I never posted a photo of my completed "Intersections Variations" quilt from Stash Bee 2020. This is the only photo I have of the finished quilt, which was sent off to a friend's daughter. I don't remember the finished size, but it turned out pretty big--it's held up in the photo by my 6-foot tall husband reaching his arms overhead. This was one of my favorite Stash Bee makes.
Last month I finally finished piecing together my Stash Bee 2020 quilt that the members in Hive 2 helped me with. I love how it turned out and can't wait to finish it on the longarm, but it needs to go into the pile after a few client quilts. Luckily, this is going to be a Christmas gift for my nephew so I'm not in a rush.
~ Diana @ Red Delicious Life
I hope you are all finding time to get some sewing done on this Worldwide Quilting Day. I just made a few star blocks that our guild is collecting for the 2021 Quilts of Valor block drive.
I wanted to share a few quilt finishes from Stash Bee blocks from other years. I've finally had them quilted by a fellow guild member. The first is the quilt I made from blocks made for me by Hive 1 in February 2020. I think I previously posted a picture of the flimsy, but here is the completed quilt. It is intended for Project Linus.
This quilt is from September 2018 Hive 1. It's been sitting around for a while, but now finally quilted. I love the green and blue combination. Thanks to everyone who participated in helping me assemble blocks for these quilts.
Kathie L in Allentown, PA
Hello Stash Bee! This month's block is *not* the scrap jar star that is made from the original tutorial from Gigi's Thimble, which you can find here. However, I saw these blocks under the hashtag #scrapjarstars on Instagram, fell in love with the block, and this is modified from that original design. Different size, different construction, same idea!
Hi there, I'm Em. You can find me sharing quilting stuff over on Instagram. I'd love if you would pop over there and say "hello". Since I'm in an Instagram hive, I'll be sharing an IG-friendly version of this tutorial so you can find it easily as you create your blocks this month.
I've participated in Stash Bee a bunch of years. There's a blue and green stars quilt that is throw size and lives on my couch. My two youngest children have quilts on their beds that were made with the help of Stash Bee, and the quilt on my own bed (kind size!) was even made with the help of my friends in this bee. Another Stash Bee quilt went to live with one of my sweet daycare kiddos when he "graduated" to kindergarten and the 6th is still in bits ... maybe this year it will grow up and become a real quilt!
I thought I would get photos of the ones that still live here, but I waited too long, and now it's the night before I need to post this tutorial and it's too dark to take photos. Story of my life.
Okay, here's the block. 16.5-inches unfinished, 16-inches finished.
Dig into your scrap bin and choose scraps in one color. Your choice.
Find some low volume pieces for the background.
Here's your cutting guide:
COLOR:
(4) strips 2.5 x 12.5 inches
[OR (20) 2.5-inch squares], whichever is easier or makes the most sense for you
plus (4) 5-inch squares
BACKGROUND:
(4) 2.5-inch squares
(4) 2.5 x 4.5 inch rectangles
(1) 9.25-inch square
Subcut perpendicular to your sewn lines every 2.5-inches to create four units that are 2.5 x 8.5 inches. 
Flip the 1st and 3rd units to face the opposite direction so same fabrics do not line up with one another and sew the units back together to create an 8.5 inch patchwork square.
ALTERNATE: Sew (20) 2.5 inch squares together in a 4x4 grid to create an 8.5 inch unfinished square.
STEP 2: MAKE THE CORNER UNITS
Sew a 2.5 inch square COLOR to a 2.5 inch square BACKGROUND. Add a 2.5 x 4.5 inch rectangle of background. Repeat three time to create 4 units that are 4.5 inch squares, unfinished.
STEP 3: MAKE THE FLYING GEESE/STAR POINTS
Note: I'm using the 4-at-a-time/no waste flying geese method here. I don't care how you make these geese if you prefer a different method. They just need to be 4.5 x 8.5 inches, unfinished.
Draw a diagonal line corner-to-corner on each of the (4) 5 inch square of COLOR. Line up 2 of those squares with the edges of opposite, diagonal corner of the 9.25-inch square of BACKGROUND.
