Hive 1 Economy Block for Ruth

 

My printer did not want to cooperate with the FPP, so I also went the traditional piecing route. Hope this works well; going to the post office tomorrow!

--Caitlin 

Hive 1 Economy Block for Ruth

 Hi Ruth,

I had a good time choosing colors for the economy block.  Thanks to those of you who provided traditional piecing tutorials.

Jane

Hive 1 Economy block for Ruth

 I used the tutorial for a regular economy block. I am generally not a bright color person but I love how these turned out! Might be a bright quilt in my future :) 

Will mail out Tuesday. 

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 1 August wonky hashtag

 

Loved this block! Going on my list for a future quilt!

Hive 1: 9" Economy Block for Ruth

 

Hey, Hive 1 🥰

I honestly can't remember how many years I have been participating in Stash Bee (probably about 5 or so 🙈), but this year must be the one I am the least prepared for!

Hubby and I just had to move out of our rental. Our son and daughter-in-law have kindly made some space for us in their backyard for a granny flat. Unfortunately, the granny flat isn't finished yet, so most of our stuff (including the blocks I prepared for Stash Bee 😩) has gone into storage.

I can't believe I did this! 🤦‍♀️

OK, enough complaining! 😂

I would like you to make a 9" FPP block. It is a very simple one and is from the Aussie Tula Pink Block Swap 2025, organised by my favourite fabric store, My Fabricology. I have a few of these blocks already, but nowhere near enough to make a whole quilt.

Here is the template to print on A3. Please make sure you select "no scaling" when printing and check the 1" test square.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/55vb4b6aokic8u5j86zsk/Swap-block-on-A3.pdf?rlkey=j21sz62fatzy5in6e8nefiw75&st=ma665ozi&dl=0

Please use bright coloured fabrics (they don't have to be Tula Pink) and mix the colours up. 🌈

Here are a few more examples to give you an idea of the colours and combinations I am after.

  

Fabric requirements:

- A1 - (1) 5.5" x 5.5"

- A2 to A5 - (2) 4" x 4" (cut diagonally in half)

- A6 to A9 - (2) 5.5" x 5.5" (cut diagonally in half)

Tool requirements:

- stiff card (approx. 7" long)

- Add-a-quarter ruler

- Fabric glue

- Rotary cutter

- Iron

Instructions:

1. Take your paper template (print down) and place A1 (right side up) on top. Once you are happy with the placement (by holding it up to the light) use a bit of glue to hold it in place.                                                                                                                           
2. Set your stitch length to 1.5mm, this will make removing the paper later a lot easier.
3. Use your stiff card and place it along the line between A1 and A2. Fold the paper over and using the Add-a-quarter ruler, trim the seam allowance to 1/4"      
4. Add your next piece of fabric RST and sew along the line between A1 and A2. 
5. Turn over and press.                                                               
6. Repeat for all sections A3 to A5.                                             
7. Repeat for outer sections A6 to A9.                                          
8. Turn over and trim edge to 1/4" seam allowance. (Mine is a bit smaller. My A3 printer is in storage and I had to print out in a smaller format)                         
9. Remove paper                                                                           
10. This is how it should look from the back.                                                            
11. And this is the completed block.

Thank you so much! ❤️

Hive 1 August Wonky Hashtag for Pam

 I hope by the time I get this posted the block might have already made it to you! I mailed it several days ago but kept forgetting to post this. I loved making it though! Wonky anything is right up my alley: the fun of putting it together without the stress of precision. Thank you for asking for this one! I hope you have fun putting your hashtags together.

Hive 1 August wonky hashtag block for Pam

 This was so fun to make!! In the mail today. 

Hive 1 July beggar block for Cindy

Sorry this one is late! It's in the mail today. 

Hive 1 Wonky Hashtag Block for Pam

Hi Pam! Here is my wonky hashtag block--hope it works for your project! I put it in the mail this morning :) 

--Caitlin 

Hive 1: August block for Cindy.

Such a #fun block!

From Jane A.

Hive 5 August 2026 Tutorial Quirky Shoo Fly for Susan

This one is hopefully fun for you.  It is rather improv which is one of my favorite techniques.

I like bright colors with lots of contrast.  This makes a happy cheery quilt.  

