greys. As you can see below, I have too much fabric I like basically everything, including batiks, metallics, etc. So don’t worry yourselves overmuch-- Just avoid florals and other botanicals, red/green, and juvenile novelty prints.

Update on this section ^: I got a surplus of orange and yellow blocks last year, so I'd love to see more white, teal, blue, coral, pink & maroon. Some of the fabrics in the below picture turned out to be not so suitable (specifically the dark blues and purples- if you choose to use blue or purple, please make sure it's bright and will contrast well with black!)

Pressing

Please press to one side (if you can stomach it). It's just my preference. Thank you!

Go Forth and Create...

...If you feel inspired. If you're not sure what you want to do and could use some ideas, scroll to the bottom where I've listed tons of free theme-y patterns and tutorials. If you hate this open-ended stuff, keep reading and make one of the blocks from my two tutorials below.

Tutorials

Now for those of you who prefer to not be given free reign and would like to just be told exactly what to do I have written up a couple of simple star block tutorials. I envision lots of stars in this quilt, so stars of all sorts are welcome.

OPTION ONE – FRIENDSHIP STAR

This is just a nine-patch with a few Half Square Triangles (HSTs).

Cutting:

	FINISHED SIZE
SQUARES	3” Block	4.5” Block	6” Block	7.5” Block
BLACK background	(4) 1.5” (2) 1 7/8”	(4) 2” (2) 2 3/8”	(4) 2.5” (2) 2 7/8”	(4) 3” (2) 3 3/8”
COLOR or WHITE	(1) 1.5” (2) 1 7/8”	(1) 2” (2) 2 3/8”	(1) 2.5” (2) 2 7/8”	(1) 3” (2) 3 3/8”

 These instructions use the traditional method of making HSTs, but many stars use multiples of four, so the 4-at-a-time technique where you sew all the way around the square and then cut on both diagonals or the 8-at-a-time method that I’ve personally never tried may be more your speed. You can also make the HST Squares 1/8” larger and just trim more if you don’t mind the waste. My favorite method is to use the essential triangle tool by Bonnie Hunter. Use whatever method you’re comfortable with!

Make the HSTs:

Put two squares right sides together. Draw a line from corner to corner. Or be super rebellious like me and just lop those babies in half and risk bias stretching when you sew them. I hate taking my seam guide off my machine if I don’t have to.

 

 

If you prefer to follow the “rules” go ahead and sew ¼” from the line on each side of the square and THEN cut on the line. Please press to the dark side. It is the only way you can save your friends. Apologies go out to all of the open-seam supporters and anyone who doesn’t like Star Wars.

Trim to the appropriate size, which is the same size as the plain square blocks.

Lay out the squares and HSTs and then sew into rows. Please press toward the squares (away from the HSTs).

Sew the rows together with nesting seams. Please press away from the center.

 

Voilà!

 

OPTION TWO – OHIO STAR

This is just like the friendship star, but with Quarter Square Triangles (QSTs) aka Hourglass units instead of HSTs.

Cutting:

	FINISHED SIZE
SQUARES	4.5” Block	6” Block	7.5” Block	9” Block
BLACK background	(4) 2” (1) 2 7/8”	(4) 2.5” (1) 3 3/8”	(4) 3” (1) 3 7/8”	(4) 3.5” (1) 4 3/8”
COLOR A	(1) 2”	(1) 2.5”	(1) 2.5”	(1) 3.5”
COLOR B	(1) 2 7/8”	(1) 3 3/8”	(1) 3 7/8”	(1) 4 3/8”
COLOR C	(2) 2 7/8”	(2) 3 3/8”	(2) 3 7/8”	(2) 4 3/8”

See my spiel on HSTs (also relevant for QSTs) in the option 1 tutorial.

Make the HSTs:

Follow the method listed above in Option 1. You should be pairing a black background square with a C Square and a B square with a C square. 

Press toward COLOR C or away from Color C, just be consistent with all of them. In this case I pressed AWAY from Color C.

Put two HSTs right sides together. So that the seams nest and Color C triangles are opposite each other. 

Again draw a line from corner to corner, perpedicular to the seam. Sew ¼” from the line on each side of the square and then cut on the line. Or be rebellious 😉. Please press towards the side with the black background triangle or be fancy and spin the seam. Trim to the appropriate size, which is the same size as Color A squares.

Lay out the squares and QSTs and then sew into rows. Please press toward the squares (away from the QSTs).

Join the rows together by nesting the seams. Please press away from the center.

 

Fin!