Sew a scant 1/4 inch away from the line on each side of the line. Cut the block apart on the line. Press the COLOR open (your unit will now look like a heart).
Place a remained 5-inch square to line up with the corner of the background. The line your drew will go from the corner of the background fabric up through the middle of the "heart" shape. Again, sew a scant1/4 inch away from the line on each side and cut the unit apart on the line. Press open.
TRIM TO 4.5 x 8.5 inches.
STEP 4: ASSEMBLE THE BLOCK
It's a star! Patchwork square goes in the middle. Corner units are arranged so that the COLOR is in the outside corner.
Happy quilting!
Em
Not sure if these look less like trees and more like rocket ships, but there you have it. I hope this will get to you before the new year, sorry for the delay. I wish you all the best for this holiday season.
Rita,
These blocks were such fun to make!! Mine are on their way across the pond to you--they went in the mail on Thursday.
It was another fun stashbee year!! Thank you Amanda! And all beemates!
I wish you all a safe, healthy holiday season and New Year---let's hope this all gets better in 2021!
Keep on sewing!
Liz
Pam
Thanks for the wild and wonky ride, Rita! It was great fun to choose fabrics and to make random slices. I'm dropping two blocks in the mail today. Can't wait to see the finished quilt. Karen
What an appropriate block for this time of year. It was fun to make. Mine certainly fit the description of wonky!
Kathie L in Allentown
Greetings Hive 4
What a year! I have really appreciated the structure and creative energy Stash Bee has provided in 2020.
This year my quilting has revolved around scraps, circles and helping. I found a way to incorporate all three of these into my tutorial.
I was completely inspired by Carolyn's Stash Bee quilt that she finished a year ago. http://stashbee.blogspot.com/2019/11/finished-circle-quilt-from-stashbee-4.html
I also want to create a quilt with two elements - a low volume background upon which I will hand appliqué many circles. The background will represent the layers of community that are essential for my wellbeing. Adding the circles by hand will provide moments of calm and focus and remind me of the larger picture.
I’d like your help building the background with low volume black & white or gray scraps. Please build a block anywhere between 12.5” - 16.5” inches. It can be a square or a rectangle with untrimmed edges. You can even send me bits (explained below).
Step One - Pull your low volumes. It’s okay for these low volumes to also include small pops of color. Here’s a picture of my black and white low volumes. I wish I had even more, especially geometrics.
Step two - Spread your fabrics and scraps to see what odd bits are available.
Step three - Now you get to play. Place low volumes next to each other to see who plays well together. You can build your block by sewing together pairs that have approximately the same size on one side. Then continue to sew pairs together to keep building. Or you can build the block log cabin style if you have some lovely strips of low volumes.
When I was building my sample block, I started with seven bits. I joined the two easiest pairs first, then worked by quarter sections.
I have lots of curved pieces remaining from a huge unfinished project, so decided to incorporate some of those. You are very welcome to just use straight seams.
I've also built some rectangular units that I'll incorporate as I build the top with your contributions. You are welcome to send sets of these instead of a joined block.
This is the retro fabric from Japan that I will use as my backing. I've begun to pull solids to use for the circles.
Hi Hive-mates,
My name is Rita, I live in Dublin, Ireland. This is my first
year participating in StashBee and I’m having so much fun, that I want to join
again next year, if the Bee is continuing.
So, this is my first time as Queen Bee (Hive 1), I’m all
excited. For the last 10 months I was agonising what I want to request from
you. I’ve now settled on requesting a ‘Christmassy’ block. So far I don’t have
a Christmas Quilt in the house, so, that’s what I want to do.
Personally I always struggle with matching points and sewing
accurately – probably, because I have to be so particular in my job, that I’m a
bit rebellious with my quilting.... (Thanks to sewing for you guys this year,
I’ve gotten better, though.)
Therefore I’ve designed a little block, that doesn’t need
point-matching at all!
Also, I love ‘wonky’, that’s why I’m asking you to do a
‘Wonky Christmas Tree’ block for me.
A note in beforehand:
I’ve tested the block a few times and think it should come out at about 12.5”
square – However, if your block turns out smaller/bigger, please do not
stress!!!
