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 Tutorial for April - 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 5 Tutorial for April - Scrappy Star

 I want to make a new quilt for my youngest grandson.  I have asked him what colors he would like and my dear Jensen said red and white.   Seriously, I had suggested red and blue, but no, he repeated emphatically red and white. White for a boy who is 9??( which changed my whole idea of what block to choose. 

So I am going to choose something somewhat simple . I found this awesome video and pattern. 

Scrappy Star  

 ( Pattern and directions from Teresa Down Under) (FYI new pattern every week on youtube)

Finished size 12 1/2 inches 

Link of 3 minute video instructions:    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42I-0idw4_U

I am going to be rather detailed on instructions to give pointers. Please don't be offended if I include too much.  (I just thought it might be a teachable moment. )

Colors red prints for background   and white or white on white for center star.

Please no Christmas or girly prints; it is for a BOY

Cutting directions: 

White or white on white

 One  3 1/2 inch square  and                 Eight   2  inch squares

Red prints:   Can be red/white   even small flowers    Fabric pull  video shows more white.  

I am ok with some of them mixed in.

Four 5 inch squares   and                  Eight 2 by 5 inch rectangles

Lay out block to contrast fabrics and balance brights

Draw diagonal lines on the white small squares from corner to corner.  I used a washable pen, that didn't have much ink in it.  Where is my Frixion pen when I need it?

Lay white squares on center strips making sure to have alternate angles of drawn line on squares.

Mine are barely seen.

Sew just inside the diagonal line picking up one strip at a time and leaving in chain. ( So you don't lose the order. )  Press to half square and cut off excess on the back.

This is purely optional, but helpful.

Sew 2 center strips together matching the diagonal corner at the top.   Press open to avoid bulk at top of V.  ( I used something called a strip stick which really helps . It is a padded strip flat on the bottom, rounded on the top. They have new wool ones, but are more expensive.

)  

Notice I also have a wool mat that I cover in a scrap fabric and pin it on the sides.  It is easy to change it out and wash the cover as it gathers stains from my Best Press and threads. 

Lay block back out; fold column 2 onto column one and chain stitch leaving threads between sections.

This is called webbing and helps to keep things in place, not that I haven't turned around some.

Once this is sewn, lay back out and now fold column 3 onto column 2 and stitch together again chain piecing the 3 sections together.   ( Forgot picture for this step.)

Fold down and place  row 1 onto row 2.      Notice I pressed in the direction of the bulky seams;  for the center row that means towards the white square.   For rows  1 and 3 away from the center block because of the side seam of the diagonal white star point.  The 2 seams will nest together.  I pin with extra fine pins just before the intersection .  ( And you can tell the quilt police I sew over them, too :but very slowly.)  

 

Follow the same procedure for row 2 onto row 3. Clip webbing strings.

I pressed the rows open, but the columns to each side. ( This is for when I assemble the quilt.  

And it is finished: a 12 1/2 inch red and white scrappy star block.

Thanks for making a block for me.  

Any questions, let me know.