Free Patterns/Tutorials

For those of you who are down with this challenge, but have NO idea where to start (I get it, I’m super indecisive myself), below are some FREE patterns for star blocks and theme-y stuff that might inspire you:

If you fancy STARS:

•         Fast Flying Geese Sawtooth Star by Amy Smart @ Diary of a Quilter https://www.diaryofaquilter.com/fast-flying-geese-sawtooth-star/
• Tiny Wonky Star by Emedoodle of Mommy’s Nap Time http://mommysnaptime.blogspot.com/2011/02/tutorial-tiny-wonky-stars.html
• Bright Hopes Star Blocks by Fresh Lemon Quilts https://www.freshlemonsquilts.com/journal/solstice-stars-series-another-star
• Double Option Stars by Melanie Rudy @ Quilters Enjoy Color http://quiltersenjoycolor.blogspot.com/2013/09/double-option-stars.html
• Scrappy Rainbow Star by Melissa Corry of Happy Quilting http://www.happyquiltingmelissa.com/2012/12/scrappy-rainbow-star-tutorial.html
• Sun Block from APQS https://www.apqs.com/free-quilt-pattern-sunrise/
• Rocket Star Block by Sherry at Powered by Quilting https://poweredbyquilting.com/2019/05/03/rocket-star-quilt-block/
• So many star blocks here: https://www.generations-quilt-patterns.com/star-quilt-block-patterns.html#Blocks
• Several star blocks here @ Piece N Quilt https://www.pieceandquilt.com/2015/05/30-days-of-sewing-quilt-blocks-star.html
• Wombat Quilts has a TON of free FPP star patterns here and they are all SOOOO cool: https://wombatquilts.com/free-paper-piecing-patterns/

If you’re partial to PLANETS / MOONS:

•         Scrappy Drunkards Path by Center Street Quilts https://www.centerstreetquilts.com/drunkards-path-scrappy-circles-quilt-with-free-tutorial/
• Simple Circles by Andy @ A Bright Corner http://www.abrightcorner.com/2017/07/simple-circles-quilt-coming-up-roses.html
• Circles & Half Moons Afire by The Quilter’s Planner https://quiltersplanner.com/how-to-piece-circles-free-half-moons-afire-quilting-pattern/
• Full Circles from Yvonne @ Quilting Jet Girl https://quiltingjetgirl.com/2016/02/09/sewing-full-circles-tutorial/
• Dance With Me Applique from Quilting Daily https://www.quiltingdaily.com/quilt/dance-with-me-free-circle-applique-quilt-block-quilt/
• Improv Circles from She Can Quilt https://www.shecanquilt.ca/2017/01/improv-circles-2016-fal-tutorial.html
• Eclipse by AGF https://www.fatquartershop.com/eclipse-quilt-free-pdf-pattern

If you’re fond of SHIPS and STATIONS:

•         Star Wars ship/deathstar FPP patterns by Quiet Play – I especially love the geometric versions. https://payhip.com/b/YFVv
• Fandom in Stitches has some neat FPP Star Wars ships/stations if you scroll down a bit http://www.fandominstitches.com/2010/03/star-wars.html
• UFO Block by Monica Curry https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WOVjsMWPhip8ndUMTRoy5gt960zMqy4L/view
• FPP Rocket over at Handicrafty Sisters http://handicraftysisters.blogspot.com/2011/06/paper-pieced-rocket.html

If you’re a fan of other SPACE-Y THINGS:

•         Comet from Ruby Star Society (This is obviously way too big so you’d have to be comfortable scaling down and cropping) https://www.fatquartershop.com/comet-quilt-free-pdf-pattern
• Some cool blocks here that can fit the theme: https://quiltinspiration.blogspot.com/2022/09/free-pattern-day-rainbow-quilts.html
• This twisted log cabin looks pretty complicated if anyone is up for a challenge https://www.quiltingboard.com/tutorials-f10/twisted-log-cabin-t81954.html
• Snail Trail Block from FQS https://www.fatquartershop.com/snail-trail-quilt-block-free-pattern
• This Tula pattern is neat (One of the body portions, not the head) https://www.fatquartershop.com/serpentine-quilt-free-pdf-pattern
• Spiral Flying Geese https://www.freequiltpatterns.info/free-tutorial---spiral-geese-mini-quilt-by-janice-zeller.htm
  

Bonus Content

And finally, if you're still with me, while searching for all those tutorials above I found this cool article for about Karen Nyberg: http://quiltingdigest.com/one-of-these-blocks-was-made-on-the-space-station/

More about retired Astronaut / Artist Karen Nyburg: https://karennyberg.com/artist/

THANK YOU ALL, I AM SO EXCITED FOR ALL THE HAPPY MAIL!

