I wanted to give this block a try, so made one for Alanna.
Gayle from Hive 2
Sunday, May 15, 2022
Saturday, May 7, 2022
Hive 1 - Morrocan Tile Block for Rita
Hi Rita!
Thanks for the fun block this month! I think the quilt will be a great addition to the chaise. I agree with Marie about the XX album. Great music to piece together all the blocks :) xoxo, Nicole
Crashing Hive 5 for Alanna
Hi Alanna, Congratulations on your baby girl!👧 I could not resist sending you this flower for the occasion. Your pattern reminded me of the good old days when we lived in Ottawa. At this time of year, the tulips are beautiful for the Canadian Tulip Festival:). Have fun working on this quilt! Marie (crashing from Hive 1)
Moroccan Block for Rita
Hello my friend! Here are my identical blocks for you, in plain black and white fabric. They are now deconstructed because I am still thinking on how to best send them to you so it feels like a B'day card and not a package. This quilt will be spectacular in your living room. For more of a lounge ambiance, you may want to play Intro by The xx , it has the similar white on black symbol. Take care, Marie
Sunday, May 1, 2022
Hive 5 - May Tutorial - Tulip Block for Alanna
As you may know, I just had a baby girl!
On principle, I don't believe in gendered colours or imagery (my son can wear clothes that are pink and have flowers too), but the reality is I am so excited by all the "girlie" stuff, especially all things floral!
My sister is also due with a baby girl in May. And apparently it's also spring time (though it is hard to tell up here in Northern British Columbia- we had fresh snow this week!). So I was inspired to make a bright, girlie, spring-time, floral quilt.
So for this month's block, I am requesting a Pink or Yellow Tulip block!
Pattern Credits:I have written up the tutorial for 1 tulip block, based on a combination of two very similar free patterns:
Missouri star quilt co’s “Totally Tulip” quilt pattern.
Here is their video tutorial - she makes 1 block but the cutting information is based on making the whole quilt so I adjusted the cutting instructions for 1 block.
2) Cloud 9’s “Amsterdam” quilt pattern.
https://cloud9fabrics.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/AmsterdamQuilt.pdf
Fabric:
For this block you will need 6 different fabrics- 3 for the tulip "petals"; 2 for the stem and leaves; and a background. See the table for the colours needed.
Please choose modern, bright fabrics. No muted tones
Here are some photos of my fabric pull from my own stash:
Cutting:
Note, I have provided cutting instructions for the leaves based on the 2 at a time HST method. You will have to adjust the cutting dimensions if you want to do the 4 at a time method (if you make two blocks, you could also do the 8 at a time method).
Sewing:
Tulip petal portion:
Sew a “snowball” corner to each of the two 5” pink/yellow squares:
Finger press your 2.5” background squares on the diagonal.
Place the 2.5” background square right sides together in the corner of the pink/yellow square
Sew along the finger-pressed diagonal line going
Trim ¼” from the sewn line
Press towards the pink/yellow
Note: If you are using directional fabric, pay attention to which corner you are “snow-balling”, based on the arrangement in which you intend to sew two yellow/pink squares together
Sew two “snowball” corners to the bottom of the pink/yellow rectangle
Finger press your 2.5” background squares on the diagonal.
Place the 2.5” background square right sides together on each of the bottom corners of the pink/yellow rectangle
Sew along the finger-pressed diagonal line going
Trim ¼” from the sewn line
Press towards the pink/yellow
Assemble the tulip, and sew together
Sew together the top two squares so the snowball corners touch together on the inside; press open
Sew the top unit to the bottom rectangle
Press the last seam open, or towards the rectangle
Lead & Stem portion:
Make 4 HSTs using the Traditional (2 HSTs at a time) method:
Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of each of the 5” background squares
Place one 5” background square on top of one 5” green square, right sides together
Sew ¼” away from either side of the diagonal line
Cut along the drawn diagonal line
Open up the HST units and press towards the green
Trim the HSTs to 4.5” square
Repeat with the other set to make four green/white HSTs total
Assemble and sew the leaves together
Sew two HSTs together so the leaf points to the left, and sew two HSTs together so the leaf points to the right
Press open
Add the stem between the leaves
Sew the gray stem in between the two leaf units
Press towards the stem
Combine tulip petals with stem and leaves
Line up the center of the gray stem with the center of the tulip unit, and sew together
Press open
The finished block will be rectangular, and measure 17.5” x 9.5”
Thank you!
