Hive 1 - February, 2026 Knee Bend Block for Rita

Hello Hive 1:

The weather in Kentucky is certainly conducive to sewing these days.  The farm is blanketed with snow and COLD.  Here’s my block for February:

Jane

Hive 2 Tutorial for February: modified disappearing nine patch

This month we're going to make a modified disappearing nine patch block.  We'll be using mostly whites, greys, and blacks with a splash of color.

Fabric

Ideally, you would use all solids.  I really love solid quilts.  If you don't have enough solids, try to use fabric with as little obvious print as possible.

Colors: choose at least two (although ideally four to eight) colors in the white-grey-black spectrum.  Also choose one color to add a pop of color to the block.  For the color, think jewel tones.  Please no pinks, pastels, or darker hues.  I have plenty of solids, so I found eight different hues but you really don't need that many.  Cut at total of 9 squares that are all 4.5" x 4.5".

After cutting, split the eight white-grey-black squares in two groups - light and dark.  Take what you have and split them as you think best, even if they're really all on the dark side or all on the light side.  You'll need either 1) three light squares and five dark squares, 2) four light squares and four dark squares, or 3) five light squares and three dark squares.  I split mine as four by four.

Arrangement

Depending on which grouping you decided on above (1, 2, or 3), the arrangement will be slightly different...

If you chose option number 1 above (three light squares and five dark squares), arrange them so that the five dark squares are in the center and corners.  Put the three light squares and the colored square on the sides.

If you chose number 2 above (four and four) the colored square will be in a corner (or center) and put one group on the sides and one group in the other corners/center.

If you chose number three above (five light and three dark), put the light squares in the corners and center.  Put the three dark squares and the colored square on the sides.

Sewing

Sew as a standard nine patch: sew the rows together, press as desired so that the seams nest when you sew the rows together, and then sew the rows together.

Cut the nine patch as shown below.  The location of the colored block does not matter.  Make two cuts around one seam, 1 3/4" on either side.

Take the middle strip out and rotate 180 degrees and put it on the opposite side of the widest strip.  Sew the pieces back together.  I found it helpful to re-iron some of the seams so that you can nest the seams easily.  

Press the last seams as desired.  The final size of the block will be 12.5" x 11.5".

Hive 4 Tutorial for February - Log Cabins for Sarah

Hi everyone! This month I’m asking for a Log Cabin block. My mom had a blue log cabin quilt that I always loved as a kid and I thought it would be nice to make one of my own, with your help! 

 

Preferred Color Palette:

I’m hoping for darker fabrics that are blue(ish) - all medium/dark shades of blue, teal, violet and lighter fabrics (white, off white, tan, light blue, light gray, beige, etc.). You’ll need a square and 6 rectangles of the darker fabric and 6 rectangles of the lighter fabric - they can all be different, or you can repeat fabrics. Solids, prints, batiks are all fine. I’d like to avoid anything with words if possible, as well as anything juvenile/licensed and holiday related. Here are fabrics I pulled and considered for my sample blocks.

Dark:

Light:

Something along these general lines, but feel free to add violet, some more medium toned blue/teal/violet, some pale grays/pale blues…

Cutting Instructions

Light Fabrics

1 rectangle - 2 inches by 3.5 inches (B)  

1 rectangle - 2 inches by 5 inches (C)

1 rectangle - 2 inches by 6.5 inches (F)

1 rectangle - 2 inches by 8 inches (G)

1 rectangle - 2 inches by 9.5 inches (J)

1 rectangle - 2 inches by 11 inches (K)

Dark Fabrics

1 square - 3.5 inches by 3.5 inches (A)

1 rectangle - 2 inches by 5 inches (D)

1 rectangle - 2 inches by 6.5 inches (E)

1 rectangle - 2 inches by 8 inches (H)

1 rectangle - 2 inches by 9.5 inches (I)

1 rectangle - 2 inches by 11 inches (L)

1 rectangle - 2 inches by 12.5 inches (M)

 

I did this late at night, so some of the colors in my photos below are off, but the construction should be easy enough to see.

Take the blue square (A) and sew the 2x3.5” white rectangle (B) to the top of it. Then sew the 2x5” rectangle (C) to the left side of the AB unit. 

Add the blue 2x5” rectangle (D) to the bottom of the ABC unit, then the blue 2x6.5 rectangle (E) to the right side. Continue sewing the strips on to the center unit in alphabetical order/by their increasing size. It helped me to lay the block out and sew around in a counter clockwise direction. I pressed all seams away from the center unit, but please feel free to press in whichever direction you prefer! I found some handy instructions and diagrams on the Threadbare Creations blog and on the Polka Dot Chair blog. They are both making a 12” finished (12.5” unfinished) block as well, so their cutting instructions should match mine if you prefer to follow either of their tutorials.

 

 

The blocks should be 12.5 inches square when you’re done. I’ll give a final trim when I get them, so no need to worry about that.

 

 

Let me know if you have any questions! I’m excited to see how they all come together. 

Thank you!

Sarah 

Hive 1 January 2026 Tree Blocks for Alanna

 

Coming in under the wire with my Tree Blocks for Alanna.  These blocks were familiar to me, because I made a Christmas quilt a few years ago using the same improv technique:

Happy Forest/Holiday/Christmas Alanna! 

