Hive 6 May Tutorial

Hello All!  I'm Carolyn and I blog over at Sweet Boater Chick .  You can find me on instagram at sweet_boater_chick.  The name comes from my crazy whitewater kayaking days.  

So, for this year in Stash Bee I was going back and forth on what I wanted to do for my block.  I pinned more blocks on pinterest then I will ever be able to create, but I didn't know what I wanted to do.  Well, I had an idea...  Last year I asked my hive 3 bee mates to make me a Migration Bee Block by Charlotte at Displacement Activity.  (Last year's post) I made a number of blocks also, but I would love to create a queen size quilt and this is the perfect way to add to my blocks.  I will apologize to Sylvia now since she had to make this block last year, too.  I hope you all love flying geese as much as I do :)

There is a tutorial on her webpage, but I changed up how to create the 2.5" x 4.5" flying geese using the 4 at a time method.  It makes it easier and faster.  

For the geese I would like the colors to be lime, turquoise, chartreuse, teal, and dark gray.   For the background I would like you to use a variety of light gray prints with a white base.  There is a section of 4 mini geese and I will make that optional for you.  With the 4 at a time method to make the geese you make enough to fill the space where the mini geese are, otherwise you have one extra goose.

You will need

Background Fabrics

3 pairs – 4.5” x 4.5” squares

5 sets of 4 – 2 7/8” x 2 7/8” squares

*optional 4 pairs – 1.5” x 1.5” squares

Geese fabrics

3 - 4.5” x 8.5” rectangles

5 - 5.25” x 5.25” squares

*optional 4 - 1.5” x 2.5” rectangles

I would love the geese to be different fabrics.  I would also love a scrappy background, but would like the sets and pairs to be the same fabrics so the geese don’t have different background in the individual blocks.  (I hope I explained this well)

I started by drawing a line on the diagonal on the back of all the gray background squares.  I used a number 2 pencil

The first of two methods for the block is the stitch and flip.  Using the 4.5” x 8.5” rectangles and the 4.5” x 4.5” squares we will create the large geese (they measure 8.5" x 4.5" when sewn).    Place one background fabric on top of the rectangle with right sides together, lining up on one side.  Stitch on top of the drawn line.  Trim .25” from the stitch line and press the background out.  Then add the next background square, sew, trim, and press.  This is the same method if you choose to make the optional mini geese. (measuring 1.5" x 2.5")

Since you cut the corners of the large geese after you made them, I would love it if you would create one corner into a half square triangle and sign the block with your name and where you are from in the background fabric so I can add it to the back of the quilt.  I love having everyone that created it be a part of the quilt.  

For the four at a time method, take one goose square (5.25” x 5.25”) and two background squares, 2 7/8” x 2 7/8”, (keep the sets together).  Put them face down on the diagonal.  Pin in place.  Stitch on either side of the pencil line, .25” away.   

After they are sewn, cut the block in half along the pencil line.  Press the background squares out, they will look like a heart.

Now take the same background squares and place on the goose fabric corner of the heart with right sides together.  Again, stitch on either side of the pencil line .25” away

Cut on the pencil line and press out.  Each section creates 2 geese that are 2.5" x 4.5"

 With all our geese made we sort them in to the 4 quadrants.

A:

 B:

 C: *This is where the optional mini geese are.

Optional 

  D:

I normally press open, but with the geese I pressed to the point of the geese.  I did press the 4 main joining seams of the quadrants open.

This is how the layout should go together.   The 4 quadrants are each 8.5" x 8.5", so the final block should be 16.5" x 16.5".  If you switch one up a goose placement accidentally, don't worry about it.  Once in the quilt, it will not be noticeable.

Here are a couple photos of the blocks from last year along with a number of my own.  I think I will have the motivation now to finish the stack of half done blocks sitting in a bin for this quilt.  I can't wait to see what you create and add to my quilt!

May Hive 3 Gina's Catherine Wheel

Hello hive mates. I'm Gina from South Wales in the UK. I blog, very infrequently, at Quilts and Cakes. I am also dabbling my toes in the designing world.

My block for you is one of my own design ( I think). I was playing about in EQ and this is one of the results. My hubby has named it Catherine Wheel.

It's a 12" block and made mostly from HST's. As you can see it's scrappy. Now I love scrappy quilts but I am too much of a control freak to make one. I need to know exactly what fabric goes where and they never work out for me. They always look a mess. So I've decided to ask you ladies to make my scrappy quilt for me.

Fabric choice

The background is all Low Volume. A mixture of creams, whites, very pale greys, pinks, blues and lilacs.
This was my starting pile of Low Volume fabrics if you need inspiration.

That said if you just want to make the background a scrappy white/off white that will work too.

Pattern

Any bright fabrics you have. They can be solids, patterned, batiks, novelties, uglies. I don't mind. The brighter the better. Raid your scraps. This is the excuse to use that " what was I thinking" fabric that you've been sitting on.