💚 BONNIE aka @gingerbreaddscraps

 Hive 5 Tutorial for June 2025 - Curvy Quilt from Strips

The Curvy Quilt from Strips by Carol A Thelen was on my list for last year’s StashBee but I went with a choose your own adventure block instead.  You will make this block from 2 contrasting light and dark fabrics.  You can choose any two color combination of solids or a blender that reads as solid.  This will create 2 10.5” finished blocks.  I am going to use the all mixed up layout, so you do not need to send both blocks to me, although I will use whatever you send.  I hope these blocks will be fun!

You will start with two 14” squares of fabric.

From each fabric you will cut the following strips:

2 @ 1” x 14”

1 @ 1.5” x 14”

1 @ 2” x 14”

1 @ 3” x 14”

1 @ 4.5” x 14”

You will then make two piles of the strips.  One will start with the light fabric and the second will start with the dark fabric.

To keep them in the correct order, I put into two piles and sewed them together in this order.

To help the strips to nest together, press to the darker fabric.

The blocks should measure approximately 10.5”.  Trim off the edge and you will then cut the same strips as above out of the sewn together block.

2 @ 1” x 10.5”

1 @ 1.5” x 10.5”

1 @ 2” x 10.5”

1 @ 3” x 10.5”

1 @ 4.5” x 10.5”

You will make alternating piles as you did above with one pile starting with the dark fabric and one pile starting with the light fabric.

You will sew the pieces together starting with the two 1” strips and ending with the 4.5” strip as before.  The seams should nest if pressed to the dark.

You should have two finished blocks as shown below.  Press the blocks to the largest dark blocks.  Do not worry if the strips, especially the 1” strips are a little wonky.  You don’t need to trim it at this point.  

Once the various blocks are put together, it will create a curved look.

There is a video available at this link:  https://quilt-notes.blogspot.com/2022/01/how-to-make-curvy-quilt-from-strips.html?m=1

Please let me know if you have any questions.  Thanks!

Amanda Peariso

Hive 1 June 2025 tutorial - Economy blocks for Nicole

 It's the beginning of summer and kids are out of school and maybe you need something a little simple to keep you from going out of your mind. I'm here for you, fam. Let's keep it simple and help me finish up this economy block quilt that I got started from a different swap. 

I'm looking for (4) 6.5" unfinished economy blocks from each person. The color palette is ROYGBIV. The brighter and wilder, the better. Break out your licensed fabric, those silly vegetable patterns, animals, show me what you got. Holiday fabric? Fine! Just pick a good image that you can fussy cut a fun center square.

Please no plain white, religious, baby, or Americana fabric from your stash for this one. And I'd prefer no florals or repeating patterns (like stripes or polka dots) for your center fussy cuts.

A sampling of my finished blocks:

I know there's several ways to do economy blocks and I'm not going to pick one for you. If you have a particular way you like to do these, knock yourself out. I'm not the boss of you.

I'm also not picky about how you press. Do what feels right. 

If you like traditional piecing, Diary of a Quilter has great step by step instructions and cutting requirements: https://www.diaryofaquilter.com/economy-quilt-block-tutorial-and-inspiration/

 If you want to FPP, Threadbare Quilts provides templates for FPP if that's your jam: https://threadbarecreations.blogspot.com/2020/09/classic-quilt-blocks-economy-block_11.html

I made myself a fancy little cardboard template to make sure I was fussy cutting and getting my image visible. I liked that I got that preview.

I'm a traditional piecing kinda girl so

Cut 1 set for each 6.5" unfinished block: 

(1) 3.5" fussy cut center square

(2) 3.25" squares - cut on the diagonal for 4 triangles

(2) 4.25" squares - cut on the diagonal for 4 triangles

Center the long edge of two of the smaller triangles on opposite sides of the center square and sew in place using a ¼" seam. Press, trim if needed. Then repeat for the remaining 2 sides. Helpful tip: to make sure the that your triangles are centered, fold the long edge in half and make a little crease with your finger nails at the center. Do the same on all four sides of the center square. Match up crease marks to easily center the triangle.

Repeat the same process with the final 4 triangles, sewing two sides, pressing toward the outside, sew remaining 2 triangles, press.

Can't wait to see what you come up with. Thanks for sewing with me. 

Nicole

Hive 2 - June - square in squares

Happy June!  So.  Two years ago I had my hive do this same block with green and yellow.  Several people commented about how it looked like Notre Dame colors, and I just couldn't get that out of my head.  I have no feelings either way for Notre Dame (although I was born there while my dad was attending graduate school), but didn't want my quilt to scream it.