Start with the center.  It can be a square, a rectangle (vertical or   horizontal)  It can be fussy cut or a plain piece of fabric.  It's one of a kind.  Only one of this in the block, because it came from your stash and thoughts, I already love it.  Quirky is special.  

If you love to fussy cut, or want to experiment, that is perfect.  You have the opportunity to create a fussy cut that is not restricted by size.  I hate it when I have the cutest image and it falls outside the block size required.  I suggest cutting 1/2 inch beyond the image on all four sides.  2 sides should be parallel, but the other two could be slanted.  Then if you have an unregular size, use the center to cut the other blocks for the block.  Measurements are not required.  

The other eight pieces of the block  are the same fabric or the same color fabric, but different prints.  Like the two yellow fabrics in this one.  My block did not come up the right size, so I will be adding another yellow fabric strip to this to bring it up to size.  That's called a coping strip and if you use the same fabric, no one will be the wiser....except you guys because I confessed my error to you.  So don't tell!

Also you will need some scrappy snowballs for the corner blocks.  We are going to snowball one corner of each corner block with.....again options:

A. Four different fabrics or colors

B.   Four different sizes or 

C. Four different shapes or

D.  Your own idea for a snowball!  I'm sure I haven't thought of all the possibilities.  Also, any combination of these options will also work.  It's improvisatory, no rules, no rigidity, no negatives.  

The easiest construction is make everything 4.5 inches square....yielding a 12.5 inch block.  And that's great if you choose that...then the fabrics are the focus.  So pick something you love that reads a solid, and something for the center that is different.  The quirky thing will be the snowballs.  I would snowball the four corner blocks (4.5) with a 3.5"square, a 3" square, a 2.5" square and a 1.5" square.  Any combination or pattern will work.  Just place the square on the correct corner and sew a diagonal line and trim.  Sew the block together like a nine patch and send it to me.  

If you center is not a square, here's the method I used.  Lay your center on the edge of your background and cut a strip the same width as your center.  (The background strip needs to be at least 13-14 inches long.  Then cut that strip in half...that's your center top and bottom.  Then lay the center strip horizontally and cut the your background the same  width (it actually is the same length as the center, but you just laid it down horizonitally so the definition changed.  Hope that made sense)  as your center piece  This is your two center sides.  Make your corner blocks from the same fabric.  Make them oversized but should match the height of the top center block and the width of the middle blocks.  

Next easiest method would be to keep the 4.5 inch squares and then snowball with a rectangle instead of a square.  Or a combination of rectangles and squares.  If you use a rectangle, start with a larger piece of fabric and place the edge of the fabric on an angle that is not a 90-degree angle. Like these two upper blocks.   Then trim.  

If you want to be daring, you can play with the proportions and make the centers smaller or larger than the 4.5" block and make it rectangular.   You will need to make your other blocks correspond to the different size.  You can use math, or you can wing it.    If you are totally improvising this, add an extra inch or so to the outside blocks so you can guarantee it will reach 12.5 inches.  

Stitch together,then trim to 12.5:

You'll notice that I tried improve curves here for my snowballs.  It was okay, I think it was cute, but I'm not the one to teach you how to do that.  I will say that I sewed them and then trimmed them to fit the block.  So if you are feeling Quirky...do this .  I can definetly press better than this appears, but I was just playing with fabric.  

The goal:  send me a 12.5 inch block with a cute center and four triangle-ish fabrics pointing to the center.  I don't prefer any color or design, or type of fabric.  Just what is near your cutting table and I will enjoy it.  

Thanks tons! I hope you have fun playing with fabric!!!

Susan

Hive 1 July Beggar’s block for Cindy

 I’m really sorry this is going to be a bit late. An international family wedding and jet lag hit me harder than I expected! It’ll go in the mail tomorrow. I hope you like it! I think it turned out a little dizzying, but I’m hoping that’s mostly just my addled brain and you’ll be happy with it!

Hive 1 July beggar's block for Cindy

 

Can't wait to see this one all finished! -Julia

Hive 1 July 2026 Beggar's Blocks for Cindy

 

It was fun making these easy blocks for Cindy.  Her quilt is going to be so cute and scrappy!