Instructions

Quick  note.....I doubled the amount of squares as I made two squares at a time. It also meant I didn't have the same fabric twice in a block. You are not obligated to send two and that's why I've just given the cutting plan for one block. 

Pressing..... I have pressed ALL my seams open. I find it easier to match points and seams when I do. Also the block lies flatter. Can I ask that you do the same.

Background

6 no 4" squares ( draw a diagonal line on the back)
2 no 3" squares  ( draw a diagonal line on the back)
4 no 2.5" squares

Brights

6 no 4" squares ( draw a diagonal line on the back)
2 no 3" squares ( draw a diagonal line on the back)
1 no 2.5" square


To make the middle

Pair each of the 3" background square with a bright one. Sew a quarter inch either side of the diagonal line. Cut down the middle and press open. Trim to 2.5"

Lay the units out along with the 2.5" squares as below

Sew together and press all the seams open

This centre block should measure 6.5"

Outer Units

Using the 6 no 4" squares make 12 no HST's using the same method. Trim these to 3.5"

Lay out the units as below around the centre unit. Please note the placement of the corner units.

Sew the units together and attach to the centre unit, pressing all seams open.

I'm sorry if the post is a bit long for what is a fairly easy block. I haven't done a tutorial for quite a long time. One thing I will say is don't sweat if your points don't match or they've been cut off. In the large scheme of things it won't matter. It won't show when the quilt is put together.

As I mentioned earlier I made two blocks, well to be honest I've made four. This is so I can show you why the placement of the corner units is important.

When you put them together they make a pinwheel. I love quilt blocks that have hidden designs in them when you put them together.

Thank you in advance for making these blocks for me and don't forget that mail from the US/Canada to me can take up to three weeks so don't panic when it takes me a while to email you they've arrived.

Hive 9, May Tutorial

I love making all the lovely blocks everyone picks when they are the Queen!  But it is so hard to pick when it is my turn!  I think this month is a winner - I have wanted to make a Granny Square for a very long time!  I added an extra row to make it nice and big, too!

You will need 5 fabrics.  The outside row is white, not LV or tone on tone, just plain old white!  Choose one fabric for each of the 4 other rows.  

Please use very saturated colors.  Contrast between each row is necessary but I would like the rows to coordinate.  I don't want a scrappy look.  Please do NOT use batiks, novelties or licensed prints and please don't use black, brown, cream.  Just nice, bright colors!

Cut the following 2.5 inch squares:

1 of block 1

4 of block 2

9 of block 3

12 of block 4 

16 of block 5

I like to lay it out on a surface.  My board is a little small but you get the idea.

Your first row is a single white block 5.  The next row is 5-4-5, third row is 5-4-3-4-5,
fourth is 5-4-3-2-3-4-5 and so on.  Press each row the same way and alternate with the adjacent block so you can neatly nest the blocks and have sweet corners.  

Finish pressing all the seams in the same direction from the middle outward.

Please don't trim the finished block - I will do that!  

Thanks for your work - I am looking forward to seeing what you make!

Debbie Grosskopf

May Block for Hive 8

The hardest part for me was coming up with a block.  I had several possibilities in mind but then I saw this post  at Smiles From Kate and my mind was made up. Kate very kindly gave me links to the creator of the block, Janeth at Toefeather  and also sent me a pdf for a cutting chart that lead me to this tutorial here.  Thanks Kate you are the best.      The title of the block was originally circle of squares but I prefer the name Circle of Friends.  I used the tutorials provided in the two links but I changed the sizes so please make sure you follow my cutting directions below.  I believe my instructions are accurate but if anything seems amiss please let me know.

So here is my sample block and tutorial for a 15 1/2 inch Circle of Friends block.

  For my blocks I would like you to use bright rainbow colours for the feature fabrics.  Please use lots of different scraps in your block and try to have some warm and some cool colours in your block.  Here is a sample of fabrics you might use.

     For the background fabric please use a white solid if you have it.  I used Kona White but I'm not fussy about what you use.

Cutting directions:

Feature fabrics:   cut 8 squares 3 inches by 3 inches.



Background fabric:

Four squares 3 inches by 3 inches

Four rectangles 3 inches by 
5 1/2 inches

Eight rectangles 1 3/4 inches by 5 1/2 inches



Eight rectangles  1 3/4 inches by 3 inches



You also will need to cut a 5 1/2 inch by 5 1/2 inch square for the middle of the block.

Constructing the Block"

The block is made up of two different types of sub units :   the corner units and the side units.

To make the four corner units  sew a 3 inch square of feature fabric to a 3 inch square of background fabric Press away from the feature fabric.

Then sew a 3 inch by 5 12 inch rectangle to the side of the unit , again pressing away from the feature fabric.  These units should finish at 5 1/2 inches.

For the 4 side units sew a 1 3/4 inch by 3 inch rectangle on each of two opposite sides of 4 squares , pressing away from the feature fabric.

Then sew a 1 3/4 inch by 5 1/2 inch rectangle to the remaining two sides. You guessed it: press away from the feature fabric.  These units also finish at 5 1/2 inches.

