Hive #1

Here is your block KristyLou, July was not a good month in many ways but your block was one of the few things that was good. It took me awhile to find the grey fabric, I think it is a nice color but I find that the quilt shops around here are limited on solids. I have always thought they should carry more,  I made block 3 for you and I can't wait to see how it turns out. It will be in the mail Monday.

Amber's August Block for hive 4

Sorry this is posted from my mom's account I was having trouble getting my account to work.
I am using Kona white in the center with black and purple. I don't have a preference as to whether the black or purple is against the white. I am asking for one 12" block.
the center square is 4 1/2" the strips are 4 1/2" by 2 1/2" and the triangles are 4 3/4".

                                         This is showing all the pieces cut and arranged.

            Next you sew the black and purple triangles together and the black and purple strips together.

                                          Then sew the squares into rows as shown above.

                                            Then sew the rows together. I will square them up.

July Blocks for Hive #2 and #3

Summer has been busy!  I get my blocks done in plenty of time but getting them posted is another thing. In fact--they get to their destination way before the pictures get loaded and posted. So here they are :)

Hive #2

Hive #3

Now, on to August! :)

Hive 3 August blocks for Kelli

I have always wanted to tackle that elusive Dresden Fan quilts from days gone by. Then I saw this quilt on Pinterest and then this quilt on Pinterest. I knew that I wanted to make the Dresden with the stripes and movement that both of the quilts have. 

So ultimately, I would rather spend money on fabric than notions, so I chose to use the 15 degree mark on my ruler to make my fan blades. There are lots of tutorials to make dresdens. I really like this one, but I don't have the EZ Dresden ruler. So I am going to show how I made the dresdens without the Dresden ruler. If you have a Dresden ruler, by all means, use it. Cut all the fan blades to the 6.5" mark. Line up one stickie for the small end of the dresden where the width of the fan is 15/16" (that's half way in between the hash for an inch and the hash before the inch).

I started with a strip of Kona white fabric 6.5" wide, and line up the 15 degree mark on my 6"x24" ruler with the edge. To be honest, I held my breath and cut. Low and behold, it worked, so I added little post-its to help line up the top and bottom edges. Continue to flip the ruler back and forth until you have 48 blades cut, enough for 2 blocks.

I cut strips of fabric from two coordinating golds and a Kona Coal. Kona Coal and Nightfall are my new go-to darks. I love the simplicity that the deep grey and midnight blue adds. This is also a fat quarter friendly block! I love that!

Cut fabrics:

• 4" x 22" medium print
• 4" x 22" dark print
• 1" x 22" very dark solid
• 2.5" x 22" white
• 6.5" x 22" white

I really like the medium/dark or light/medium color combinations from the same color!

Sew the strips in the order of print, dark strip, and the white strip for a 6.5" wide finished strip.

The seams should be pressed toward the dark middle strip. Both strips are 22" long.

Starch is your friend, and it will help keep the super skinny dark strip in the middle nice and neat while cutting and piecing. I like Best Press and I'm not afraid to use it!

You should cut 12 blades from each strip, and 24 blades from two strips of white that is 6.5" x 22".

Sew a white blade to a patterned blade. Press the seams toward the patterned piece. 
Keep the sets with the white toward the center together and the white toward the outside together.   Sew the sets together, alternating a medium set with a dark set. Butting the seams will help to keep everything aligned!

Square up the circles by picking three blades, and cut straight across. Match the 45 degree mark on the cut and line up the next seam. Ideally the 45 degree mark will line up perfectly. Cut the next three blades. Continue around until you have a perfect octagon! The block should measure 14.5" x 14.5" across the middles.

Use a 5" square cut on the diagonal and sew on opposite sides to square up the block. Finish squaring up the block. Applique an octagon into the middle to finish them off.

15 degree Dresden template can be found here and a template for the octagon in the middle.  I would like to have the octagon hand stitched on.  If you don't want to do that, just remember to send it with your block, and I would be happy to stitch it on.

I am the Queen Bee for Hive 3 at the Stash Bee for the month of August! This is my choice for blocks. They are fairly simply and I was able to complete them in an evening and follow morning! Not too shabby. Although I think a EZ Dresden ruler will be in my future!

Hive 4 Block for Jess

Here are my 2 blocks Jess.

They were a challenge but I am happy about the turnout.

{except for one spot that I just could not fix :( }

I tried my best!

I hope they are going to be okay!

Sorry I was late and thanks for understanding!

They went out in the mail today, as promised.

Hive #3 - Look at what our blocks made!

Hello ladies!  Hope you're enjoying this summer - it's been a little too hot for me here in Texas (110 degrees at my house yesterday - blech!).  Anyhow, I thought I'd share what I was able to put together with the blocks I received for my month of May.  My original plan was a little more elaborate, but I got lazy and decided to use the KISS method - Keep It Simple Sister! 

I love how it turned out!  I wanted a lighter blanket for me, so I didn't even use batting in between.

I ended up not using the seven signature blocks (sorry ladies), but rather printed the label and included all the names of the lovely ladies that contributed blocks to me that month and framed it with some of the fabric scraps that were sent.

 

I'm looking forward to seeing what others have made with the blocks that they've received.  Please share with us if you have!

Take care,

Nancy D.

Hive #2, blocks for August

First let me say, I fell in love with this block, when Leila used it for her skill builder. It is a paper pieced block, but you could probably do it using the freezer paper pieced method, if you wish.
Faith, from Fresh Lemons,   ( you will find instructions and templates there!)  has kindly permitted me to use her block, but I have a couple of 'wrinkles' that I would like to suggest.

Please, I want you to make all four bits of the block,but not to sew them together! There are so many variations on a theme with this block, I want to play with them, and decide which ones I want which way round!

So you are still making one 12.5" unfinished block, but you really are not finishing it, but sending me the quarters! Is that ok? I do hope so.

and please, can you make strip 5 the same fabric in each!

Here are some inspiration pictures,  Sorry, I couldn't get the attributions to copy and make sense, these are all borrowed from the flickr group,  We can do it! Skill builder sampler, except number 6, which is Faiths very beautiful block.

I have a lot more on my blog about tips and wrinkles with this block- do not be daunted with it- get in touch if there is a problem, because very little is mega, enjoy this lovely block!




















So, this is what I have made for the sample, how I made it is on my blog!

Stained Glass Block for Kristy Lou

This will be in the mail tomorrow. It was a fun and easy block to make. 

P.S. For some reason my photo ended up a little blotchy. It looks good in person though. :)

I also just wanted to say how much I have enjoyed sewing with the ladies in Hive #1! 

This past month (July) will be my last month in the bee. I will be embarking on some exciting new changes in my personal life and I feel that it will be best for me to bow out now and allow another quilter to join the group. Thanks so much for letting me stitch along with you and best of luck with the fun months ahead!

Hive 3 Blocks for Jennifer

Happy Sunday.  July is winding down and here is a recap of the blocks that Jennifer has received and who still needs to send their block.

Blocks received:

Jackie, Lauren, Diane, Rachel, Debbie, Adriene, Nancy, Carolyn, and Julie

Please send your blocks:
Beth, Evelyn, Laura, Tara, Marija, Kat, Lana, and Christie

My block is above and will go into the mail on Monday.

As always, let me know if you need a block angel for you!

Kristi's block - Hive 1

Here's my block for you!