I am very excited to announce The Bee Hive – a new year-long series of quilt block tutorials that are perfect for quilting bees. Why, you ask? Because when each block is used in repeat, it creates an interesting secondary design! Let me show you an example…
Next week, we’ll kick off with the Tic Tac Toe block. Looks alright on it’s own, yes? But what happens when you make more of them…
You create an interesting quilt design! One that, at first glance, you can’t quite tell what is the foundation building block. This is why all these blocks are perfect for using in a quilting bee – 12+ blocks of each design will create a fun and interesting quilt for you as-is!
Starting from January 12, I will be sharing a 12″ finished quilt block tutorial every second Monday – that’s 2 tutorials a month! One from me and one from a talented guest designer:
January 12 – Tic Tac Toe
January 26 – Star Plus
February 9 – Chainlink
BONUS – Autumn Chain on Sew Mama Sew
February 23 – Wanta Fanta
March 9 – Houndstooth
March 23 – Mineral
April 6 – Spinwheel
April 20 – Double Star
May 4 – Busy
May 18 – Ripples
June 1 – Bunting
June 15 – Abacus
July 13 – Fizzy
July 27 – Checker
August 10 – Homebase
August 24 – Jagged Little Pill
September 7 – In The Middle
September 21 – Quatrefoil
October 5 – Magic 8 Ball
October 19 – Hidden Gems
November 2 – Alpine
November 9 – Christmas Star
November 16 – Shine Bright
December 14 – Treasure Hunt
There’s a mix of normal and paper-pieced blocks, and for a variety of skill-levels to keep the more advanced quilters interested too! I will be linking each tutorial up to this page, so you can bookmark or Pin this page for future reference.
If you have any questions regarding the actual tutorials from The Bee Hive, please leave your block-specific questions on the block’s post in the comments section so that others can learn from your questions/the answers too. Any general questions can be left in the comments section below on this post. Any questions regarding The Bee Hive Swarms, please check out the quilting bee etiquette post for FAQs and further information.
And of course, if you share your blocks on social media, be sure to use #thebeehivequilts and @blossomheartquilts so we can check your work out! I would love to share your blocks on the blog throughout the year!
Molli Sparkles says
So excited to be a part of this and see what everyone else is doing!
Tiffany says
Okay, this is an awesome idea! I can’t wait!
Sandy says
Great idea, great block….can’t wait
Anita says
Awesome! So excited about this Alyce! 🙂
Crystal says
Great idea! I think the hardest part is actually getting bees to work when they are sourced from each members stash. I was part of one this year, and I found some worked better than others. for example, I designed my own block and specified a scrappy style with black and white print, different tone on tone whites and a bright colour in the middle. It came together really well, but some of the others not as well. Anyway, something to consider when choosing blocks and putting 12 different ‘stashes’ together 🙂
Alyce says
Stash bees will never be perfectly cohesive, but they do create a beautifully scrappy quilt!
Jenni says
Eeekk!Alyce, this is wonderful! I love tutorials and can use all the skill building I can get. This will be so good!
Nita says
Oh, yay!! Jumping up and down! What a great quilty public service…thank you!!
Janice says
I’m so excited about this and to see what everyone designs! Thank you for including me!
Jeneta says
What a fab idea Alyce! And I love the lineup of quilters that you have. I am really looking forward to each month’s post!
Amanda says
Yay! Quilty tutorials!! I’ve got so much to learn so cant wait to read them!! Can I ask what a quilting bee is?? Love reading your blog x
Alyce says
A quilting bee is a group of 12 quilters who take turns each month to be “queen bee”. During that month, the queen chooses a block design, in this case from The Bee Hive tutorials, and the colours/fabric placement. The rest of the bee members then make the block and send it to the queen, and voila – a beautiful quilt!
Terri Ann says
What a great idea! U havce a hard time visualizing a block in repeat and you’re right the secondary design blocks create is really interesting.
Thanks for starting this, I’m looking forward to following along!
Alyce says
No worries! Each tutorial will include the same thing – the sample block sewn up, the image of the block and an image of it in repeat too!
rachelle says
would definitely love to be a part of this thanks
Alyce says
If you are interested in the bee groups, please go see Angie’s blog post about it all: http://gnomeangel.com/bee-hive-quilting-bee/
melissa latter says
Thanks Alyce.
What a great idea!!
I am so excited : )
Waiting until the 12th is going to be tough….
Joy says
Oh this is fantastic, Alyce. I can hardly wait to learn all the tips and tricks throughout the year. I’d love to hear more about the quilting bee swaps specifically for The Beehive Quilting Bee!
Joy says
Oh so excited and already signed up for the quilting bee! I can’t wait for it to begin.
Buttons-n-things says
Love the design and looking forward to participate
Jody says
How do you download the pattern. I cannot find it.
Leesa B says
As a beekeeper.. This is right up my hive! Thank you! Excited to get started on yet another BOM! I think I’m addicted… So far this year I think I am signed up and working on 5 already…. :-S
Paula says
How to download BOM and where?
Alyce says
Hi Paula,
Click through on the block image or name to be taken to the tutorial post. I’ll be updating this through out the year as the tutorials go live.
Leslie Schmidt says
Thank you for such an interesting block. I appreciate the talent and generosity you have. Fun!
Linda says
This sounds like fun, I’d like to play along, I’m a lifelong sewer yet new to quilting. I’m smitten!!!
Pamela N says
I am a brand new sewist is this something I would be able to follow along with? I’m thinking it will be a great skill-builder for me. Thanks so much for providing this opportunity.
Alyce says
You definitely could, Pamela! There will be a range of different skills covered – triangles, paper piecing, maybe even curves! So definitely a safe and fun way to pick up some new skills!
Laura says
I am so, so excited to be part in this bee. I cant’t wait to meet the other bees and get started… See you soon. Laura
Michelle says
c’est toujours avec un immense plaisir que je regarde votre blog, j’aime votre travail et j’ai toujours envie de faire un patchwork suivant votre modèle. Merci et à bientôt
Michelle
Jenny says
Oh this is going to be my go-to for my do good stitches circle. I love using blocks that create a secondary design, and they are hard to find!I like it when i can sew the blocks together without having to put sashing between them all. it’s going to be hard choosing a tutorial from all these! thanks for doing this!
Betty Mask says
I love each one of the blocks I have seen so far i just need to know how to download the pattern for the Autumn Chain
Thank you for letting us have the patterns for all of these wonderful Blocks
Lori Smanski says
I am following the BEE How do I access May 4th?
At a loss on this end
Alyce says
Oh! My apologies, I’d forgotten to update the post! I’ve fixed that now, and here it is too for you – http://www.blossomheartquilts.com/2015/05/the-bee-hive-busy/
Lori Smanski says
this is so much fun. Has June 1st gone live yet?
Alyce says
Sure is – http://www.blossomheartquilts.com/2015/06/the-bee-hive-bunting/
Sheryl says
me apaixonei pelo seu design! qual você usa? escrevo um blogue que escrevo sobre o mesmo assunto, quem queiser acessar..
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