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| Block #4 - Pieced Bee |
Are you sewing along with the Save the Bees quiltmakers?!?
Today we are sharing block #4, which is ... a pieced BEE! Hop over to designer Jacquelynne's site to learn how to get your free copy of the instructions - click here.
My bee doesn't have her antennae yet, which will be made from black floss and 2 black buttons.
Of course the BEE block is the star of this quilt and it was sooo fun to sew. It looks like it would be paper pieced, but it's not. The bee is constructed in rows, and while I would describe it as a "challenging" pattern in terms of difficulty, the instructions are excellent and if you follow each step as written, your bee will come out perfectly!
The hardest part is the HST blocks, which stands for "Half Rectangle Triangle". These are tricky for me and although we have made them in previous blocks, I have to read the instructions, complete each step, and then compare my sewn pieces to the diagrams to make sure it looks right.
Seriously, I put the sewn pieces beside the instructions and look at it several times. It goes against my old quilter's brain to not match up the edges of the pieces before sewing or cutting.
It never looks right to me, but it IS right!!
You can see many more bee blocks on social media (#SaveTheBeesQuilt) and on Jacquelynne's facebook page, where I recently saw this posting.
Save the Bees!
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| Save the Bees - Blocks 1 - 4 |
Here are my 4 blocks on the design wall. It's coming together even better than I had hoped!!
Next month step #5 will show us how to get these blocks sewn together into a quilt top.
I invite you to visit all the featured blogs to see their wonderful bee blocks and to enter the draws on each blog:
- The Crafty Quilter
- Podunk Pretties
- The Quilting Nook
- The Sewing Loft
- Flamingo Toes
- Kathy's Quilts (that's me!)
- Freemotion by the River
- A Quilting Life
The very exciting prize for this month is an assortment of OLFA products! Believe me, you want to win this prize!
The draw is open to international entries and a huge thanks to OLFA for including all quilters in this draw because as we know, international postage is very expensive. The draw will be held at the end of the day on Nov. 11 (one prize per person per month).
To get your name in the draw, scroll to the end of this post, click on the word 'comments' and tell me your favourite OLFA product. I do love their rotary cutters and mats and use them exclusively, but my current favourite is the folding cutting mat.
OLFA also sent this gift package to the featured bloggers earlier this year and this is how I learned about the folding mat.Have you tried it? It folds up to be portable and is perfect to take to retreats and classes. When you lay it out flat, you can't see or feel the wavy fold and you have a large cutting mat to use. (No affiliation to OLFA, just a very loyal customer)
***Addendum...
Comment #2 (from a possible 141 comments) was drawn for the OLFA prize which is Cathy of Big Lake Quilter fame.
I don't think I posted last month's winner for the Aurifil prize. That winner was comment #155 which was Val from Val's Quilting Studio.
139 comments:
my favorite olfa product is , of course, my rotary cutter and mat.
I love your blocks. I love Olfa products. Hugs
I absolutely LOVE your color choices. They are perfect for this project. My favorite OLFA products are the rotary cutters of course. I'm anxious to use one of the endurance blades. I started with the OLFA cutting mats and rotary cutters back in the 90s when I was garment sewing for my young daughters. Their whole dresses fit on one 36 in mat! The transition to quilting was seamless with rotary cutters, rulers and mats already in my tool shed. I can't imagine cutting quilts without them.
I could not manage without my olfa cutter and blades. So if I have to pick a favorite, this is it! Thanks for sharing you lovely block.
Love my Olfa cutters. Haven't seen the folding mat.
I love the olfa cutters. Especially the Splash!
I guess I am the odd duck as I don't have any Olfa products. I haven't been using a rotary cutter until lately and just bought one I found in a dept. store to start.
Love your bee blocks!
I have a blue Olfa cutter and I just love it. It's not too heavy and so easy to cut with.
My only Olfa product is an older yellow rotary cutter, so it would be my favorite.
