Hive 6 - August Tutorial - Halloween No Point Stars for Susan

 

I am obsessed with Halloween fabric 🎃.  This month we're using the same Cluck Cluck Sew No Point Stars pattern that was posted by Meghan last month, except we're celebrating a different holiday - Halloween 👻.  The original tutorial can be found here.

 

                                                       Halloween fabrics of many colors

Fabric

• Halloween prints please; no solids, batiks or licensed characters (Marvel, Peanuts, etc.) with one exception - Jack Skellington is allowed. 
• Option 1 - two Halloween fabrics of any color/pattern, one for the star and one for the background; there should be obvious contrast between the two. The center square of the star should feature the same fabric as the points - this is different from the original tutorial.
• Option 2 - one Halloween fabric for the star, and a background print that reads black, gray, orange, black and white or something similar (it can be a combo of these colors), see palette below for inspo.
• PLEASE save and send the trimmed star point corners! 

 

Cutting

Star  Halloween fabric	1 - 4 inch square    8 - 3 inch squares
Background Halloween or coordinating fabric	8 - 4 inch squares

Construction

A note about pressing:  I tend to press seams open but will mix it up as I see fit; do as you like.  Please use 1/4 in. seams throughout. 

1.  Draw a diagonal line on the back of the star fabric 3 in. squares, or use whatever method you prefer in order to sew a line along the diagonal.  The fabric shown happens to be directional, so I marked half the squares one direction, and half the opposite direction. 
   
    
   
2. With right sides together align one of the marked squares with the corner of a background square, the line reaching from raw edge to raw edge, and sew along the line.  

   

   
   
3. Towards the outside corner, trim 1/4 inch away from the seam; flip and press the star  point. 
   
   
   
4.  On the opposite corner, complete steps 2 and 3 again 
   
   
   
5.  Repeat these steps 3 more times for a total of 4 star point blocks.   Please save and send the trimmed star point corners
   
   
   
   
6.  Arrange the squares in a 9-patch pattern; sew the 3 squares in each row together, then  sew the rows together.  Press the seams as you like.  Your block should measure around 11 inches square.  
   

And you're done!  Thanks for sewing for me 😊

 

 

PS: when sewn together the small scrap triangles will make 2.25 inch (unfinished) HSTs that I plan to use for a postage-stamp type quilt inspired by this Halloween masterpiece.

Hive 6: Split Star

One of the other members of my hive this year told us about the Fabric 406 blog. It has lots of free quilt block tutorials. This month, we will be making their 12.5 in. Split Star block.

Fabric Requirements: Style

• Patterns: Geometric print fabrics. Bonus points if you have something resembling abstract nature, i.e. topographic lines, cartography, marble, non-cartoony insects, etc.

• Do not include novelty, holiday, object, animal, or floral prints

• Colors:

• Dark Half: Muted shades of blue, green, or purple. Imagine a coastal grandma with some pastel goth flair.

• Light Half: solid white, white on white, or whites with a bit of colored print. Please use true white, no cream or tan.

• Note: a geometric print is more important to me than an exact color or tone match. Please use what you have. Talk to me if you have any doubts.

Fabric Requirements: Piecing

• From both Dark and Light fabrics, cut the following:

• (1) 7 in square

• (1) 4 in square

• (5) 3.5 in square

• (2) 3.5 x 6.5 in rectangle

Assembly

1. Half square triangles

1. Use both Light and Dark 7 in squares. Draw a diagonal line down the wrong side of one square. Place the two squares right sides together. Sew a ¼ seam on both sides of the line. Cut along the line. Trim each half to 6.5 in. Press seams open. You will only use one of these HSTs in this block, but please send me the other half.

2. Use both Light and Dark 4 in squares. Repeat step 1.a. Trim to 3.5 in. Press seams open. You will use both HSTs.

2. Flying Geese Units

1. Each pair of flying geese will be opposites. One pair will use Dark rectangles with Light squares. The other pair will use Light rectangles with Dark squares. These sections are tight. Use a scant seam or cut slightly bigger for more breathing room.

2. Draw a diagonal line down the wrong side of (4) 3.5 in squares. Place a 3.5 in square on one side of a 3.5 x 6.5 in rectangle in the opposite color where the diagonal line goes from top center of the rectangle to bottom corner, right sides together. Sew a seam on the diagonal line. Trim the outer edge ¼ in from the seam. Press seams open. 

3. Repeat step 2.b. on the other side of the rectangle, still ensuring that the diagonal line goes from the top center of the rectangle to the bottom corner.

4. Trim to 3.5 x 6.5 in. Be careful to keep ¼ in on top of the triangle point so we don't lose that point in the seam.

5. Repeat steps 2.b-d. until you have four sets of flying geese: two dark-light and two light-dark.

3. Lay out and assemble like a nine-patch. Nest seams for easier alignment.

4. This block should be 12.5 in sq. Please send the finished block and the spare 6.5 in HST.

Hive 6 - May Tutorial: Improv Kisses

Happy May!

I'm having you all make improv X's or as I like to think of them improv kisses, hearkening back to salutations of XOXO from letters and cards. This quick block is a fun, easy introduction to  improv piecing. 

