Hive 5 - June tutorial

Hi it's Abigail from cut&alter here and I am so excited to be Queen Bee of Hive 5 this June.  I went back and forth a dozen times when deciding which block to request, truly I find that the hardest part of belonging to a Bee, but finally settled on the block below .... 

I first saw it in a local quilt shop where it was called Kisses and Crosses, but have since seen it on the Stash Bee referencing Lori Holt's Cross Roads Block.  Whatever it's called I loved the look of this quilt, which is a Stash Bee finish from last year (and Cyndi was a Hive Fiver too!).

Fabric requirements:

- 8 squares of low volume fabric cut to 4 1/2"

This was my initial choice for the low volume squares, but I ended up swapping the square with the X on it for a white on white print.  Whilst it looked OK, when I turned the photo to B&W on the camera it read as mid volume and was just too dark.

- 48 squares of scrap fabric cut to 2 1/2"

I really want a colourful scrappy quilt so really anything goes .... apart from brown please!  As you can see on my example I have used almost 48 different fabrics (there are a couple of repeats).  If you can do that it would be great but if you don't have a scrap stash like that then don't worry and repeat fabric but please try to keep it away from each other.

Instructions:

Sew 4 small squares together into a 4 patch

Iron seams to one side and interlock seams when joining rows

This block will measure 4 1/2" square

Make 4 and set aside

Take 16 small squares and mark the diagonal line on the back

Place 2 small squares in opposite corners of the large square

Sew along the line - I find that I get a better finish when I sew a needle's width to the outside of the line

Press to set the seam and then iron open

Trim the excess fabric away

This block will measure 4 1/2" square

Make 8 blocks like this

 

  

Take 2 triangle blocks and join together matching the seams

Press seam open

This block will measure 4 1/2" x 8 1/2"

Make 4 blocks like this

Using the remaining 16 small squares make four 4 patches and then join together to make a 16 patch

Lay out as a 9 patch formation - ensuring triangle blocks are facing the correct way

Join together as rows

Press seams in the direction shown by the arrow below

Join top and bottom rows to centre row

Press seams in the direction shown by the arrow below

And that's it!!  I do have another request ...... I was wondering if you would all be happy to make a signature block for me to piece into the back?  It would be a lovely reminder of all my wonderful Hive mates.  I have made an example which fits with the front very well (!), which you can see below, but you could do your own thing if you want.   It just needs to have you name and location on it.

Any questions please do ask and I am so looking forward to receiving your lovely blocks!  Thank you very much in advance. x

May Hive 8 block for Lisa

This is Renae from Hive 8. I enjoyed making this fun block for Lisa!

I hope it fits well with the others!

Hive 4 June 2016 Tutorial - Super scrappy star

Hello Hive 4! This is a great project for scrap busting. Actually, it's a great project for scrap busting if you are making a lot of these. If you're anything like me, one star will barely make a dent in your scraps. 

This month, I'd love for you to use your GREEN SCRAPS for this "Super Scrappy Star." 

Guess what? I asked my bee in the St. Louis Modern Quilt Bee to make this block for me, and I made them a printed tutorial. So, if that would help you, you can print a pdf of this block. The only difference is, this is the STASH bee, so you will use your stash for all parts of the block, and I gave them background fabric (if you have NO WHITE in your stash, though, send me an email, and I'll send you some). 

Super Scrappy Star Tutorial printable pdf

COLOR SCHEME

Green! Any green, all greens, as many different scraps as you can dig up. An occasional blue-green/teal/turquoise is okay, too. 

Background should be white. Any "true white" will work, even if it's white on white. Please just stay away from off-white/cream/ivory. If you don't have white, let me know and I'll send some your way (though, we're all quilters here, that would just be weird, amiright?). 

CUTTING GUIDE

Green Scraps

(16) 2-inch squares

(8) 4-inch squares

(1) 2.5-inch square

White (Background)

(8) 4-inch squares

(2) 2.5-inch squares

(2) 2.5 x 6.5-inch strips

ASSEMBLY

All seams are 1/4 inch

1. Create the center square.

Sew (1) 2.5-inch white square to each side of the 2.5-inch green square. This will create a strip that is 2.5 x 6.5 inches with green in the middle. Attach (1) 2.5 x 6.5-inch white strip to the top of this piece, and the other white strip to the bottom. 