I do love the rotating cutting mat for some of my smaller projects!
I use my Olfa rotary cutter all the time.
I love the folding mat, easy to take places. On vacation and classes.
Their titanium rotary blade has my heart. I adore it.
great shop.
I love the rotary blades and mat.
I have Olfa cutting mats and cutters -- love them
I love the rotary cutter and mat, but would love to have the folding mat to take to classes.
I don't own any Olfa products...not yet.
I have their cutting mat. I really like it
Ive borrowed the folding mat from a friend on a yurt camping trip. It was very handy but I don't have one of my own.
Definitely there cutting mats and cutters....just love em!
I just purchased a cutting mat that rotates so I do not have to move my project when cutting or trimming. I love it as well as the rotary cutters!
My favorite OLFA product is definitely their rotary cutters. I won't use any other brand.
I have a turquoise cutter and just love it. I have a few of their mats but that folding mat looks like it might be something that I need too!
The Olfa cutter is my favorite--it's the first one I used and am still using!
barbkaup(at)(yahoo)(dot)(com)
I love Olfa products as well, and my favourite product is the 45mm ergonomic rotary cutter - so much so I had to buy a second one this year to go in my travelling sewing kit.
Your blocks look great. Sometimes I wish I had more time in a day because there are so many fabulous stitch-alongs.
I love my Olfa 45mm cutter (though sometimes replacement blades aren't sharp) and my old, green, large Olfa mat. I'm on the verge of needing a new one after about 25 years.
Thanks for the great give-away. So very generous!
MY favorite Olfa product is the 60mm rotary cutter. It has a large enough handle to make it the most comfortable cutter I've ever used. It makes the initial strip cuttings so much faster too, allowing me to get to the actual sewing a lot quicker. I do wish the blades would last longer though.
Love the cutting mats!
I only use Olfa rotary cutters and love their cutting mats!
I love anything OLFA, cutting mats, my favorite is the rotating mat. Rotary Cutters, the 60mm and the 25mm are favorites. And the new frosted rulers are fantastic. I love their new Endurance blade, it is so shape and lasts a long time.
I like the straight handle rotary cutter so I can use both hands when cutting fabric without moving the fabric
Olfa are my 'go to' when it comes to quilting, but my most favourite has to be the ergonomic cutters. For these arthritic hands they are a God send =)
The cutters are always reliable & well constructed.
Love my Olfa cutters, especially the 60mm one.
The cutter, of course!!! I love it.
That is going to be a super cute quilt, Kathy. Love the blocks together so far!
The folding mat sounds cool, I've never tried such a thing.
Love my Olfa pinking rotary cutter.
My favorite Olfa product is my 28mm rotary cutter...not sure what I'd do without it!
Love my ergonomic rotary cutter!
I bought several sizes of Olfa cutters when they first came out in the 80's(?). I am still using them. I am still using my first mat, and it is still in good shape. Love them!
I love my big olfa cutting mat.
I love their mats and cutters, the only kind I’ve ever used
The rotary cutter and mat have revolutionized quilt making. Where would we bee with out them. My favorite is the spinning mat for trimming up blocks.
A folding mat?! I’ll have to check it out. I love Olga’s smallest cutter. Can’t remember the size off hand. So cute!
I love the frosted rulers.
I recently bought OLFA's replacement blade for my rotary cutter, works great. I also have a small cutting mat I take to classes and retreats, I love it!!
Thanks for the chance to win. My favourite has to be my olfa mats and rotary cutter (but it's getting old now, and would like to retire, he has dreams of sitting back and seeing a new olfa rotary cutter joining the sewing space and learning the trade 😉)
I love olfa cutters and blades. Christine
I use the Olfa ergonomic rotary cutters all the time, but would love to try out one of the folding cutting mats.
Love your bee block!