~Alanna
Hive 4 - May Tutorial - GEESE MIGRATION
Hi Everyone-
This is my 2nd year with Stash Bee. Last year's scrappy quilt was donated to a hospice, but this year I may keep the quilt for myself.
I love scrappy quilts and using my stash. I sort my scraps by color and really like to pull fabrics from one color bin and make a scrappy block. This month's block "Geese Migration" was designed by Cynthia Brunz and she has graciously given her permission for me to share it.
The block is a combination a 15-patch rectangle, combined with 5 flying geese units. Lot of opportunity to use up some scraps. If you dislike sewing flying geese, I will be more than happy with a 15 block patchwork rectangle.
Color Scheme: Choose one color (teal, green, red, yellow, navy, pink, blue, purple, red, or orange). I'm looking for bright, rainbow colors No batiks or neon please. As long as the colors coordinate, it will be fine. I chose gray for the tutorial. It's fine to use more than one print within the block. For the solid color, please use a solid or as close to a solid as you can get.
Fabric Requirements:
Chain piece the 2.5" print squares in three rows.
Sew the three rows together to form block. This block should measure 10.5" x 6.5". Set aside. If you dislike flying geese, you can stop here and and just send me the patchwork block.
Next, we move on the Flying Geese Blocks. There are a number of ways to make a flying geese block, so you can use the one you are most comfortable with. I've included two options for the Flying Geese, a more traditional method or paper piecing.
TRADITIONAL METHOD:
Take the solid 2.5" square blocks and draw a diagonal through each block. Place marked block on 2.5" x 4.5" rectangle. Sew on marked line.
Cut 1/4" from the sewn line. Press.
Repeat with opposite side. Press. Finished block should measure 2.5" x 4.5". Repeat for 4 additional blocks.
Sew the five flying geese together. Block should measure 4.5" by 10.5"
I prefer to paper piece them as you get the greatest accuracy, but you don't need to. Here is a link by Fresh Lemon Quilts which will give you a perfect 2" x 4" (finished) flying geese unit. http://static1.squarespace.com/static/5beb7cf40dbda38a9f77c30c/5bee0bfcae1f690159b60394/5bee2a66ae1f690159ba2db0/1542335078349/4-x-2-finished.pdf?format=original.
I used paper piecing for this red block. I thought it was much easier and definitely more accurate!
If you do opt for paper piecing, I used a 3" x 5" block for piece 1 (refer to link noted). I cut a 3.5" square diagonally for pieces 2 and 3. Easy peasy!
Here are a few more that I've sewn. Bright and happy rainbow colors. Blocks are going to be set on point with a sashing.
I hope you have fun with this block!
Hive 3 - May Tutorial - Bridges and Flyovers.
Hello all Worker bees and Queen bees. Yay, its already May 2022. That means its my turn to be the Queen Bee in Hive 3.
All you have to do is decide which units you want to build and make sure that the math adds up to 12 1/2" unfinished. I’ve made a few examples to get your creative mojo going and I hope you will each make units that suit your fancy and sew them together into a 12.5" block.
My May Queen Bee block packs a dramatic punch while being super simple to construct and it’s oh so adaptable so everyone to put their own unique spin on it. I've named it "Bridges and Flyovers" because it is similar to the partial log cabin block called "Tunnels" but IMHO this one is so much more!! Take a look at a few of the units I've sewn together. This sample below is the equivalent of eight 12.5” blocks. Awesome right?
There are two units in the quilt block. One is called "Bridges" and the other is called "Flyovers".
BRIDGES
Each bridge unit is a partial log cabin block. You can choose to make it in any of the following sizes.
4.5" x 6.5" Bridge
For this Bridge, you will need
1) one 2.5” square of any solid fabric,
2) two 1.5 x 2.5" rectangles and one 1.5 x 4.5" rectangle of the same contrasting fabric;
3) two 1.5 x 3.5" rectangles and one 1.5 x 6.5" rectangle of a third contrasting colour.
You all know how to construct a partial log cabin block, but here is how I did it. First, sew a 1.5” x 2.5” rectangle to either side of the 2.5” square . Then sew the 1.5 x 4.5” rectangle to the top.Then sew the remaining rectangles to the sides and top to make the finished unit.
6.5" x 6.5" Bridge
You will need
1) 2.5" x 4.5" rectangle of any solid fabric
2) three 1.5" x 4.5" rectangles of a contrasting fabric
3) two 1.5" x 5.5” rectangles and one 1.5” x 6.5” rectangle of a third contrasting colour.