I'm looking for bright improv strips or slices to form an x against a black background. For a super scrappy look and so I can play with the movement; I'm asking you each to make 4 (or more) X blocks. I'll combine three of these x's to create the repeating block for the quilt.

You can see what I'm envisioning in the draft sketch. 

Colors: I'm looking for bright saturated or neon rainbow colors with the addition of pink, purple and the neutrals of gray, beige and cream against a black background.  The blacks can have lots of color but should read overall as black. 

Fabric:

Background - Black, black and white, black with color, should read overall as black.
A. Background, Black Rectangle approx 6" x 11"

X Strips - a single color, I used gold in the example.
Each strip is approximately 6"-15" in length, with a width from 1" - to 4" inches in width.  I'm looking for a good variety in widths, so have fun with it.

B. Strip of Light in the chosen color, approx 6" - 15" length x approx 1" - 4" width

C. Strip of Dark in the chosen color, approx 6" - 15" length x approx 1" - 4" width

If you are uncertain if the values of the two strips are different enough, use a mono or black & white filter on a photo of them. 

X block construction in brief:

1. Slice block diagonally (vertical or horizontal)
2. Insert strip
3. Repeat the process in the other direction

Step by step construction of X block:

Select your strips, decide which one you want to be the horizontal slice and which one you want to be the vertical slice. I like to lay the strips over the background to get a feel for the block. 

For my purpose, it doesn't matter if you cut the horizontal or the vertical slice first. In the example I cut the vertical slice first.  

Once you've selected the strip, put your scrap strip on top of the background and use a ruler to cut a slice from top to bottom. This will result in a clean edge to sew against. I pick a spot on the top and use my ruler to cut a diagonal line to the bottom in a slice.

After the slice is cut, flip the background piece over and sew along the clean edge. Feel free to iron your blocks in whatever direction works for you.

Then finish inserting the strip by sewing the other side of the slice, to complete the X's leg.

If you are using a scrap strip, you may need to trim the strip's other side to have a clean sewing edge. 

 

You are aiming to create a level edge across the inserted strip, you can see that edge highlighted by the red mark on the image below.

When I'm struggling to obtain a level edge on the background block, I will pin the strip to the background and flip it back over to see if the background line looks level across the strip/block. Once it does I go ahead and sew the line to finish inserting that leg's x. Don't worry about being too precise, the block is cut big to give you room to play. 

After the strip has been inserted, repeat the process (slice & insert strip) for the opposite direction. 

 

After these steps are complete, the X block is constructed. 

 

You are welcome to trim to 5" x 10", but I'm good with receiving them untrimmed, so no pressure.  Please make 4 or more of the X block.

 

Seriously, have fun playing with fabric and trying improv in making your kisses.

Hive 6 April Tutorial - Lemon Blueberry Block for Meg

 

Lemon🍋 Blueberry🫐 Block for Meg

Hi Stashbee friends, Happy April!  I am so excited that you all will be sewing for me this month, thank you so, so much!  The block I chose is a block designed by Yvonne Fuchs (Quilting Jetgirl) called the “Oceanglow” block.  Here is her original tutorial: Paintbrush Studio New Block Blog Hop & Giveaway! – Quilting Jetgirl.

Fabric Inspiration: Lemon yellows, sunshine yellow, pastel yellow, and golden yellows.  Royal blue, true blue, bright blue, and light blue.  White on white, solid white, low volume prints on white. Prints, solids, blenders, whatever makes you happy!  I particularly love small floral prints :) I love busy, scrappy quilts!  I will love any fabrics that you pick, and I love to see everyone's creativity, so you are free to think as far outside the box as you want with this color palette.

Select and Cut Fabrics: Choose 2 blues (one darker and one lighter), 3 yellows (varying shades), and one white.  Here are the fabrics I selected for the sample block:

Fabric A – your darker/richer blue

• A1:  Cut (4) 2”x2” squares
• A2:  Cut (6) 1.5”x2” rectangles
• A3:  Cut (2) 1.5”x12.5” rectangles

Fabric B – your lighter blue

• B1:  Cut (2) 2”x7.5” rectangles
• B2:  Cut (3) 1.5”x7.5” rectangles

Fabric C – your white

• Cut (1) 2”x7.5” rectangle

Fabric D – your lightest yellow

• Cut (1) 2”x7.5” rectangle

Fabric E – your middle yellow

• Cut (1) 2”x7.5” rectangle

Fabric F – your darkest/richest yellow

• F1:  Cut (1) 2”x7.5” rectangle
• F2:  Cut (8) 2”x2” squares

Piecing Instructions:

1. Lay your pieces out just like this diagram:

2. Sew three columns (indicated by the pink arrows at the top in the photo above) using a ¼ seam allowance.  You do not need to square up after each seam, but a consistent ¼ seam will make the next step more successful.  Press however you want – I pressed to the side so that I could nest seams in the next step.

3. Your pieces now should look like this:

Pin the side columns to the inner column and sew, pressing seams open.  Here’s a photo of mine after pinning - I nested the seams and used a pin on each side of every seam intersection:

Here she is after sewing and pressing:

4. Sew pieces A3 to the block, press towards piece A3, and you’re done!  You can square up to 12.5” or just send her on her way : ).  Thank you so much, I can’t wait to see what you all make!

Sending you all lots of love from Alabama,

Meg 💙💛