My favourite is my rotary cutter, but, oh my goodness, I'm intrigued by the folding mat! Your blocks are beautiful, I'm just working at the hexie block this morning
I love the cutter with the squeeze handle, that folding mat sounds perfect to take to retreats or in the camper!! Very cute blocks you have created:)
I like the blades, if they are sharp my day goes great.
Can't do without their self healing mats
Love your bee blocks! I like their rotary cutters. I have tried others but always come back to my Olfas.
My favorite has to be the rotary cutter and mat. I can't imagine living without them!
Fun progress beeing made on your bee-u-tiful save the bees quilt. I came to quilting in the 80s and have been a faithful fan of Olfa, using their mats and cutters exclusively. I could not live without my spring action ergonomic 45mm cutter.
I also use OLFA products exclusively. I haven't found anything better and I have tried and been disappointed. My favorite product along with their cutters are the crystal clear rulers. They are easy to read on any coloured fabric.
My fav product is the super blade that come in the silver package..... sharp sharp sharp for a loooong time!
I'm loving that OLFA splash rotary cutter in purple!!
I only use Olfa cutters and mats.
I appreciate the Olfa mats for their durability.
My favorite Olfa product are the replacement blades. I buy them a lot. I also like the circle cutter.
I use many of Olfa products. My favorite is their cutting mat! And their new rulers are great, too!
I love the cutters they are the best. My favorite is the deluxe handle
I love the mats. Always accurate markings for great cuts
i love the cutters but that folding mat sounds awesome!
The rotary cutter would be my favorite - I don't have to worry about nicks or skipped threads along the way.
I had a Folding Mat. Gave it to my Granddaughter! I NEED the RED Ruby Olfa that was shown at Quilt Market to complete my Collection. LOL. Trying to save the Patterns for the Save the Bees. Too Many other projects screaming at me. Fun to follow your progress.
Cute bee block. I like my rotary cutter from Olfa.
slrdowney at hotmail dot com
My favorite OLFA product is my 45mm Deluxe handle rotary cutter. I only wish they would make the deluxe cutters in the new colors, purple, specifically. The bees all look so cute.
Pat
I love your block. My new favourite tool is a new 60mm olfa cutter. i love it.
Can't go wrong with any of OLFA products. All of their products are my favorites, but I'm partial to my cutting mats. I seem to cut more accurate with them then anyother matt on the market.
What beautifully rich colors you have use for your Save the Bees blocks. NICE!!
I love my cutting mat and I have several of their rulers. They work great.
Your bee blocks are so nice. My favorite OLFA product is my rotary cutter without it I don't think I would have ever started quilting.
OLFA rotary cutters all sizes in ant color
My only Olfa products are a couple of older rotary cutters. I don't use them because I have a newer cutter of a different brand.
I love the Olfa rotary cutters. I have used others, but they don't compare.
I love their rotary cutter.
I love Olfa cutters too and have used them since 1989 when I started quilting. I had a few other ones, but only use Olfa anymore. I have probably 8 of them LOL. I too love the straight handle ones so I can cut left of right handed. I did have a folding mat and for crying out loud, cut right down the center line of the board and cut right through it! So, then I had two halves!! Your bee blocks are looking good. I resisted starting that project LOL
Haha! Well, like I just told you in my comment on today's post, my favorite OLFA product is their 45 mm ergonomic rotary cutter, which I have in pink! I use it almost exclusively, even though I have eight different rotary cutters! :)
My favorite Olfa product is the Splash cutters. I have a purple and turquoise one, and I love the way they fit in my hand.
My rotary cutter is my favorite. Couldn't do without.
My Splash rotary cutter is my favorite! A great rotary cutter and such a pretty aqua blue color :)
Without question, the OLFA rotary cutters.
Olfa brand-spanking-new blades are my favorite - why oh why do i wait till my rotary cutter is chewing fabric instead of slicing it to change to a new blade?!?
My absolute favorite OLFA tool is my "old" OLFA rotary cutter! I've had it forever and I always go back to it...I've tried others and they just don't cut it. LOL.