See above method for sewing everything together to make the 6.5” bridge.
FLYOVERS
Each Flyover unit is also a partial log cabin block. The thing that differentiates it from the Bridge unit is the strip(s) of black/white feature fabric that I've added somewhere.
It can be constructed in the following sizes.
6 1/2" x 6 1/2" Flyover
This unit requires
1) a 2.5" square of any solid fabric
2) a 1.5 x 2.5" rectangle of black/white feature fabric
3) two 1.5" x 3.5" rectangles and one 1.5" x 4.5" rectangle of the same contrasting fabric
4) a 1.5" x 4.5" rectangle of black/white feature fabric
5) two 1.5" x 5.5" rectangles and one 1.5" x 6.5" rectangles of a third contrasting fabric.
Alternate 6.5" x 6.5" Flyover
1) a solid 1.5" x 4.5" rectangle and a 1.5" x 4.5" black/white feature fabric.
2) three 1.5" x 4.5" rectangles of a second contrasting fabric.
3) two 1.5" x 5.5" rectangles and one 1.5" x 6.5" rectangle of a third contrasting fabric.
The construction method is the same as before. Start with the Center square or rectangle and sew the strips around it.
6.5” x 8.5” Flyover
I’ve made two versions of this unit also.
Version 1
1) a 2.5” x 5.5” rectangle of any bright solid
2) two 1.5” x 5.5” rectangles and one 1.5” x 4.5” rectangle of a second solid
3) a 1.5” x 4.5” rectangle of the back/white feature fabric
4) two 1.5” x 7.5” rectangles and a 1.5” x 6.5” rectangle of a third bright solid
Sew the 1.5 x 5.5” rectangles to both sides of the 2.5” x 5.5” center rectangle, and the 1.5” x 4.5” rectangle to the top. Then sew the 1.5” x 4.5” black black/white rectangle to the top of the first round. Finally sew the 1.5” x 7.5” rectangles to the sides and add the 1.5” x 6.5” rectangle to the top to complete this Flyover unit.
Alternate 6.5” x 8.5” Flyover
1) a 2.5” x 4.5” rectangle of any bright solid
2) three 1.5” x 4.5” rectangles of a second solid
3) two 1.5” x 4.5” rectangles of different back/white feature fabric
4) two 1.5” x 7.5” rectangles and a 1.5” x 6.5” rectangle of a third bright solid
Sew the 1.5 x 4.5” rectangles to both sides of the 2.5” x 4.5” center rectangle, and the last 1.5” x 4.5” rectangle to the top. Then sew the 1.5” x 4.5” black black/white rectangle together and then sew to the top of the first round. Finally sew the 1.5” x 7.5” rectangles to the sides and add the 1.5” x 6.5” rectangle to the top to complete this Flyover unit.
8.5” x 12.5” unfinished Flyover
4.5” x 7.5” Unfinished Flyover
4.5” x 5.5” unfinished Flyover
12.5” x 12.5” unfinished Flyover
a) one 6.5” Bridge unit; one 6.5” Flyover unit; one 6.5”x 8.5” Flyover unit and one 4.5” x 6.5” Bridge Unit
b) four 6.5” Bridge units
c) Three 6.5” Bridge units and one 6.5” Flyover unit
e) one 8.5” x 12.5” Flyover unit; one 7.5” x 4.5” Flyover unit and one 5.5” x 4.5” Flyover unit
f) one 12.5” x 12.5” Flyover unit.
As you can see, there are multiple combinations (many more than I’ve made samples of) that will end up in a 12.5” unfinished quilt block. Choose one of these, or make up your own. Feel free to mix and match Bridges and Flyovers. Its all good.
As far as colours go....solid fabrics only please.
Please use your stash of bright solids to build the Bridges and Flyovers - white and grey can make an occasional appearance too. Please don't use any solid blacks; otherwise the sky's the limit. Just make sure that there is lots of contrast so the bridges and flyovers really pop.
When building your Flyovers, please make sure the feature strip (black/white) reads as black and white or black with white. Steer clear of fabrics that read mostly white for these inserts. Here are some example feature fabrics that I chose for my test blocks.
All of the blocks are built using 1.5” or 2.5” strips of fabric. The centre is a 2.5” strip or square. For ease of construction I cut one 1.5” x WOF strip and one 2.5” x WOF strip of lotsa different colours and sub-cut into the correct sizes as I went along.
This is such a fun and simple block to sew. I am very eager to see what the finished blocks look like.
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