2. Create the corner pieces.

Use the (16) 2-inch squares to make four 4-patch sub-units, each measuring 3.5-inches. 

3. Make half square triangles (HSTs).

Place each of the (8) 4-inch green squares right sides together with a 4-inch white square. Draw a diagonal line from one corner to the opposite corner. 

Sew 2 lines of stitching, each 1/4 inch away from the drawn line. Cut HSTs apart on the drawn line.

Note: This will give you twice as many HSTs as you need for the block, but it increases the amount of variation in green scraps in the block. Since you are just making one block, please just include your unused HSTs when you mail your block. This way, I can distribute your scraps to another location in the quilt as well (and if you want to tuck any more green scraps into your envelope, I wouldn't mind). 

Iron the remaining HSTs open. Trim to 3.5-inches square.

4. Put the square together. 
I could attempt to explain how to do this, but I think, in this case, a picture really is worth a thousand words.

Done!

Hive 9 June Tutorial - Improv Houses

Last year I asked for a paper pieced string block and this year I have been racking my brain about what to go for...since we are in the middle of a transatlantic move from France to coastal North Carolina, I went with improv houses!

Some of you may be familiar with improvisational quilting, some may not. There is no single definition to what improv means and essentially, it may very well mean something different to each of us. 

To me, improvisational quilting has a lot to do with a departure from traditional notions and expectations, while it does not mean shoddy or poor workmanship. But it also a means finding my voice while focusing on the process, rather than following a pattern to the tee. The wonderful Sherri Lynn Wood started a great conversation about what improv is on this blog post.

To stay within the framework of this bee, I am not asking you to give up your rulers or rotary cutters, although if you want to cut freehand or with scissors, please by all means do so! I truly do hope that you will find the process fun and liberating. Keep in mind that anything goes and that it should be *fun*

Here goes my tutorial...it took me 35mins to finish 4 blocks, including taking the photos :)

Size: You can start with 4 layer cake blocks (10 x 10) or you can use smaller squares/rectangles (i.e. 8x8, 10 x 8, 7x7). If you feel like using charm squares, go ahead. Just keep in mind that a 1/4" SA will be used and it makes some of the pieces very small. 

There is no size requirement and I will be happy with any size of blocks you are sending :) just use 4 different pieces of fabric.

Colors: anything goes! Monochromatic, solids, black and white, neutrals, tonals, bright, batiks, hand-dyed, as long as they are 4 different ones.

Pressing: I finger pressed as I went along. There is no need to get up and iron after every seam, but if you are an iron addict, please feed your addiction. Also, if you press to the outside (background, etc.) it goes together well. No need to press open ;)

Piecing: 1/4" SA please and chain piece as much as you can!!!

Cutting: You can use a ruler or not. Rotary cutter or scissors, whichever you like better! I recommend pulling each stack of pieces away from the other stack so you don't end up cutting into another piece by accident.

Trimming: There is no need to trim the final blocks. But, if you feel like you cannot possibly send untrimmed blocks, then by all means, trim them to the largest size possible. It does *not*  have to be a square but can also be a rectangle.

Here are the steps:

1) Pick 4 same sized pieces (I used layer cake pieces, but you can cut them any size) of different fabrics

2) Stack them on top of each other - the order does not matter! 

3) Make your first cut for the roof - slanted, straight, freehand or with a ruler - anything goes. Don't think, just cut and let go!

4) Cut the left side of the roof - again, if you pull the background piece you just cut off a bit away you don't risk cutting into it when you cut the right side of the roof.

5) Cut the right side of the roof - angle does not matter, it can be steep or flat, etc.

6) Now cut the two background sides, left and right of the main body of the house. Again, the cut can be straight, angled, etc. 

7) It's time to cut the door! To do this, cut the piece above the door first, then cut the two sides. But you can also cut the sides of the door first and then cut the piece above the door!

