Tutorial for Hive 4 in April

Happy April!  Paulette asked us to share what we like most about quilting.  I think my favorite part is piecing blocks.  (While my least favorite part is putting those blocks together!)  It is followed closely by quilting.

This month we are making two log cabin style blocks and putting them together for a rectangular block.  (Sorry - this isn't as exciting as what was alluded to in a recent email.)  The inspiration is taken from this quilt at Love Laugh Quilt.

Colors
The whites should be either a solid white or white on white.  Please stay away from creams.

The colors should be bright colors of the rainbow ranging between red and blue.  Please try to stay away from fabrics that have a white background and most novelty prints.  Batiks are fine.

Cutting
Please choose two of the options below to cut.  The colors should all be different colors.  The white1 should be the same white as the other white1.  You can make white1 the same as white2 (or white3 or both) if desired.  If you cut everything at once make sure to keep the strips from one option separate from the strips of your second option.

Piecing
Put the pieces together as shown below.  Make sure to watch the orientation as you get started.  Press toward the colored fabric.  Do this two times, once for each set of strips.

Put the blocks together. 
Sew the blocks together in the orientation shown below.

Please let me know if you have any questions!

Hive 7 Tutorial - Real Piano Keys

Real Piano Keys

I am a piano teacher and the piano key border has always bothered me because it looks nothing like piano keys.  This is one of the first concepts we teach beginning piano students, the layout of the black and white keys in groups of twos and threes. 

I saw a modern pattern for a "shutter" quilt and it seemed to me that that concept would translate well to my vision for Real Piano Keys.

 My block is a modern version of real piano keys, but we are not doing black and white.  I would like bright and strong and colorful.  You can’t get too bright for me.  Choose two colors that are a sharp contrast to each other.  However, be sure that they are two contrasting colors, not a dark and light of the same color.  Solids are okay as well as tone- on-tone, or something that reads as a solid with a small geometric.  Deep, dark colors can pair with a strong color easily,  No pastels, or lights.   Choose your favorite bright and pair it with another bright that sings well together.

 

These are both good colors, but there's not enough contrast.But they could pair up with other colors and be just wonderful.

 You don’t need much fabric.  6” inches across a fat quarter width would do fine.

 Pair up the fabrics and cut both colors at once.   Let’s assume you are using a fat quarter and we have 20” width to cut from.   You will cut::

A.  a 4.5 inch x 20 inch strip from each color.  Sub cut that strip into 4.5 x 12.5.  then cut at least 3 of 4.5 x 1.5 rectangles from the remainder of the strip. You will have some of these left over, You actually only need one pair and 2 extra of the light fabric.  Or if you  have been using more than a fat quarter, just cut 1 4.5x 1 pair and 2 of the lighter color.  If you want, send the left over pairs to me and I'll use them somehow.  

Two  4.5 x 20 and 2 1.5 x 20

 B.  One 1.5 x 20 from each color.  Sew together along the long edge and then subcut into 4.5 inch pairs.

(I got 4 pairs, and we need five.  Sew one of the extra pairs of strips from A, together)

Sew together the long strips and then sub-cut into 4.5 inches

 Choose one of your colors to be the strongest of the two colors.  Consider this the “Black” keys. 
I chose wrong on one of the prototypes and had to re-sew.  It should be obvious that one of the colors is more dominant.   Lay out the 4.5 inch pairs sewn together with the “Black ” part on top.  3 pairs of  "Black" and Light, one more light, 2 pairs of  "Black" and Light and one extra light.  Twelve stripes in all.    Join and press in one direction.  It doesn’t matter which way.    

Sew the middle strip in this order:   B W B W B W W  B W B W W

Keep the "Black" key  on the top and join the "Black"  Rectangle (4.5 x 12.5) to the right of the strip.  Double check the layout here.    Add the Light to the left of the pieced stripes.  It should measure 12.5 x 12.5 or close to that. This is the trickiest part of the block, and I thought I knew what I was doing.  

Should be easy, no seams to match, not too many options and I hope you have fun.  I can see this as a huge colorful grid of piano keys.  This quilt may come together like those large foam play mats for small children.  Anyway, thank you so much for helping me create this quilt.  

