Hive 1 February Knee Bend Block for Rita

 

Sorry for the delay! This is in the mail, Rita! -Julia

Hive 1 February Knee Bend Block for Rita

 

Here are my Knee Bend blocks for Rita for February.  I'd never made this block before, but they were easy and fun to make.

Hive 1 February Block for Rita

 

Hi Rita

Your block was fun to make and very quick. I only realised afterwards that the orange and black look like Halloween. But I hope I will work with all the other blocks you’ll be receiving.

This one will go in the mail today 😊

Ruth 

Hive 1 February Knee Bend Block for Rita

 These were really fun to put together. I can’t wait to see what you do with them! They started on their way to you yesterday.

Hive 1 - February, 2026 Knee Bend Block for Rita

Hello Hive 1:

The weather in Kentucky is certainly conducive to sewing these days.  The farm is blanketed with snow and COLD.  Here’s my block for February:

Jane

Hive 4-February Tutorial- 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 

Hive 2- February Tutorial: 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 1 - February Tutorial - Knee-Bend Block for Rita

Hi my lovely Bees!

This month I'm asking for a 'Knee-Bend' Block. I'm sure this has been done before, and I didn't really invent it, but below my take on a traditional tutorial for this.

However, if you prefer to use FPP for this, let me know, and I'll send you a PDF with the FPP pattern for this.

Block Size:

The Block should end up 10" square finished,
which means, it'll be 10 ½” square including Seam Allowance.

Fabric Choice:

My colour inspiration for this is the whole of the colour wheel!
                 Plus either Black or White.

• Colour A) either Black or White, preferably solid, black-on-black or white-on-white is okay

• Colour B) Background:  Choose one Colour from the Colour Wheel

        Any medium colour, all the same, solid or small blender – to read as one colour

Cut:

Colour A) = Black or White:

• One 3 ½” x 4 ½” Rectangle

• One 4 ½” x 7 ½” Rectangle

Colour B) (Background = Colour of your choosing):

• Two 3 ½” x 3 ½” Squares

• One 3 ½” x 7 ½” Rectangle

• One 3 ½” x 10 ½” Rectangle

Piecing:

Use a 1/4" Seam Allowance throughout.

1)    Take the Black/or/White 4 ½” x 7 ½” Rectangle and one of the 3 ½” Background Squares.

Mark a diagonal line on the back of the Background square. Place it (right sides facing) on the Rectangle as shown in the photo below and sew along the marked line. Trim the corner off, to keep a 1/4" seam allowance, then press the seam open or to the side (as you please).

2)    Sew the remaining 3 ½” Background Square right sides together to one of the short sides of the 3 ½” x 4 ½” Black/or/White Rectangle. Press.

3)     Lay the sewn pieces and the remaining Background rectangles out like shown in the below picture and sew the Black/or/White Rectangle with the Background corner to the 3 ½” x 7 ½” Background Rectangle on the long side. Press.

4)    Then sew the resulting piece from step 3) to the piece from step 2) as shown in the picture below. Press.

5)    Finally sew the remaining 3 ½” x 10 ½” Background Rectangle to the side with the 'Corner' as shown in the picture below. Press.

And there you have it! The finished 'Knee-Bend' Block.

Hive 3 February Tutorial- Chain Mail Block for Lisa

Hi All

In America, July 4, 2026, is the 250^th Anniversary of the United States and I’m using that as the inspiration for my block.  I’ve chosen a block that can be done in Red/White/Blue and that I’ll probably either complete as a veteran charity quilt or possibly a picnic style quilt for our July 4^th activities. 

Use the Chain Mail Block Tutorial with my fabric/color and modified cutting instructions or you can follow my basic instructions below.

Here is a pic of the final block.  

Here is a pic of my fabric pull.  Please NO SOLIDS, no batiks, no character or juvenile prints. The white is a low volume that is mostly white with some blue or red and if you don't have that, a white on white.  Some of the low volumes will lean towards cream and this needs to be white.  The Reds are true reds or can lean to orange red. The Blues are darker medium blues and can be lighter navy but please stay away from real dark navy that reads more black.

 

White 2x2 blocks are for the blue and white 4 patches.

Lighter Red 2x2 blocks are for the center (pattern is white) and the outer corners (pattern is peach).

Rather than follow the tutorial specifically, this block is straightforward enough that I just laid out my pieces and then sewed them together.

 

 

Coaching:

If using white on white - be sure to check which is the right side.

For the blue and white blocks - check your orientations to ensure the 4 patches continue the diagonal design.

Chain piecing works well for many of the blocks, just be sure to put them back into their correct orientation.

Be sure to watch your 1/4' seams and measure your final block at 12.5" square - do not trim.  If not the right size, your seams need to be adjusted.

Pressing to dark side for 4 patches allows for nesting seams.  Other seams you may want to do open or whatever your own preference is to ensure a nice flat block.

I hope this all makes sense and I look forward to getting your blocks.  Any questions, just post in the Instagram chat.  I’m there a few times a day and check for messages.

 

Lisa…

Hive 1 February X Stripe Block for Rita

 

Hi Rita!  

Here is my block for you.  I am sort of glad I waited until the end of the month.  Based on everyone's choices, I chose green to shake things up!  This was a good one to start off for me since I joined late.  I will get this in the mail this week.

Beth 

X stripe block for Rita

 This one was a brain teaser! But fun to see it come together. Thanks for another wonderful and creative block design, Rita! -Julia C

Hive 1 February X Stripe Block for Rita

Rita's Custom February Block for Hive 1

Interesting block and nicely done tutorial. Will drop in the mail early this week.

