Messes and Mess-Ups: Link Up

Posted on March 3, 2014 by sewingbymoonlight

I love this online community of creative people. There is so much amazing talent out there; so many inspiring projects to spark our own creativity. I’m thrilled that there are link-ups specifically designed so that this community can share projects, trade ideas, and inspire one another. Whether it’s a sneak peek of a work in progress, or our most recent finish, those link-ups are like “Show and Tell” for grown ups. And everyone loves Show and Tell day!

My recent unintentional blogging hiatus happened partly because I didn’t make visiting my own sharing space a priority, but also because I didn’t really have any awesome finishes to share.

But I started this blog because of this community, because I wanted inspire as well as be inspired. Admittedly, though, I wasn’t really feeling very inspiring. My sewing room is a disaster and I have more mistakes than finishes.

You know what, though? The messes and the mess-ups are part of the process of my creativity! In pulling fabric, and cutting, and piecing, and all of it, the mess happens. And sometimes I screw up. And that’s all okay. Sure I love the satisfaction of finishing that final stitch in the binding, but the joy is in the doing, in each step that brings a little stack of fabric ever closer to a finished project. Even the steps that involve a cutting mat buried under fabric, another date with the seam ripper, and maybe (sometimes) a swear word or two are part of that journey.

Finishes are great, and I love looking at your pretty works in progress, but with that kind of input ruling the blogs I read, it’s easy to feel like I’m the only one who messes up and makes a mess. Regularly.

I’m putting this link up out there because some days I use my seam ripper more than my sewing machine. I want us to have a place where we share the gritty, frustrating part of this process that we love. On those days where you feel like everyone else is churning out beautiful finished projects and you can’t find your rotary cutter, come here. You’re not alone.

I do hope you’ll link up your messes and mess-ups, and then go visit someone else and tell them you have days like that, too!

Hey! Did you know that when you are paper piecing you are supposed to place fabrics right sides together? You should not sew the wrong side of one fabric to the right side of another.

My daughter designed her first quilt, and I agreed to sew it together for her. I put these two pieces right sides together, but then I sewed them together along the wrong edge. I think my seam ripper needs a name. We spend a lot of time together.

I’m making a chevron quilt for a friend, composed of 352 4.5-inch HSTs and squares. I calculated that I needed 160 pink/cream HSTs and 144 mint/cream HSTs. However, when I ordered the fabric, I only accounted for the cream with the pink, not the cream with the mint. I didn’t realize that I didn’t have enough fabric until I was cutting it out. That left me with either 1. Redesign the quilt or 2. Order more fabric and wait for it to come in before resuming cutting out the quilt.

I redesigned. I think it will still work out well, and I’m sure she’ll be happy with it, but it was definitely a careless miscalculation on my part!

March and Messes

Posted on March 1, 2014 by sewingbymoonlight

Hey, it’s March 1st. March! I looked at this space yesterday and was shocked to realize that the last time I managed to get myself together enough to have something to say here was January 15th. Six weeks ago! This was an unintended break, but I have some things I DO want to show you over the next few days and weeks.

One of the primary reasons I started this blog two years ago was to have a place to trade inspiration in the sewing and quilting community. I’ve really learned a lot and developed my own creativity in from browsing what others are doing. I sort of feel like if I disappear from this blog I’m just taking and not giving. That’s a relationship that will never work.

I want to post more about the process we all go through while creating.

Would you be interested in a link up for Messes and Mess-ups?

I love seeing finished projects. I’m inspired by the huge pool of talent I see online. But sometimes I feel a little bit overwhelmed because everyone seems to be churning out beautiful, finished quilts, bags and other projects at top speed while I can barely find my cutting table for the mess stacked on top of it and I just sewed another block together upside down!

I thought if we could share about what happens before we reach the finish, including the mistakes and messy sewing spaces, we might understand that this Road of Creativity is bumpy sometimes, but we’re traveling with friends.

What do you say? Would you join me?

Multitasking

Posted on January 15, 2014 by sewingbymoonlight

I was chatting with my mom about my sewing projects and she mentioned that while she works on one project and then moves on, I seem to always be working on several concurrently.

No, no, I assured her. The list is long, and while I rotate through the list, my focus is usually on one item.

This conversation made me aware of my sewing habits and I realized I totally lied. Well, not lied, per se, but I was definitely not fully aware of how I operate. Of course my mom knew this better than I did. As it turns out, even within one sewing session, I might rotate through four projects (that seems to be my balance number: keeps it interesting without overwhelming me).

