Hive 2 September 2026 Tutorial Disappearing Four Patch for Nancy

Hi!  I’m Nancy, the September QB.  I’ve been wanting to make a throw for my father-in-law who is perpetually cold, and another for my husband’s cousin who will earn her PhD next year in pediatric cardiology nursing.  This scrappy block will be just the thing for them.  This website was my inspiration.  https://agilejack1.com/2023/10/03/those-aboriginal-scraps-kept-calling-my-name/ 

Colors:  Think organic colors more than glow-in-the-dark bright—plum, purple, blue, gold, teal, rose, rust, olive, russet, brown, burgundy, red, tan, blue, taupe, green, grey, black.  Prints of any scale are great, including florals.  Stripes and plaids will work; don’t obsess over getting the seams lined up with the print fabric.  Please, no seasonal, religious, or juvenile prints.  Batiks are good.  A bit of metallic is okay.  Mix it up, and be creative, but don’t waste too much time agonizing over your choices.

Pick four fabrics that work together without being matchy-matchy, with two darker and two lighter, cutting one 6.5" square from each.  The two darks barely interact, as do the two lights, so NONE of them have to "relate" colorwise .  Having at least one big-scale print works well, and makes the block more interesting.  At the end of this tutorial I have included a photograph of some of the other blocks I’ve made so you can get a better idea of where these projects are going.  

Note:  All seam allowances are .25" wide.

If you’re unsure of how the values relate to each other, take a photo of the choices and display the photo in black and white on your phone.

Sew into a four patch with light and dark squares alternated as shown, matching pressed seams.  (Matching the seams precisely makes the next cuts a lot easier.)  Press with a dry iron.  Check for any folds when pressing since getting the seams pressed without folds can help accuracy.  (Ask me how I know.  🫤)  I pressed toward the dark pieces so I could nest my seams, then spun the seam allowances at the center a bit so the block was less bumpy during the next step.

Next, cut 2” away from the center seams on either side in both directions without moving any of the pieces—four cuts in all.  If you’re careful, you can simply rotate your mat 90 degrees at a time to cut, being careful not to move the pieces out of place.  (I screwed this up the first time by accidentally cutting 2.5” from the center seam, instead of the correct side of my ruler.  I then used a sticky note to make sure I got the correct side of my ruler, since it was too easy for me to get this wrong.)

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You then end up with this.

Next, spin the four side pieces 180 degrees.  Everything stays as is.

Reassemble the nine segments like a nine-patch, matching seams, and sew together.  Be aware the middle segments will appear 1/4” too small in one direction—both for the very center unit--because of seam allowances.  Don’t let that throw you off.

Press.  You’re done!  The finished block should measure 11.5” including seam allowances.  No need to trim!

 Thanks for playing!  I’m looking forward to seeing your amazing blocks and incorporating them into these two gifts.  Sam and Genna are looking forward to staying warm this winter.

And as promised, the blocks I’ve made so far.

Hive 1 September Economy Block for Ruth

Hi Ruth,

Hope you're settling in nicely in your new home! These blocks are going on the way to you today or the latest tomorrow.

Happy quilting,

Rita

Hive 5 Wonky Star Block for Becca

Happy September everyone! 

This month’s block will feature some warm, autumnal colors. Hope you have as much fun putting this together as I did.

For the background color, please select peaches, apricots, raspberries, burnt oranges and pinks. The star fabric is pure white, or white on white (no cream, ivory, off white, etc.).

Patterns in colored fabric should be small scale, with no cartoons, figures, animals, sports, or novelty. Just patterns - they can be floral, geometric, random…whatever makes you happy!

Select 8 colored scraps from your stash and cut them into 3.5 inch squares.

From the white fabric, cut one 3.5 “ square, and then you have a choice! You can either cut four or eight 4” squares. Read on for directions.

Place your white square at a wonky angle as pictured on top of the colored square. Sew with a 1/4” seam along the edge of the WHITE square. Press toward the white fabric.

Repeat the same process on the right side of the square, creating a point in between the two. Pay attention to where the white sections intersect; if the intersection isn’t at least 1/4” from the bottom, you won’t be able to see the point in the finished block!

Here’s your white fabric option: I just used the selvages from the four white squares after the first trim, so I only used four white squares. If you are more comfortable using two full squares per star point, that’s fine too, you will simply need all eight squares! Feel free to start with four and see how your first set of points goes before committing fully.

Lay out your block like this:

Your (untrimmed) block should measure 9.5“ and be full of happy warm colors!

Hive 4 Stash Bee Tutorial September 2026

 Yep!  Looks like some improv foolishness coming your way!  Take a deep breath . . . 

We’re making improv flying geese in neutrals.  If you have a different way to make these—go for it.  

I am going for earthy neutrals that read solid or subtle geometric shapes. Here’s my fabric pull. Dark charcoal to light brown. If you zoom in you can see the subtle patterns.

The background can be any white to cream—also reads solid but very subtle prints can work.  You can even mix up the earthy fabrics and background in the block.  There’s no set size for the block .  Just play as much as you can!

The instructions give you general guidelines.  If that stresses you, just pick the larger sizes.  YOU CANNOT MESS THIS UP!

Cut white fabric:  4-6 strips 4-6 inches wide and about 10”-12” long

Cut earthy fabric: 1 strip about .5” less width of white strip and about 8” long

Cut earthy fabric free hand into wonky triangles the same number of white strips you cut.

Place one triangle on one white strip. Feel free to rotate triangle as it pleases you. 

Cut the white strips along the triangle. Feel free to use a ruler but you could always take a walk on the wild side and freehand it. 

Remove white triangle. Sew the earthy triangle to the white strip—sewing the last cut first.  That’s easier but follow your heart!! It will not likely sew perfectly. No worries. You will likely need to trim the top of the first seam. 

Repeat with all strips. 

Trim the top and bottom of the strips to even the edge. I usually cut first along the bottom edge of the triangle then the top to “square “ the strip width. I try to save the points with 1/4 “ but it doesn’t worry me. 

Arrange the strips in a way that pleases you. Line up the triangles or offset. Here’s two versions.

Trim sides accordingly to even up.

Sew strips together. 

There!  You did it!  I will post in our chat group my new address starting August 26. PLEASE USE THE NEW ADDRESS!  Thanks. 

These blocks will go into a wall hanging in our next place. Thank you so much!

Hive 3: September scrappy red star for Debbie

 Hive 3 September 

Scrappy Red and white 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.) Last year, I used this block and wanted more to get the full twin size for his new bedroom

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 in the prints.  

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.  

Thanks for making a block for me.  

Debbie Huber

2747 Minot Ln.

Waukesha, WI 53188

USA

Any questions, let me know.