8) Take the top piece of door fabric and move it to the bottom of the stack.

9) Take the top two pieces of roof fabric, and move them to the bottom.

10) Lastly, take the top 3 door frame fabric pieces and move them to the bottom of the stacks. You should now have a roof, a background, a door and a doorframe that are all different colors. 

11) Move the pieces next to your sewing machine so you have them within reach.

12) We begin reconstructing the house: First, sew the right side of the background to the roof. Chain piece and finger press! Then sew the left side to the roof. Again, chain piece and finger press.

13) Now, we'll tackle the door frame. Start by sewing the side pieces to the door, then add the top. Chain piecing and finger pressing make this go fast.

14) You will have some overhang on one or both sides of the door/side pieces. Grab your scissors and just cut it off. No need to measure, or use a ruler. Eyeballing is fine and adds charm!

15) The main body of the house is complete and it's time to add the background. Again, first right and then left piece, or the other way around. It does not matter. 

16) Lastly, the roof needs to be added to the lower part. If anything juts out like my right side background piece does, just use your scissors to equalize it. 

And voila :

Here are some that I made with solid Kona:

And here is the back of one - I finger pressed my seams to the outside pieces.

I hope that you have enjoyed the tutorial and the process and, most importantly, that you have had *fun*! I always find letting go of rigid rules so liberating :)

Thanks, 

Martina

Hive 6 June tutorial

I'm excited to be Queen Bee for June. Inspired by Helen and others in Stash Bee this year, I've chosen a plus block, Robert Kaufman's The Plus Side. Simple, yet modern, and so many ways to make each block unique.

Choose fabrics and colors that you love so that your block will be an expression of your personal style. Please make Fabric A squares (corners) low volume/neutral (or of your favorite neutral is black, gray, or even lime green or red, go for it! That'll give the finished quilt even more scrappy sparkle.) For the inner and outer pluses, colors and fabric types of your choice, whether all solids, wild and crazy prints, or something in between.

You can download the free pattern here: Robert Kaufman's The Plus Side (PDF). The single block cutting info/piecing diagram is on page 4. Please follow the pressing diagram below so that I can nest the seam intersections together when I piece your blocks together into a quilt. :-)

Here's a step-by-step tutorial for those of you who like pictures. Use a 1/4" seam allowance throughout. On step 2, press open or to the dark fabric, whichever makes you happy. For steps 3 and 4, I've included pressing directions. Have fun!

(1.) Cut the following fabric:

1. Inner Plus: one 2-1/2" x 6-1/2" rectangle and two 2-1/2" squares.
2. Outer Plus: four 3-1/2" x 6-1/2" rectangles and four 2-1/2" squares.
3. Background" four 3-1/2" squares.

(2.) Sew a 2-1/2" Outer Plus square to the left and right sides of each of the 2-1/2" Inner Plus squares. These units should each come out to be 2-1/2" x 6-1/2". Then sew these units to the 6-1/2" sides of the 2-1/2" x 6-1/2" Inner Plus rectangle as shown above to make the 6-1/2" square Inner Plus unit.

(3.) Sew a 3-1/2" Background square to each of the 3-1/2" sides of two of the 3-1/2" x 6-1/2" Outer Plus rectangles. Sew the remaining two 3-1/2" x 6-1/2" Outer Plus rectangles to the left and right sides of the Inner Plus unit as shown above. The top and bottom rows should each be 3-1/2" x 12-1/2". The middle row should be 6-1/2" x 12-1/2". Press towards the 3-1/2" x 6-1/2" rectangles for each as shown above so that the seams will nest together when the rows are sewn together.

 (4.) Sew the rows together as shown above and press rows out away from the Inner Plus as shown above for a 12-1/2" (unfinished) block. Voila! You're done.

I'm using this block for a block swap on Ello this year too. We're swapping one block with a different person each month. I received the fun Kaffe block (bottom right) from Denise of Hot Possum in May. You can visit Denise on Ello and Instragram to see more of her vibrant style.

I can't wait to see the blocks you create and then turn them into an awesome remembrance of online quilty friends!