Here is what The List looked like last week, along with my progress:

Quilts:

1. Bill’s Quilt. — It’s with the long armer. When I get it back, I have to finish the binding and then send it off to Bill.

2. Sarah’s Quilt. — Fabric has arrived! Moving on to a whole mound of HSTs!

3. MQG Riley Blake challenge baby quilt. — no progress

4. Secret table runner. — Two blocks and a bunch of flying geese finished.

Quilt blocks

5. January blocks for the Stash Bee. — Done and done. Must mail them!

6. February block and tutorial for the Stash Bee. — I’m going with “any star block” and will include several examples for my bee mates. I’ve made a few and plan to finish 2 more before I write my tutorial.

7. starter block for Sisterhood of the Traveling Quilts. #sottq — color scheme selected and fabric pulled.

8. blocks for Rachel. These need to be mailed by February. — no progress

9. 4×5 Modern Quilt Bee blocks (6). — Signing up today!!

Mei tais – no progress

10. Brie: baby Brynn was born in October, so I need to get this one made ASAP.

11. Kim: I have been hoarding this fabric for Kim’s someday baby for ages. Really. Years. She studied tropical fish ecology in grad school (where we met) and the fabric has a scene of (you guessed it) tropical reef fishes. Her New Year baby was born January first.

12. Christine: My sister is expecting Oliver in March.

[Possible 13 + 14: my friend Kathryn mentioned wanting a couple mei tais for expecting friends, but I don't have any details yet, so these aren't officially on The List]

Other:

13. Five pillow covers for the St. Louis Modern Quilt Guild cares project. — label acquired.

14. Curtains for my living room. – one done, one to go. I mis-measured and it’s hanging a bit too short. I was trying to decide if it was worth moving the curtain rod down or if I should just go with it.

Only one item off the list this week, so now it looks like this:

Quilts:
1. Bill’s Quilt.
2. Sarah’s Quilt.
3. MQG Riley Blake challenge baby quilt.
4. Secret table runner.

Quilt blocks
5. February block and tutorial for the Stash Bee.
6. starter block (and journal) for Sisterhood of the Traveling Quilts. #sottq
7. blocks for Rachel. These need to be mailed by February.
8. 4×5 Modern Quilt Bee blocks (6).

Mei tais
9. Brie
10. Kim
11. Christine
[Possible 12 + 13: my friend Kathryn mentioned wanting a couple mei tais for expecting friends, but I don't have any details yet, so these aren't officially on The List]

Other:
12. Five pillow covers for the St. Louis Modern Quilt Guild cares project.
13. Curtains for my living room. Better get those done. We’re rather exposed at the moment.
14. Curtains for the dining room.

This list is a little long for my tastes. I prefer to keep it around 10 “priority” items (By that I mean, things I’m working on now and hope to finish in the relatively near future. Because I have a whole mess of other WiPs that are currently put away). I’d better get some things crossed off!!

The List makes a comeback

Posted on January 9, 2014 by sewingbymoonlight

For some time, I was in the habit of posting my works in progress in the form of The List each week. This was good for me, as it allowed me to see where I was and what I had to do, and it was also a good way to share with all of you about what projects I have happening in my sewing room. I enjoy seeing the progress pics of my online sewing friends, and I think the process is as important as the finished result.

I have a small dress full of Works in Progress, and one of my sewing goals this year is to work through those projects, but here is The List for what on the immediate horizon:

Quilts:

1. Bill’s Quilt. This quilt top is finished. I hope to deliver it to the long armer this weekend, and then when I have it back, I will have to bind it.

2. Sarah’s Quilt. Fabric is ordered. I’ve designed a chevron pattern for her and ordered Moda essential dots in bubble gum and aqua (which is a little more green than your standard aqua: it will work perfectly for Sarah’s requested pink and mint green request).

3. MQG Riley Blake challenge baby quilt. Will I or won’t I finish this by February???

4. Secret table runner.

Quilt blocks

5. January blocks for the Stash Bee. I’m in Hive 3, and you can see Alison’s request here, if you’d like.

6. February block and tutorial for the Stash Bee. I’m up next!

7. starter block for Sisterhood of the Traveling Quilts. #sottq

8. blocks for Rachel. My friend Rachel and her fiancé have requested quilt blocks from friends for their wedding. I wrote a tutorial, so I have one, but there are two others that I would like to include. These need to be mailed by February.

