Hive 5 February Tutorial - "Sixteen"

Happy February Hive 5!

I love participating in Stash Bee. The connections and inspiration are a bright spot every month. My hive last year had many “choose your own adventure” tutorials. It was great fun and allowed so much creativity. I hope my new hive will enjoy this approach (and maybe even consider it as an option for their tutorials).

Karan Bolan created a collaborative quilt last year that she called “Sixteen.” You can see her quilt and read the story here. Notice the variety of colors and scale! There are a few that contain a different amount of blocks, and I love that variation too! 

This year, I’d like to create a collaborative version with you. You get to PLAY and make your own decisions. This should be super easy and quick.

Fabric

You get to make all the color decisions and decide the size (small, medium, large). 

Please choose two solids. (If you don’t have solids, find fabrics that read as solid from a distance.) It’s the contrast that will make your block sing, so please choose two colors with medium to high contrast. 

Here are a few ways you can play with colors:

• You can pull two colors that you like sitting next to each other from your stash or your scrap bin. 
• You can pull your color wheel and have fun making pairs using complementary colors.
• You can find a cool pairing by just looking for pieces that are about the same length in your stash or scrap bin. 
• You can choose a light and dark in the same color family.

Whichever you choose, please save a 2” x 5” piece of the lighter of the two fabrics for a label. (label directions below)

Construction

There are two approaches to block construction. 

• Use strips of the same width. 
• Or use strips of different widths (creates visual interest). 

Think of these width measurements as guidelines for three different sizes of blocks.

• minimum of 1.25” wide strips for a small block
• 2” - 2.75” wide strips for a medium block
• 3”-4” wide strips for a large block

I used slightly differently widths for each strip when constructing my sample.

You can even make a block with more than 16. Sometimes the fabric lets you create variations. Let the fabric tell you what to do.

Cut two strips approximately the same length. 

Sew the two strips together and press towards the dark.

Fold the two strip unit in half and cut along fold (fold is shown below the rotary cutter). Since none of these blocks need to have distinct final measurements, use every bit that you are able. 

Lay out the units so that the colors are alternating and sew those two together, continuing to press towards the dark.  

Fold that unit in half and cut on the fold again. 

Fold the remaining two units in half and cut. You will now have four repeating units of four strips with four blocks each.

Place them in an alternating sequence and sew together. 

 

Do Not Square Up! I want wonky . . . 

Label

I finally figured out a way to remember who created which block. Please use that 2” x 5” piece of the lighter of the two fabrics in your block to write your name and city. Leave .5” perimeter to allow for the seam allowances. I think I’ll have just as much fun assembling the labels on the back as I’ll have assembling the front. 

If you create more than one (which I do not expect no matter the size), please send a label for each block.

These are blocks that I’ve created so far. There’s not a lot of color variety at this point, which is why I will appreciate the colors from your stash. I’ve enjoyed experimenting and had fun adding two flying geese to one of the blocks and creating one that contained 32 squares. 

These can be addictive. 

Thank you very much for contributing to my quilt. Message me if you have any questions.

With much gratitude,

Cathleen

@KitchKouture