Susan

   

April Hive 2 Tutorial - Paper Pieced Block Rock'n Star

April Hive 2 Paper Pieced Block Rock'n Star

 
Hello everyone! This is my second year participating in the Stash Bee. A big Hello to all the ladies from 2017's Hive 8!!! I see a few of you are back for another year.

Last year, I crashed another hive to try paper piecing for the first time (Kim from Hive 5, 2017) and I absolutely fell in love.  Now I can't get enough and try all sorts of amazing patterns that I would never have thought I could make.

This year I would like ask all of you for the 12" Global Concepts foundation paper pieced (FPP) block from the Block Rock'n series on Craftsy by 627handworks (627handoworks.com).

It is part of a 12 block series that you can use together or individually. The entire series is completely free, however you only need the one block for our purposes. You can download the Global Concepts block here*:

https://www.craftsy.com/quilting/patterns/block-rock-n-global-concepts-paper-pieced-/164392

*If you have never used Craftsy, even if the pattern is free you will need to add the pattern to your cart and "checkout" before you can download the PDF pattern, it will not ask for any payment information.

I feel like this block is pretty straightforward even if you are new to paper piecing.  Everyone may do things a little differently when it comes to FPP so if you do not need instruction please do your thing.

I had to look through several FPP tutorials before I found one that really resonated with me so if my instructions are not making sense to you, try watching a few you tube videos on the topic.

A few of my favorite FPP tips are:

• Check your pattern to make sure the scale is correct (see the top left corner of this pattern for a 1" scale).
• Color in the pattern before starting, this helps during construction so you do not confuse where each color will go.
• Cut your fabric pieces too big, you will have more waste but you know it won't be to small and that is a major bummer.
• Wonder Clips are your best friend.  Pins tend to cause fabric distortion when sewing each completed section together, but not clips! 
• When sewing sections together, first use a basting stitch to make sure you have lined up the pattern correctly. That way you can remove the basting stitch easily to start over, or if everything came together as it should, you can go back over it with a small stitch to finish.

Let's get started!  You will need four copies of the one page pattern to create the entire 12" block. Each A/B block should measure 6.5" unfinished. You will be using the same #1-5 fabrics for each of your four quadrants.

Here is my fabric pull (although I did end up moving a few things around in the end):

Color 1 -  Black print (a very dark gray would also be fine if you don't have black) I realized most of my dark prints are black with white, but you don't have to limit yourself to just black and white.  Just make sure if there are other colors that they are not overpowering or clashing with the pinks
Color 2- Light Pink
Color 3-Medium Pink
Color 4- Dark Pink
Color 5- Same Black print as #1

Use all the same fabrics for 1-5 throughout your block. I am asking for prints but if you have solids that would work and you don't have a print, feel free to throw those in, just try not to make the entire block with solids. Please keep batiks to a minimum. As much as I'd like to include them, please do not use fabric with any skulls or anything that may be deemed "sinful" (use your best judgement). The recipient of this quilt lives and works at a program in which these things are prohibited.  I already need to remake a few blocks because I found a skull on the scissors in the Libs True Love print. Since we all seem to have the same fabric tastes, do not worry if you use a repeat of something I or any of our wonderful hive mates may have used.

I pre-cut the pieces in the following sizes:

16 pieces Black - cut 3 1/2" x 8"
8 pieces of each Pink - cut 3" x 7"

I tend to like bigger fabric pieces when I FPP so these sizes are larger than needed and creates more waste.

I start my FPP projects by pre-folding each of the four lines between 1-5 on the pattern with my trusty cardboard notepad back.  Best ever!

Pin fabric #1 onto the template with the wrong side facing you, making sure the the #1 wedge is completely covered by the fabric:

Fold the line between #1 and #2 back and trim to 1/4". Then add fabric #2, right sides together, and pin.  Again, double check to make sure fabric #2 will cover wedge #2:

Now sew on the line between #1 and #2. My Juki does best when I use a stitch length of 1.  Some machines may do better at 1.5.