9. 4×5 Modern Quilt Bee blocks (6). Okay, so sign-ups for this bee don’t even start until Monday, but I’m planning to sign up, so I’m putting this on here!

Mei tais

10. Brie: baby Brynn was born in October, so I need to get this one made ASAP.

12. Christine: My sister is expecting Oliver in March.

[Possible 13 + 14: my friend Kathryn mentioned wanting a couple mei tais for expecting friends, but I don't have any details yet, so these aren't officially on The List]

Other:

13. Five pillow covers for the St. Louis Modern Quilt Guild cares project. I have to pick up some labels at the meeting this weekend.

So, there you have it. The list is rather longish at the moment, even for my preference. I’m happy when it hovers around 8-10 projects in the works.

Edit: Whoops! Almost forgot: 14. Curtains for my living room. Better get those done. We’re rather exposed at the moment.

And to a lesser degree (probably won’t get done until the rest of the things on this list): 15. Curtains for the dining room.

Table Top Turkey Trot

Posted on January 8, 2014 by sewingbymoonlight

I’ve been so wrapped up in three additional days off school for the kids (yes, we are now on our THIRD snow day in a row; they are climbing the walls!) that I totally missed my dresden turkey table runner tutorial (isn’t that a mouthful) being posted over at Moda Bakeshop!

The idea for this project came to me around the first of November. I drew up the plans, and it was approved pretty quickly. I had hoped to have it ready to post at Moda Bakeshop by Thanksgiving, but by the time I had the fabric in hand, that only gave me six days. My life, apparently, does not allow for a 6-day turn around time. It was ready before Christmas, but was just posted Monday.

Go check it out. It’s a festive take on a dresden block, and looks great on a fall table. That fabric is Floral Gatherings, and if you want to make some fall decor, I absolutely recommend picking some up. The colors are just perfect and remind me of an autumn walk through the changing leaves.

The tutorial includes a pdf download for the dresden template and the turkey body appliqué. You can download that pdf here as well.

Half Square Triangles 101

Posted on December 28, 2013 by sewingbymoonlight

Alternate Title: For Rachel and Colin’s Wedding Quilt

Alternate Title: How to make a quilt block when you’ve never sewn a quilt block before

IMPORTANT: Your quilt block must finish at exactly 9.5 inches. That’s a 9-inch block with 1/4 inch seam allowance all the way around. If it’s a touch bigger, that’s okay; it can be trimmed. If it’s too small, though, it cannot be easily incorporated into the quilt with the rest of the blocks.

**Tip: To achieve the above finished measurement, be sure to sew your block units together with a “scant 1/4 inch” seam allowance. That’s just a thread-width or two smaller than a 1/4 inch to account for the thread and pressing the block unit open

**Tip: You can make your quilt block with a sharp pair of sewing scissors and a needle and thread. Your kitchen shears or paper craft scissors or the scissors you’ve been using to trim your bangs will not be sharp enough to achieve a clean cut on fabric. For about $15, though, you can purchase a rotary cutter and a small rotary mat, which will make this much easier. (Something like this can be found at JoAnn Fabrics, Michael’s, or other craft stores. Bring a coupon to those big stores if the item is not on sale.)

Okay. Let’s get started.

Materials Needed:

Fabric: one light and one dark fabric was mailed to you
Sewing machine and thread OR sewing needle and thread
Sharp fabric scissors OR rotary cutter and mat
Ruler (see through ruler with a grid to square the block is best)
Iron and Ironing surface
Triangle template (optional. For method A only)

Part 1: Make the half square triangle units

If you’ve never made a quilt block before, a great easy place to start is with a half square triangle. This is just what it sounds like. It is a quilt block unit composed of two triangles of fabric, which, sewn together along the diagonal, make a square. These half square triangles (HSTs) can be arranged in a huge variety of layouts to create different quilt blocks.

For this 9-inch block (9.5 inches, unfinished, before it is sewn into the quilt), we will use a 4×4 grid of half square triangle units. Each of the 16 HSTs will be 2.75 inches, unfinished, and 2.25 inches when they are sewn into the block or quilt.

Did you notice the pattern of the seam allowance? We will always sew our seams together 1/4 inch (very slightly less) from the edge of the fabric. Thus, whatever the finished measurement of the block or block unit will be, you add a 1/2 inch to account for the seam allowance on all sides.

Method A: Triangle template

1. Using the triangle template (it should be 3-1/8 inches on a short side), cut out 16 triangles of light fabric and 16 triangles of dark fabric.

