It is my turn to be Queen Bee in the quilting group BeeSewcial for 2016 and it is time to announce this month's theme! I want to start by saying I would like for you all to keep it simple, play and have fun. No stressing about the blocks this month, just make them, don't over think it.
Ok, are you ready? Here we go:
Triangles, Repeating Patterns, and the Color Blue
Simple, right? I hope so.
Ok, are you ready? Here we go:
Triangles, Repeating Patterns, and the Color Blue
Simple, right? I hope so.
Specifications:
Block Size: 2 - 12.5" square blocks or 8 - 6.5" square blocks, please trim them and send them in this size only. This is the only thing I am asking that is "picky" this month.
Colors: All shades and variants of blue, including shades of turquoise and similar greenish blues. Please include either a dark navy or black in each block. No white or creams, if you want lighter shades just use light blues.
Texture: I am letting you play outside of Kona Solids. Want to use a textured solid in your stash, go for it, I did with my examples. If it is an Art Gallery Solid, use it. Doesn't matter to me, in fact I prefer those textured solids, so use them up. But you don't have to. Use what you own, and use up those triangle scraps.
Construction: Normal piecing, improv or even more traditional. Please no applique of any kind. I don't want you to feel like this has to be an exercise in matching points either. If you look at my blocks most of them aren't perfect/matching and are cut off. I don't care about perfect points, at all.
Primary Theme: Focus on making triangles of any kind -
Half Square Triangles
Half Rectangle Triangles
Flying Geese
60 Degree Triangles
Equilateral Triangles
Even a shape that hints at or creates a triangle.
Do not feel you are stuck making a "traditional" block, if you want to create an improv wonky triangle that can't be copied exactly, then make ten of them and just think about the secondary theme below.
Secondary Theme: Focus on repeating pattern. This shouldn't be random but rather create a shape and then repeat it throughout the block. You can see by my examples that this doesn't have to fill the whole block, negative space is fine and welcome. Just consciously think about pattern and placement.
I didn't create a Pinterest board of inspiration this time, didn't feel it was necessary and honestly I think with my three example blocks you can get a good feel of what I am talking about and I tried to make three very distinctly different quilt blocks.
Got it? I hope so, I really intend for this to be playful and fun.
Block Size: 2 - 12.5" square blocks or 8 - 6.5" square blocks, please trim them and send them in this size only. This is the only thing I am asking that is "picky" this month.
Colors: All shades and variants of blue, including shades of turquoise and similar greenish blues. Please include either a dark navy or black in each block. No white or creams, if you want lighter shades just use light blues.
Texture: I am letting you play outside of Kona Solids. Want to use a textured solid in your stash, go for it, I did with my examples. If it is an Art Gallery Solid, use it. Doesn't matter to me, in fact I prefer those textured solids, so use them up. But you don't have to. Use what you own, and use up those triangle scraps.
Construction: Normal piecing, improv or even more traditional. Please no applique of any kind. I don't want you to feel like this has to be an exercise in matching points either. If you look at my blocks most of them aren't perfect/matching and are cut off. I don't care about perfect points, at all.
Primary Theme: Focus on making triangles of any kind -
Half Square Triangles
Half Rectangle Triangles
Flying Geese
60 Degree Triangles
Equilateral Triangles
Even a shape that hints at or creates a triangle.
Do not feel you are stuck making a "traditional" block, if you want to create an improv wonky triangle that can't be copied exactly, then make ten of them and just think about the secondary theme below.
Secondary Theme: Focus on repeating pattern. This shouldn't be random but rather create a shape and then repeat it throughout the block. You can see by my examples that this doesn't have to fill the whole block, negative space is fine and welcome. Just consciously think about pattern and placement.
I didn't create a Pinterest board of inspiration this time, didn't feel it was necessary and honestly I think with my three example blocks you can get a good feel of what I am talking about and I tried to make three very distinctly different quilt blocks.
Got it? I hope so, I really intend for this to be playful and fun.
Now that we have the details, I will explain how this theme came to be and why we are making these blocks and hopefully that will help you create this month.
A few years ago I made a Half Square Rectangle based traditional star block that was based on this same color scheme. Blues, with a bit of turquoise and a nice solid black. My husband saw this block and (I think the only time) commented, "Are we keeping this?" I replied, "No." He replied, "Well this is my favorite block you have made." "Really, why?" He replied, "The colors. It is my favorite color scheme, blues, turquoise and that pop of black just makes everything stand out." Since that day I knew I wanted to make him a quilt based with this color scheme. My husband is a "fixer" if it is broken, he can fix it. With literally everything. He is very scientific based and has that type of brain. He isn't a big lover of the random improv, he likes structure and reason. And this is why my concept of repeating pattern comes into play. So if you can help me make structured thoughtful blocks in his favorite color scheme, then I can turn this baby into a lap quilt just for him! And since he doesn't really read my blog, I don't have to worry about him seeing this or any of your blocks as they are created. Win win for everyone. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.
Make sure to tag all of your work #BeeSewcial if you are a Bee Mate and for any of you that wish to play along at home, use the #InspiredbyBeeSewcial hashtag so I can find your work in either Instagram or Ello. I really hope you decide to play along, it is a great exercise in creativity every single month and I can honestly say I learn something every month too. What is better than that?
A few years ago I made a Half Square Rectangle based traditional star block that was based on this same color scheme. Blues, with a bit of turquoise and a nice solid black. My husband saw this block and (I think the only time) commented, "Are we keeping this?" I replied, "No." He replied, "Well this is my favorite block you have made." "Really, why?" He replied, "The colors. It is my favorite color scheme, blues, turquoise and that pop of black just makes everything stand out." Since that day I knew I wanted to make him a quilt based with this color scheme. My husband is a "fixer" if it is broken, he can fix it. With literally everything. He is very scientific based and has that type of brain. He isn't a big lover of the random improv, he likes structure and reason. And this is why my concept of repeating pattern comes into play. So if you can help me make structured thoughtful blocks in his favorite color scheme, then I can turn this baby into a lap quilt just for him! And since he doesn't really read my blog, I don't have to worry about him seeing this or any of your blocks as they are created. Win win for everyone. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.
Make sure to tag all of your work #BeeSewcial if you are a Bee Mate and for any of you that wish to play along at home, use the #InspiredbyBeeSewcial hashtag so I can find your work in either Instagram or Ello. I really hope you decide to play along, it is a great exercise in creativity every single month and I can honestly say I learn something every month too. What is better than that?
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