Arrange the sub units into the final orientation.  Sew the subunits into rows pressing the seams towards the corner units for rows one and three and towards the centre unit in the middle row.

Sew the rows together and you are done!

     It took me less than an hour to sew the block and less than 1/2 hour to cut the fabrics.  I hope you enjoy making this block.

Hive 5 - May Tutorial - Oh Tannenbaum...

View from my front porch today - 29 April

Hive 5, ladies! Hope this note reaches you well! As I write this, two days before May begins, it is currently STILL snowing here in Colorado... this makes month SEVEN of snow for us and after five years here, I've officially hit my snow limit! So I'm moving to Florida! :) I'm moving around the 20th of May (I know, worst timing ever) so if you mail your block before the 20th it will be a Colorado address and after the 20th I will update the list with a Florida address. So sorry this is such a pain :(

Anyway, once my window view is of white sand beaches and not snowy mountains, I'm sure I will miss all the trees in this silly, chilly state. To remember this state by, I chose a Christmas tree block so that I can craft a cozy throw to celebrate the season with this year! I have a bit of a problem with hoarding Christmas fabrics so I have a TON. If you don't have any, don't worry, solids, batiks, or small print other fabrics in red & green will work fine :) Novelty prints are also fine (I included quite a few in my fabric selection) but please don't use any with licensed cartoon characters (i.e. no Fred Flintstone) :)

Novelty Prints and Christmas Prints in Red & Green 

Non-holiday Red & Green fabric selections

The pattern is a free wallhanging pattern from McCall's I'm making into a quilt block. The PDF does an EXCELLENT job of explaining how to assemble the block so I won't try to confuse what I think McCall's did right! :) McCall's Tiny Tannenbaum Pattern PDF

I love the scrappy look of the tree where no two fabrics are the same next to each other; if you want every green to be different feel free to deviate from the pattern to do that - get creative! I also love how easy this block is with easy half square triangles and regular squares! :) My only color requirements are that you keep the tree mostly green with a brown trunk, use a low volume or solid print in a true white for the background fabric, and use something true red (not burgundy) for the border. The border that appears to be in green floral in the tutorial, that should be a true red print or solid :) So true greens, reds, & whites... go to it, ladies! :) Christmas themed fabrics are a plus but again, not a requirement at all :) Have fun, use up your stash and be grateful that it's not snowing where you are!
All my love,
Erin
P.S. There are 237 days till Christmas... Not that my pre-schoolers are counting or anything ;)

Back Porch View

Hive 2 - May 2016 Tutorial

Hi, everybody! My name is Debbie Davis and I live in Glenpool, Oklahoma. I am the high school librarian and I work with our ESL (English Second Language) students. This is my first year with Stash Bee and I really appreciate the chance to sew along with such a great group of quilters. I have one son, Chaun. Can you tell he gets his height from me?

This picture is a couple of years old. He has gotten taller and I have gotten wider. The cruel twists of fate!!!

I have been quilting for nearly 35 years - on and off. I lived in Kotzebue, Alaska from 1980-85 and that is where I picked up the quilting bug. My first quilt was "Quilt in a Day - Log Cabin", I am sure I am not the only person that started with Eleanor Burns! I still have that quilt but I can't use it - somehow I left several pins in it when I sandwiched together. :) I have learned a lot since that first quilt and I love teaching others about the joy of quilting. Over the last few years, I have held several classes for fellow teachers and to the disgruntlement of some husbands, help them to catch the quilting bug also.

These are just a few of my quilts - the rest are on the couch, the floor, the beds or in the backseat of my car. I have put a few of my quilts in shows but my quilts are created to lay around on.

So enough about me -- on to the block. I would like the Wanta Fanta Block and Blossom Heart Quilts offers a great pdf with the pattern and instructions: HERE

But here are a few suggestions: colors: white background. It can be solid white or white-on-white. The other pieces - anything goes. they do not have to match so this would be a good chance to use up those pieces left over from something else. Only thing I ask is prints - not solids.

This block consists of both piecing and paper-piecing. If you need help with the paper-piecing here is a tutorial, also by Blossom Heart Quilts.

Here are the number needed for each section of the block:

The orange and green squares at the top, as well as the 16 rectangles at the bottom, are used in the paper-piecing part of the pattern. The smaller blocks and the large background blocks are used in the 2 snowball parts of the block. The snowball part of the block is pretty straightforward. Mark on the back and sew and flip.

A reminder:  on the paper-piecing part of the block - make sure you turn off any scaling when you print the pattern out and print "actual size".  Also, the directions have you cut 3 1/2 squares for the middle of the paper-piecing - which I did but once I trimmed the first one down - I cut the rest of them to match. It made the paper-piecing go pretty fast but do whatever you are comfortable with. You will notice in the picture if you printed and trimmed your paper to the right size - the fabric fits.

Here is the finished block. Please let me know if you have any questions or problems.