2. Place your triangles into pairs of light and dark. Stack each pair so the right side of the fabric is in the middle and the wrong side is facing out (note: with the type of fabric chosen for this quilt, there may not always be a difference between the right and wrong sides of the fabric. In that case, don’t worry about it. If there is a difference in the two sides, the brighter side goes in the middle).

3. Sew your HST together along the long side of the triangle, a scant 1/4 inch (remember: that’s just a thread width or two shy of 1/4 inch) from the longest edge.

Method B: Start with Squares

This is the method I prefer for making half square triangles. It goes a little bit faster and doesn’t involve fiddling with templates. Use whichever makes sense to you.

1. Cut out 8 squares of light fabric, and 8 squares of dark fabric, each measuring 3.25 inches (note: you could cut them at 3-1/8 inches, like the template, but I prefer to cut the squares slightly large and then trim the HST when it is complete).

2. Place one light square and one dark square with the right sides of the fabric in the middle and the wrong sides of the fabric facing the outside. Draw a diagonal line on the top square going from corner to corner. You can just use a regular pencil or pen for this. It will be hidden in the finished quilt block.

3. Sew two diagonal lines parallel with the line you drew, one a scant 1/4 inch to the left of the drawn line, the other, a scant 1/4 inch to the right of the drawn line.

4. Cut the square into two along the diagonal line you drew.

Both Method A + Method B:

Tip: chain piecing

To speed the process of making your block units, try chain piecing. Cut out all your pieces and place your pairs together. Sew one pair. Rather than pulling that pair out of your machine and trimming the threads, leave it there and sew the next pair right behind. Trim when you have finished sewing all pairs.

Finish the HST:

Whether you have used template or started with squares that were cut apart, you should now have a stack of 16 triangle pairs that are sewn together along their longest edge.

With the dark side up, nudge your hot iron between the two triangles and press the block unit open. This will press the seam allowance toward the darker fabric.

Trim each HST to 2.75 inches.

Part 2: Construct the Quilt Block

Now that you have your 16 finished HSTs, it’s time to decide on a pattern for your block. There were several included with your fabric. There are several more here. (Fun side story. The man who generated these 72 patterns is a Perl programmer who was dating a quilter. He developed the program to generate rotationally symmetric HST blocks.)

But these are just the “rotationally symmetric” choices, you are welcome to explore beyond that. I really had a lot of fun playing with my HSTs before I finally settled on the pattern I wanted to use.

Now you have 16 finished HSTs and you’ve decided on a pattern for your block, let’s finish up!

1. Beginning with the first row, place two adjacent HSTs together with the right sides in the middle, and their common edge aligned. Sew together using a scant 1/4 inch seam allowance. Sew the next pair of HSTs together the same way. Attach these two pairs using a scant 1/4 inch seam allowance to form your first row. Press your seams open.

2. Repeat for the remaining three rows of HSTs.

3. Flip the top row down onto the second row so the right sides are together in the middle. Align each of the seams between HSTs and pin in place. Sew the rows together using a scant 1/4 inch seam allowance.

4. Continue in this manner until you have sewn all four rows together. Press your seam open. Flip the block to the right side and press flat.

5. Trim to 9.5 inches square.

All done!

Mail your block off to be include in Rachel and Colin’s wedding quilt.

E-mail me if you have questions. Or call. Or we can Skype and I’ll help (this offer valid for Rachel and Colin quilt makers only)!

Planned Improv

Posted on December 20, 2013 by sewingbymoonlight

Okay, so I know that “improv” stands for improvisational, and I do realize that “planned improv” is therefor an oxymoron, but there isn’t a better way to describe this block.

For the most recent round of the 4×5 Modern Quilt Bee, I wanted to do a scattered, “confetti style” quilt block. It has the look of being random, but I still wanted to plan out where the pieced went so they were scattered throughout the block.

I did make the first one in a true improvisational style, but I found myself frustrated.

Because the pieces still needed to fit within the confines of a 12-inch block, I found it necessary to stop and measure after each piece.

So, with every little bit of “confetti”, I would cut, sew, trim, measure for the next piece, and so on …

After that first one, I made a cutting diagram so that I could just cut out all the pieces at once and then put them together.

The beauty of this method is that the sub-units are interchangeable. Thus, each block really is different, even though the pieces used to construct each one are the same size.

It’s fantastic because it allows an improvisational look to be achieved even by more structured minds that get easily frustrated without a plan.

I’m wondering if there might be any interest in me writing up my cutting list and piecing diagrams. I might do it anyway.

