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