Hive 3 Tutorial for April - Modern Post Stamps

Hello, it’s Diane. I am happy to be the April Queen as it is my birthday month and most importantly it is spring. The trees already have some buds and the jonquilles are slowly blooming. It is smiling season. I am asking for a block that was inspired by Cathleen, a fellow Stash Bee Hive friend. After sewing her blocks in February, I played with her idea and developed a similar one. I hope it will be lots of fun. 

Fabric 

Please choose 6 different solid colors. Although all of my pictures show strips that are the width of fabric, you may use strips that are 22-30 inches long. You can piece together solid colors to create the longer strip. If you do piece your strip, please press the seams open.

Don’t try to match the colours to be pretty together. Unusual combinations of colours can be more fun. It is very interesting to see what “an ugly combination” means to a person. Overall it always looks amazing. Contrast is what will make this block amazing. Please choose 3 darks and 3 lights or mediums. Please also have those strip sets be different colors.

Cutting instructions: Strips can be cut from 1 1/2” to 3” wide by 22-30” long. The more irregularity in the width of the strips the better. Cut 3 strips in dark fabrics. Cut 3 strips in light / medium fabrics.

Sewing instructions

Step 1 

Sew two strips together lengthwise: dark + light/medium. Press to the dark.

Repeat two more times. This will give you 3 pairs.

Step 2 

If you have not done this before, I suggest trying it on some scrap strips first. And if you feel uncomfortable and want to skip Step 2, you may ship me the 3 strip sets you created in step 1. 

With right sides facing up, place 2 strip sets from Step 1 side by side. Make sure the dark and light/medium are alternating ex: dark/light + dark/medium. Then overlap the 2 strips by about 1/2” lengthwise. 

Using a rotary cutter (no ruler) to free hand cut gentle curves within the 1/2” overlap. Delicately remove the excess, making sure to not move the strips from their position. 

Take the strip on the right and gently flip it over the left one (now right sides together). With a 1/4” seam allowance, sew these 2 strips together. Press to the dark. You have now joined four strips.

Repeat using your final strip set. Lay the final set facing up to the left of your first join. Keep alternating the dark and light/medium. Overlap the strips by about 1/2” lengthwise. Using a rotary cutter, free hand cut gentle curves within the 1/2” overlap. Delicately remove the excess, making sure to not move the strips from their position. Take the strip on the right and gently flip it over the left one (now right sides together). With a 1/4” seam, sew that that long seam. Press to the dark.

You will get one long strip as above. Notice that all the strips have alternated between light and dark.  

You are done! No need to cut the ending, leave it as is. Et Voilà!!!! 

From these, I will sub-cut curves . . . yes I will slash them and reassemble them. It might look something like the photo below but way more interesting with all the colourful strips you will have sent me. There will be so many possibilities and I am really excited to get your long strips and slash them up. The end product will look like the photo below, a Modern Post Stamp quilt inspired by the traditional Post Stamp quilt.

Modern vs Traditional

Thanks a million, Diane