You can see, with the blocks all together, how there are no two alike. I placed the longest thin piece horizontally on the left side of each block so you could compare, but the blocks could be rotated for a different look.

Apparently, I need to work on “letting go” sometimes with my quilting, but for now, I’m going with planned improv!

Miss Connections

Posted on December 19, 2013 by sewingbymoonlight

This quilt has a story.

If you like that sort of thing, grab yourself a cup of tea and I’ll tell you all about it. If not, well, just scroll down through the pictures because this post is going to get a little wordy, but this quilt is definitely worth a look.

Let’s start almost two years ago when my little blog was just months old. Beth of Plum and June contacted me to ask if I’d like to part of the Let’s Get Acquainted New Blogger Blog Hop. I happily agreed and it was a great experience. I got to meet a lot of people who were just starting out on their online creative journey as I was, and I was introduced to a host of new blogs and the people behind them.

A year later, my blog was just over a year old, but since I was still fairly new, I jumped on the New Blogger Blog Hop Train again (I don’t think I can go for 3; I feel like once I’ve had this space for over 2 years, I can’t really call myself “new” anymore!). Another group of great, creative, inspiring people, and another set of new blogs to drool over.

This quilt is called Miss Connections, for Beth. She is Miss Connections because she put in the time and effort to organize and share all those new blogs. It’s like Miss Congeniality, only better, and a lot more work.

Now, we cut away for a moment, from the online side of things and talk about Virginia. Somewhere in our online correspondence, Beth and I discovered that we lived less than 2 hours from one another. A few friends occasionally met at Kim‘s place to sew and play and we loosely called ourselves the Midway Sewing Group since Kim lived midway between the D.C. area and me, in north central Virginia. We invited Beth to join us, but our schedules never lined up, so it never happened. And then I moved to Missouri. I feel like never meeting Beth in real life while we lived so close was a missed connection, and that is the secondary meaning of the name of this quilt.

Toward the end of the most recent edition of the Let’s Get Acquainted New Blogger Blog Hop, Jan at Sew and Sow Farm emailed everyone on the hop and proposed an idea. She thought it would be fun for each of us to make a block and put them together in a quilt as a Thank You to Beth for everything she did to make the blog hop run smoothly. Jan asked if someone take the lead to organize everyone, and volunteered. I felt like bringing us together on this project was a way I connect with Beth since I missed the in-person opportunity.

After considerable online discussion and a poll, we ultimately decided to go completely scrappy and make a “kitchen sink” quilt (from the saying “everything but the kitchen sink”). There’s a lot going on, but it works (the other options, in case you were wondering, were to unify by either color or block style). We felt that this plan would give each blogger the most autonomy and creative control over his/her contribution to the quilt. It really allows you to see the individuality within each block.

I made up a diagram for the quilt to determine how many blocks, and what sizes we needed, and then we each signed up for a block of either 6-, 9-, or 12-inches.

This quilt was a joy to put together. It was such an honor to take the creative work of so many individuals and turn it into one cohesive quilt. These blocks came to me from all over the world, and many hands have touched this project. Maybe the quilt, herself, is Miss Connection because she is the literal connection of all those blocks.

Here are some closer photos of the section of the quilt. Aren’t the blocks amazing? So much personality!

Some of the blocks are an obvious nod to their creator (like the mushroom block from Little Mushroom Cap, the banana from The Crooked Banana, and the diamond gemstone from {no} hats in the house which now available in the Craftsy pattern store) and others are a more subtle connection.

And speaking of missed connections, it seems I missed one of the block connections. See where New Zealand connects to the gray diamond dresden? Yeah, well, that whole unit was supposed to be flipped around, and now we have a finished quilt with an upside down New Zealand. I didn’t notice until I was quilting it, and well, by then I decided it was too late.

I pieced the name of the hop on the back and added the siggy squares everyone had included. (I didn’t realize that In the Boondocks had forgotten to include a signature block, but rest assured, I told Beth that you contributed!)

If you are looking for some new creative inspiration, there are some great spaces among these blogs!

