I’ve been rolling ideas through my head for the Cottage Quilting Bee. I have sorted through my stash, tossed around a few ideas, and this one seemed to stick.
I wanted a final product that would be cohesive. Plus, I wanted to use up fabric scraps and move them out.
Each of the 18 members is about to receive a bag full of scraps. The fabrics in each bag will be monotone, but a menagerie of prints, mixing values and scale.
There will be six block colors in the final product:
*Pink
*Orange
*Brown
*Blue
*Green
*Purple
I figured this would be skill building. A chance to work on making seams meet. The finished 12.5x 12.5 block containing a nice layout of light, medium and dark fabrics.
My thought is to sash the blocks in muslin or a white. I always like how that makes the colors vivid and pop.
——————————————————————————————–
COTTAGE QUILTING BEE INSTRUCTIONS:
Now’s your chance to buy yourself a 2.5 x 2.5 square quilting block template. If for any reason you can’t afford this or find one, please let me know and I will mail it to you.
I use a rotary cutter to cut from the scraps. Some scraps might contain a multiple of colors. Cut an interesting piece that contains mostly the color you were assigned.
You will need 36 squares. Six rows across and six down.
I tried to include 36 different prints, but a few color groups might have to use one or two duplicate squares. Please feel free to grab from your stash as much as you want! One square of solid in the color is fine.
—————————————————————————————
Tips for lining up seams:
I find Denyse Schmidt’s directions for piecing rows very helpful, if you need any guidance. She irons her seams for rows alternatively to one another (i.e. first row seams to left, second row seams to right). I find this makes the seams “match” when it comes to pinning. I prefer it to open flat seams. Do what works for you though.
I do pin on a diagonal and don’t remove my pin until the needle has connected the both blocks at the seam. Not sure if that makes sense, but here’s a picture. I will lift my presser foot, and pull fabric to manipulate the matching of seams.
Have fun and let me know if you have any questions.
i love this! it is going to be one fantastic quilt.
Love the colors together, it looks really good!
WOW!!! This sounds so precise but I am up for it! Great that you have it all ready since you don’t do it until April, right???
Yikes! This looks awesome. Can’t wait for the challenge. pretty colors, too!
Oh this is such a great idea! Hmm… I have to send fabric to a bee (in August!) and this is giving me ideas! Plus, it’s so smart to use your scraps up… it’s going to be one good lookin’ quilt!
fantastic! I can’t wait!
How pretty! If you sash each one out you can use “quilt as you go” to finish it. It will be fun to see the finished creations.
I think I have tracked down a 2.5 by 2.5 ruler in the UK. Hopefully it will get to me soon.
Can’t wait to get started. I have been meaning to make myself practice precise seaming but never really got motivated enough to do it. Now I know the block is for you I will have to do it!
Thanks for the challenge. And a circle bee is not a bad idea.
I love the block. I made one for a BOM class that included 64 blocks. I was able to sew them in pairs and kept each column connected so that I never lost my place…sounds more confusing than it is, but I loved making this block! Can’t wait to get started on yours 🙂
Love it! And just got the fabrics yesterday and posted a picture of the lovely paper bags on the flickr page.
Tina
Katie – I love this block, I am soooo excited. I cannot, however, for the life of me find a 2.5 inch template (it’s the UK – we’re lucky to find anything quilty here). HELP!!! Or…..should I just rotary cut squares using my ruler – what would you prefer?
Shoot me an email – katyejones@hotmail.com
I’ll happily buy a template if you can help me find one! Thank you x
Ooh, I’m nervous but this looks awesomely fun 🙂
got my fabrics today…and will get to work.
reminds me I better get my May blocks ready. yikes!