Hive 1 - February Tutorial - Knee-Bend Block for Rita

Hi my lovely Bees!

This month I'm asking for a 'Knee-Bend' Block. I'm sure this has been done before, and I didn't really invent it, but below my take on a traditional tutorial for this.

However, if you prefer to use FPP for this, let me know, and I'll send you a PDF with the FPP pattern for this.

Block Size:

The Block should end up 10" square finished,
which means, it'll be 10 ½” square including Seam Allowance.

Fabric Choice:

My colour inspiration for this is the whole of the colour wheel!
                 Plus either Black or White.

• Colour A) either Black or White, preferably solid, black-on-black or white-on-white is okay

• Colour B) Background:  Choose one Colour from the Colour Wheel

        Any medium colour, all the same, solid or small blender – to read as one colour

Cut:

Colour A) = Black or White:

• One 3 ½” x 4 ½” Rectangle

• One 4 ½” x 7 ½” Rectangle

Colour B) (Background = Colour of your choosing):

• Two 3 ½” x 3 ½” Squares

• One 3 ½” x 7 ½” Rectangle

• One 3 ½” x 10 ½” Rectangle

Piecing:

Use a 1/4" Seam Allowance throughout.

1)    Take the Black/or/White 4 ½” x 7 ½” Rectangle and one of the 3 ½” Background Squares.

Mark a diagonal line on the back of the Background square. Place it (right sides facing) on the Rectangle as shown in the photo below and sew along the marked line. Trim the corner off, to keep a 1/4" seam allowance, then press the seam open or to the side (as you please).

2)    Sew the remaining 3 ½” Background Square right sides together to one of the short sides of the 3 ½” x 4 ½” Black/or/White Rectangle. Press.

3)     Lay the sewn pieces and the remaining Background rectangles out like shown in the below picture and sew the Black/or/White Rectangle with the Background corner to the 3 ½” x 7 ½” Background Rectangle on the long side. Press.

4)    Then sew the resulting piece from step 3) to the piece from step 2) as shown in the picture below. Press.

5)    Finally sew the remaining 3 ½” x 10 ½” Background Rectangle to the side with the 'Corner' as shown in the picture below. Press.

And there you have it! The finished 'Knee-Bend' Block.

 

Hive 3 February Tutorial

Hi All

In America, July 4, 2026, is the 250^th Anniversary of the United States and I’m using that as the inspiration for my block.  I’ve chosen a block that can be done in Red/White/Blue and that I’ll probably either complete as a veteran charity quilt or possibly a picnic style quilt for our July 4^th activities. 

Use the Chain Mail Block Tutorial with my fabric/color and modified cutting instructions or you can follow my basic instructions below.

Here is a pic of the final block.  

Here is a pic of my fabric pull.  Please NO SOLIDS, no batiks, no character or juvenile prints. The white is a low volume that is mostly white with some blue or red and if you don't have that, a white on white.  Some of the low volumes will lean towards cream and this needs to be white.  The Reds are true reds or can lean to orange red. The Blues are darker medium blues and can be lighter navy but please stay away from real dark navy that reads more black.

 

White 2x2 blocks are for the blue and white 4 patches.

Lighter Red 2x2 blocks are for the center (pattern is white) and the outer corners (pattern is peach).

Rather than follow the tutorial specifically, this block is straightforward enough that I just laid out my pieces and then sewed them together.

 

 

Coaching:

If using white on white - be sure to check which is the right side.

For the blue and white blocks - check your orientations to ensure the 4 patches continue the diagonal design.

Chain piecing works well for many of the blocks, just be sure to put them back into their correct orientation.

Be sure to watch your 1/4' seams and measure your final block at 12.5" square - do not trim.  If not the right size, your seams need to be adjusted.

Pressing to dark side for 4 patches allows for nesting seams.  Other seams you may want to do open or whatever your own preference is to ensure a nice flat block.

I hope this all makes sense and I look forward to getting your blocks.  Any questions, just post in the Instagram chat.  I’m there a few times a day and check for messages.

 

Lisa…

Hive 1 January trees for Alanna

 

What a fun block! I couldn't get any decent lighting in my house at the hour I was sewing--they are true to your color scheme in real life. 

I haven't made any christmas quilts, though I've have ideas for a few! I did make some stockings a few years ago. I was especially happy with this one. 

-Julia

Christmas Tree Block for Alanna

Hello Hive 1!  

I love this block - it was so fun to make.  

I couldn’t find photos of all the Christmas/Winter themed quilts I’ve made, but here are a few table runners:

Jane

Hive 1 Christmas Tree block for Alanna

 I love your color scheme for this one, Alanna! I hope these trees fit your vision. They were dropped in the mailbox today and I hope will get to you soon. 

Hive 1 Christmas Tree block for Alanna

 Hello Hive One! 

I sent these blocks off in the mail last week, and I hope Alanna received them well. I went for a Kelly green and bright red. 

I know Alanna asked for a picture of our own holiday quilts, but I have never made one! I leave you instead with a couple of cute pillows I made 2-3 years ago.