Sew Fresh Quilts, Robot Mom Sews, So Sew Green, Kwilty Pleasures, Let’s Begin Sewing, The Sassy Quilter, NW Patchwork, The Rainbow Revolts, RobinSue Quilts, There’s a Thread, A Note to Follow Sew, Quarter Incher, {no} hats in the house, Lovelea Designs, Faffling, Wonderland by Alyce, Quilty Creations, Sew and Sow Farm, Caroline’s Craftiness, Simple Sewendipity, My Quilt Infatuation, Between Quilts, Little and Lots, Sassafras Lane, Hilltop House Creative Works, Chezzetcook Modern Quilts, Studiolo, Sew Sunshine, A Quilter’s Mission, The Crooked Banana, Sewing by Moonlight, Wasn’t Quilt in a Day, Ella and Nesta’s Little Room, Melia Mae Quilting, ayliN-Nilya, Factotem of Arts, Jolie Maxtin, Cloud Coucou Crafts, Kayak Quilting, Wombat Quilts, 13 Spools, Happy Fabric, Little Mushroom Cap, Molli Sparkles, Play Crafts, Owen’s Olivia, Making Happyness, Ella’s Cottage, Little Birdie Quilting, Bead Queene, On the Windy Side, In the Boondocks

If you’re wondering if Beth was surprised, you can read about it on her blog.

Collaborative work is awesome. If you haven’t worked with someone else on a project, I encourage you to do it. There are plenty of online quilting bees that you can join. Quilting is creative endeavor that is done mostly solo, and including the work of others with the same passion in a single quilt really strengthens your sense of community. I can now say I worked on a project with each of the talented people above, and I am so pleased I was able to help with this project to thank my friend Beth for all the hard work she did to bring us together.

Secret project update

Posted on November 20, 2013 by sewingbymoonlight

My, oh, my! An entire month of silence from me. I was working on a secret surprise quilt project, which is now ready to be mailed off, and as soon as it reaches it’s new home, I’ll post about it. I had A LOT of help with the quilt and had so much fun putting it together. I can’t wait to show you.

I also made an entire set of chair back pockets for my daughter’s kindergarten class, so they took a lot of sewing time, but I didn’t really have much to show because it’s 20 replicates of the same thing.

I am currently working on my blocks for the 4×5 Modern Quilt Bee. There are some sneak peeks of those on Instagram if you’re on there.

I just got a shipping notice this week for fabric for a Moda Bakeshop project that is Thanksgiving themed. It’s supposed to arrive tomorrow, and I want to have the project finished and the tutorial written so it can post on Thanksgiving. Yikes!

Next up: my friend Bill wants a quilt and I offered to make it for him. It’s going to be a big’un, measuring 98 inches per side. He picked a burgundy and spruce green color palette and wanted solids. I went with “almost solid” and purchased these Michael Miller Krystal prints that are on sale the The Fat Quarter shop.

After that, I will dive into FOUR mei tais, and I’m actually even considering writing a detailed tutorial on how to make them. Still contemplating that one. It would have to be several installments. They’re pretty involved.

And look, just minutes away from Wednesday, so I guess I’m just in time for WiP Wednesday!

4×5 Modern Quilt Bee is back

Posted on October 18, 2013 by sewingbymoonlight

I have participated in several rounds of the 4×5 Modern Quilt Bee, and it has been great fun. It’s a fantastic way to interact with other quilter and to get a sampler quilt on the way to completion.

Recently, our fearless leader, Sukie, announced that she was stepping down from leading the bee and it would be no more without someone at the helm. I just couldn’t let that happen, so with the help of two other quilters, I will be the NEW queen bee of the 4×5 bee. I’m headed into unfamiliar territory, but Sukie has promised to mentor me.

Here’s how the 4×5 Modern Quilt Bee works.

First, you fill out a form with your color preferences and mailing address. This is shared with your hive caretaker and beemates so that your blocks can be mailed to you. You make a color mosaic so your hivemates have an idea of what you are looking for in your color choices.

You are assigned to be part of a hive with 5 other quilters. You choose your colors for your quilt, and each of your hivemates makes you a block of their pattern choice in your color choice. This was from a round of the bee when my colors were yellow, grays, black.

Then I changed my color choices to tangerine, lime, and lemon yellow (sounds delicious right?).

Meanwhile, you choose a block to make each of your beemates in their color choices. In this bee, we use our own fabrics. This block led to a tutorial for my Multiples of 3 block.

After sign-ups, the bee runs for 6 weeks, so you have a week to choose your block pattern and pull fabrics, and then 5 weeks to sew. That allows for one block per week. At the end of the round, you mail off your blocks and receive 5 blocks in the mail.

Sign-ups are going slowly right now. With the redesign of Flickr and the uncertainty about the future of the bee, I don’t think people are checking in. But please join us in the 4×5 Modern Quilt Bee, and feel free to use that photo at the top to share and spread the word!