-Tasha

 

X-Stripe Block for Rita

Hi Rita,

Thank you for this nice tutorial👍 I went for pinks. I hope this works out with what you have in mind!

Will be crossing the Atlantic in the next few days.

Take care,

Marie

 

Hive 1 February X Stripe for Rita

 

Here is my block for Rita! My camera destroyed the colors, I promise they’re all way more orange than they appear :)

Hive 1, February block: X Stripe Block for Rita

 Rita,

I have completed my block. This was fun to make. The picture looks like the colors are not all blue, but they are. 

Jai

Hive 6- February Tutorial: Nautical nine-patch for Kieren

 Happy February! I hope 2025 is treating you well so far. This is my second year participating in Stash Bee and my first year as a co-leader. I’ve barely made a start on my blocks from last year, and I wanted to finish it before March... I don't think that's happening 🤦

For this month, we’ll be working on a simple block with only 2 colours. Last year I made a quilt as a present for my friends who got married, but I made 12 blocks too many! The 12 blocks were a bit too small for a quilt by themselves so they’ve sat around waiting for me to get up the motivation to make another few blocks to go with them. Then I thought, why not get you all to do it? 

So, onto the instructions: 

Colours: 

This is inspired by bleak British beaches, so you’ll need up to 4 “sand” fabrics and up to 5 “ocean” fabrics. For sand, creams and beiges are ideal, but very light browns and greys might work too. For ocean, think navy, unsaturated blues, maybe a mid-to-dark grey. If they have nautical elements like boats and fish, even better! 

This photo from September 2023 is enough to make me feel patriotic. 

This was mostly made using Janet Clare’s “to the ocean” collection if you want to use that for inspiration. 

If you can’t find 4/5 fabrics that work for each colour, a little repetition is fine. 

Cutting instructions: 

• Sand: 4 squares 5.5” 
• Ocean: 4 rectangles 3.5”x5.5” and 1 square 3.5” 

Piecing instructions: 

Lay out your fabrics in a configuration you like. Piece together the rows going across first. 

Then forget about your configuration, press any way that you feel like, and sew together the 3 rows. 

And you’re done! Your block should finish at 13.5” square. 

This is a super simple block, hopefully it’ll help you recover after Josie’s 😉 Thanks for your help! Not sure what I’ll do with the finished quilt, but I can burn that bridge when I get to it. 

Hive 5 February Tutorial - "Sixteen"

Happy February Hive 5!

I love participating in Stash Bee. The connections and inspiration are a bright spot every month. My hive last year had many “choose your own adventure” tutorials. It was great fun and allowed so much creativity. I hope my new hive will enjoy this approach (and maybe even consider it as an option for their tutorials).

Karan Bolan created a collaborative quilt last year that she called “Sixteen.” You can see her quilt and read the story here. Notice the variety of colors and scale! There are a few that contain a different amount of blocks, and I love that variation too! 

This year, I’d like to create a collaborative version with you. You get to PLAY and make your own decisions. This should be super easy and quick.

Fabric

You get to make all the color decisions and decide the size (small, medium, large). 

Please choose two solids. (If you don’t have solids, find fabrics that read as solid from a distance.) It’s the contrast that will make your block sing, so please choose two colors with medium to high contrast. 

Here are a few ways you can play with colors:

• You can pull two colors that you like sitting next to each other from your stash or your scrap bin. 
• You can pull your color wheel and have fun making pairs using complementary colors.
• You can find a cool pairing by just looking for pieces that are about the same length in your stash or scrap bin. 
• You can choose a light and dark in the same color family.

Whichever you choose, please save a 2” x 5” piece of the lighter of the two fabrics for a label. (label directions below)

Construction

There are two approaches to block construction. 

• Use strips of the same width. 
• Or use strips of different widths (creates visual interest). 

Think of these width measurements as guidelines for three different sizes of blocks.

• minimum of 1.25” wide strips for a small block
• 2” - 2.75” wide strips for a medium block
• 3”-4” wide strips for a large block

I used slightly differently widths for each strip when constructing my sample.

You can even make a block with more than 16. Sometimes the fabric lets you create variations. Let the fabric tell you what to do.

Cut two strips approximately the same length. 

Sew the two strips together and press towards the dark.

Fold the two strip unit in half and cut along fold (fold is shown below the rotary cutter). Since none of these blocks need to have distinct final measurements, use every bit that you are able. 

Lay out the units so that the colors are alternating and sew those two together, continuing to press towards the dark.  

Fold that unit in half and cut on the fold again. 

Fold the remaining two units in half and cut. You will now have four repeating units of four strips with four blocks each.

Place them in an alternating sequence and sew together. 

 

Do Not Square Up! I want wonky . . . 

Label

I finally figured out a way to remember who created which block. Please use that 2” x 5” piece of the lighter of the two fabrics in your block to write your name and city. Leave .5” perimeter to allow for the seam allowances. I think I’ll have just as much fun assembling the labels on the back as I’ll have assembling the front. 

If you create more than one (which I do not expect no matter the size), please send a label for each block.

These are blocks that I’ve created so far. There’s not a lot of color variety at this point, which is why I will appreciate the colors from your stash. I’ve enjoyed experimenting and had fun adding two flying geese to one of the blocks and creating one that contained 32 squares. 

These can be addictive. 

Thank you very much for contributing to my quilt. Message me if you have any questions.

With much gratitude,

Cathleen

@KitchKouture