As I said, I love wonky,
and will use the blocks as I get them! Promised! – If it goes "wrong", blame my
tutorial! J
Here is what I have in mind for this block:
Fabric pull:
I would like you to use at least two different green fabrics
for the Trees, mid- to dark-green, a mid- to dark-brown for the tree trunk and cream/beige(y)
off white background (please no whites/white-on-white).
Anything goes, really. Go as simple or scrappy as you like.
If you want to get rid of some scraps, please do so! Below is a picture of my
fabric pull. Note that this is all my mid- to dark-green and all my browns (no
idea, why I haven’t more...).
Don’t match my fabric pull! Just in the contrary! If you have something
I don’t have – brilliant! Christmassy fabrics and Novelties are welcome!
You will need:
Green (please at least 2 different
green, which makes at least 3x each):
Here is a quick overview of where the different pieces are needed. Shuffle around the same colour fabrics as you like!
For the whole block I am assuming a ¼” seam allowance, but don’t worry about it too much – I won’t!
We’re starting with Row 1
Use two Green 4”x6” pieces and two Background 4”x4.5”
pieces. Lay all pieces Right Side up on the Cutting Mat. Overlap one of the Background pieces with one Green piece on the 4” sides
by 3.5” on the Right of the Green piece and the other ones on the Left
of the Green piece as shown in the picture below.
Now make a cut anywhere within the overlap, the top of the cut leaning towards the middle of the Green piece. See picture below for guidance.
Take the resulting matching pieces and line up the just cut edges for a ¼” seam allowance (Right Sides together). I found lining them up on the cutting mat, using a ¼” line as guidance helpful. No perfection needed!! See picture below.
Sew. Press seams open or to the darker fabric as you please.
I tend to press open, but do what works best for you!
Take those Green/Background pieces, lay them Right Side up and overlap the two Background 4”x5” pieces on the straight 4” edge of the Green pieces by 3.5”. See picture below for guidance.
Now make a cut anywhere within the overlap, the top of the cut leaning towards the middle of the Green piece. See picture below for guidance.
Take the resulting matching pieces and line up the just cut
edges for a ¼” seam allowance (Right Sides together). Sew. Press seams open or to the darker fabric
as you please.
Now lay out Rows 1 to 3 on your cutting mat, all fabrics Right Side up. Line up the Green 4”x6” pieces of Rows 2 and 3 about middle of Row 1 and overlap the Background 4”x3” pieces to either side of the Row 2 and 3 Green pieces by 2”. See picture below for guidance.
Now make a cut anywhere within all the overlaps, the top of the cuts leaning towards the middle of the Green pieces. See picture below for guidance.
Take the resulting matching pieces and line up the just cut
edges for a ¼” seam allowance (Right Sides together). Sew. Press seams open or to the darker fabric
as you please.
Straighten up the bottom side of the Row 1 pieces, the top and bottom sides of the Row 2 pieces and the top side of the Row 3 pieces, in preparation for sewing those rows together. No need to have them parallel.
Sew the Row pieces together. Press seams open (I think this is best at this stage...).
Straighten the right side of the left Row 1-2-3 piece and straighten the left side of the right Row 1-2-3 piece.
Sew together. Press seams open. Straighten the bottom side of the finished Row 1-2-3 piece.
Sew the Row 4 pieces together in the following order from left to right on their 2.5” edges (Right Sides together):
Background 2.5”x3”, Brown 2.5”x1.5”, Background 2.5”x5.5”, Brown 2.5”x1.5”, Background 2.5”x3”.
Press seams open or to the darker fabric as you please.
Sew Row 4 to the bottom of the finished Row 1-2-3 piece.
Press seams open.
Finished!
No need to trim to size. You can straighten the edges, if you absolutely want to. As I said, the block should now be roughly (!) 12.5” x 12.5”.
I hope you enjoy sewing this block and won’t stress about my haphazard tutorial.
If you have any questions, please contact me via my yahoo
email address or as a comment on this post.
Please note that my postal address on the address list has changed since beginning of the year.
Thank you all already, I’m looking forward to see what you
come up with.
Happy Sewing,
Rita.