After debating for two years as to what to do, I finally decided: we'll make more blocks with different colors!  This was supposed to be my yellow quilt, so we'll stick with yellow and change the green to a different color.

Fabrics

For the fabrics, before we get into the specific colors, there are some guidelines.  Please stay away from novelty prints.  It turns out I have a different definition of novelty prints as others, but to me a novelty print includes something man-made.  Suns, flowers, leaves, hearts, geometrics are not novelty prints.  I love solids and would be happy to have you include them.  Batiks are also fine.

Yellow: please choose bright yellows.  Slightly mustardy is ok, but try to stay away from the brown-yellows.  Please try to choose something mostly yellow or with white accents, staying away from other colors. 

Other color: please choose a red, orange, or blue.  If you choose orange, please make sure there is sufficient contrast between the yellow and orange.  Please choose something that reads your color of choice.

Cutting

When there is a repeat color in the block (red in the left block below and yellow in the right block below) you can either use the same fabric or different fabrics.  In the example I did one of each.  The means that yellow 2 and yellow 3 may be the same fabric and green 2 and green 3 may be the same fabric, but they can also be different fabrics.

Yellow 1:  (2) 2"x3.5", (2) 2"x6.5"
Yellow 2: (1) 3.5"x3.5"
Yellow 3: (2) 2"x6.5", (2) 2"x9.5"

Red/Orange/Blue 1:  (2) 2"x3.5", (2) 2"x6.5"
Red/Orange/Blue 2: (1) 3.5"x3.5"
Red/Orange/Blue 3: (2) 2"x6.5", (2) 2"x9.5"

Sewing

Layout the pieces like the first picture below and sew together like a log cabin as shown in the second picture below.  After the middle square is attached, the block should be 6.5" square.  After the last square is attached it should be 9.5" square.

I'll leave the ironing to your discretion.  If possible press towards the dark fabric, but if that makes some intersections too bulky than you can press toward the light fabric.  

Please do not sew the two blocks together.

Here are the green ones I already have:

Hive 6: Split Star

One of the other members of my hive this year told us about the Fabric 406 blog. It has lots of free quilt block tutorials. This month, we will be making their 12.5 in. Split Star block.

Fabric Requirements: Style

• Patterns: Geometric print fabrics. Bonus points if you have something resembling abstract nature, i.e. topographic lines, cartography, marble, non-cartoony insects, etc.

• Do not include novelty, holiday, object, animal, or floral prints

• Colors:

• Dark Half: Muted shades of blue, green, or purple. Imagine a coastal grandma with some pastel goth flair.

• Light Half: solid white, white on white, or whites with a bit of colored print. Please use true white, no cream or tan.

• Note: a geometric print is more important to me than an exact color or tone match. Please use what you have. Talk to me if you have any doubts.

Fabric Requirements: Piecing

• From both Dark and Light fabrics, cut the following:

• (1) 7 in square

• (1) 4 in square

• (5) 3.5 in square

• (2) 3.5 x 6.5 in rectangle

Assembly

1. Half square triangles

1. Use both Light and Dark 7 in squares. Draw a diagonal line down the wrong side of one square. Place the two squares right sides together. Sew a ¼ seam on both sides of the line. Cut along the line. Trim each half to 6.5 in. Press seams open. You will only use one of these HSTs in this block, but please send me the other half.

2. Use both Light and Dark 4 in squares. Repeat step 1.a. Trim to 3.5 in. Press seams open. You will use both HSTs.

2. Flying Geese Units

1. Each pair of flying geese will be opposites. One pair will use Dark rectangles with Light squares. The other pair will use Light rectangles with Dark squares. These sections are tight. Use a scant seam or cut slightly bigger for more breathing room.

2. Draw a diagonal line down the wrong side of (4) 3.5 in squares. Place a 3.5 in square on one side of a 3.5 x 6.5 in rectangle in the opposite color where the diagonal line goes from top center of the rectangle to bottom corner, right sides together. Sew a seam on the diagonal line. Trim the outer edge ¼ in from the seam. Press seams open. 

3. Repeat step 2.b. on the other side of the rectangle, still ensuring that the diagonal line goes from the top center of the rectangle to the bottom corner.

4. Trim to 3.5 x 6.5 in. Be careful to keep ¼ in on top of the triangle point so we don't lose that point in the seam.

5. Repeat steps 2.b-d. until you have four sets of flying geese: two dark-light and two light-dark.

3. Lay out and assemble like a nine-patch. Nest seams for easier alignment.

4. This block should be 12.5 in sq. Please send the finished block and the spare 6.5 in HST.