Press open:

Repeat these steps until you have completed all A and B pieces and trim to size (taking care to leave the marked 1/4" seam:

Join your A and B pieces together.  I like to use pins to make sure each seam lines up then I clip in-between with wonder clips to hold both pieces together, remove the pins and sew:

Please press the seam open and remove the paper only at the seam:

I'm still trying to decide if I want to mix up all of the pieces to give it a more scrappy look or not.  Since I'm not sure, that means less sewing for you!  You can send the four star quadrants to me without sewing them together.  Please leave the paper attached since I'll need it to sew the quadrants together, and taking off the paper is one of my favorite parts of FPP!

Thank you!

Hive One April Tutorial--Daisy Chain

Happy Easter, everyone!

I'm so excited to be Queen Bee this month!  I missed being part of Stash Bee last year.  I enjoy the distraction of making individual block requests each month, but I forgot how difficult it is to choose a block for my turn =)

I've been somewhat obsessed with nine-patch blocks of late, and I finally settled on a variation.  I loved this since I first saw it:  http://confessionsofafabricaddict.blogspot.com/2016/02/nifty-nines-quilt-along-daisy-chain.html  It is from a series of 9-patch tutorials from a couple of years ago now.

For the white background, I'd like low volume prints or white/cool light-light-gray solids.  No off whites, yellows or tans, please.  For colors I simply went to my 2-1/2 inch scrap bin; I have all kinds of fabrics and no real aversions.  I  prefer brights and darks, but any combination is fine with me.  My favorite quilts are highly scrappy, so think contrast and variety.

The only change to the original tutorial (linked above) is that I'd like to make blocks from each of the 2 units ... 2 9-patches and 2 snowballs.  You will need:

8     2-1/2" squares   low volume fabrics

2     6-1/2" squares   low volume fabrics

18   2-1/2" squares   high-contrast prints

Take 2 of the 9-patch units and 2 snowball units and combine into a single block as shown:

I pressed all the smaller unit seams toward the prints.  On the nine patches, the horizontal joining seams were all pressed towards the center row.  The finished blocks will be 12" (12-1/2" unfinished). Please feel free to contact me with any questions.  I look forward to all your fun blocks! 

2018 Quilt Finish!!!

Dang.  Sometimes I even amaze myself!

I've pieced, quilted and finished my 2018 Stash Bee Quilt!

I love, love, love how this turned out!

Thanks so much to Hive #7 for making perfect snowflake blocks

for this fun, winter quilt!

Peace to all,

Laura

2017 quilt

Last year I was in Hive 6.  It was my first year being a part of Stash Bee.  The block I asked for was a 12.5” string block made up of 4 - 6.5” string blocks.  I finally decided how I wanted to set my blocks (the blocks are so versatile) into a queen sized quilt.  Yesterday, the quilt went to my husband’s uncle and his wife.  They had just asked how much I would charge to make them a quilt.  Some things just can’t be bought with cash.  I know this quilt went to a good home.  Thanks to all my hive members from last year who helped me make this happen.

Hive #1 Another star for Karen

Karen has already let me know that she received my block so my posting is a little late.


I have one camera. . . . . and I am guessing that due to its small size it is very easy to lose. . . . because I lose it a lot!


But I have found it again and here is my picture:

I went very traditional with my piecing and hope it works well with the other blocks she has received.


Thank you for picking a fun block Karen!


In peace & pieces,


Sherry V.

Hive #1

Hi Hive #1, Rose finally getting to my post. I didn't have my computer .  Moving seems to take forever . I did make my block. I set up a TV tray table and put my machine on it. It was a little shaky but it worked. I love this block I hope Karen likes it too.  I put it in the mail yesterday. Happy quilting everyone. Rose

Blue Stripes & Red Stars

Life has really been interfering with my sewing this month. Finally found the time to finish my Ohio Star! It will go in the mail today.

March - Hive 4

I may have sent the block out before vacation...usually it seems to take at least a week, if not two, for it to get to the correct address.  This time it took about two days and I didn't have my post up yet. :s  However, I was told the colors were spot on, which was a relief.  My stash isn't huge and it's sometimes hard to get colors that are just right.