My favorite Olfa product has to be their rotary cutter but I also love their mats.
The Olfa cutters can't be beaten, I would love to update mine. Use it all the time with my Olfa mat.
I love my rotating and regular Olfa cutting mats. Now all I need is an Olfa rotary cutter. I enjoy your blog as well!
Olfa has excellent products. I love their rotary cutters especially! Won't use anything else.:) Had to laugh at your comments about the half rectangle triangles. I have the same issue when working with them!
Love your Bee blocks and Olfa rotary cutters. I have an old old old one too. I remember I couldn't figure out how to use it when I first purchased the newfangled contraption since I had always previously cut by hand. I found it doesn't work very well without a ruler or template to cut against!
I've used Olfa cutters since I first found out about them, and I absolutely love my little 6x8" (I think) Olfa cutting mat. It's perfect for those little jobs like cutting the last 45 degree angle on the binding before attaching the ends together on the quilt.
Hands down my Olfa spinning rotary mat is my favorite, with my rotary cutter a close second.
Love my rotating cutting mat! So useful.
My favorite Olfa product is the Splash rotary cutter. It is my favorite of all the rotary cutters that I have use.
My favorite Olfa product is the curved rotary cutter. I use it all the time, especially since it has the option of the automatic retractable blade.
Olfa has really transformed the sewing world. I suppose my favorite item would be the rotary cutter as it is great for both quilting AND for clothing pattern cutting.
I love OLFA rulers and the cutter, I use them every time I patch and do not know what to do without them. aubphg (at) hotmail (dot) com
I don't own any Olfa products. I would love to try some.😉
I am an Olfa girl too, and particularly love my Olfa Frosted Rulers. I want them to make a 24 inch by 8.5 inch one, and asked them on their website. Their response was very polite, but I think more people need to ask for it to make this dream come true. And your bee blocks are lovely. It will be fun to see your finished top.
I have an Olfa rotary cutter and two mats. The first served me well for years--until I left it in my hot car. It's now my travel mat. I would love to own the folding mat.
I have the folding mat and it works great. I wasn’t sure at first if it would fold flat when it was opened. But it did and makes it great for bringing to quilt retreats.
I like the Olfa rotary cutters.
I really like the Olfa cutting products, especially the one that is the first one you bought! I have tried others but it is my standard go to cutter.
I've used Olfa mats and cutters since I began to do patchwork. both work well.but my favorite Olfa product is my rotary cutting mat.
thanks for the give away
My favorite tools are my Olfa cutting mat and rotary cutter followed very closely by the rulers. I would love to try the Olfa folding mat, it sounds like the perfect solution for travel and fitting in small spaces. I love your bee blocks.
My favorite Olfa products, my purple cutter, that is is until I had to get the aqua blue cutter! Of course, now I want the pretty pink one, too! I find the rulers are accurate and easy to find the correct size when cutting, and of course the mats cannot be beat! Just bought my second full size mat after about 10 years! I have several smaller mats near every machine and on every side table. You cannot beat the Olfa quality, “hands down”, or should I say, “cutter down”! the best!
My ffavorite Olfa products are the easy changing the blade rotary cutters. I also have the folding mat and it is just great also.
Olfa is one of my favorite brands. I love my rotating mat.
I love their rotary cutters. I like the way you can lock the blade when it's not in use.
Love my Olfa mat!
I couldn't get anything done without my cutting mat.
I have their rotating mat, and it's great!
I love my 45 mm ergonomic rotary cutter, as well as all the mats. raydeer@memlane.com
I love my Olfa cutting mats—other brands can’t compare.
OLfa cutting mats and rotary cutters are the best.
OLfa cutting mats and rotary cutters make a great pair for quilting.
I too love Olfa's Splash rotary cutter and their cutting mats are very long lasting/1
I have the Olfa rotary cutter and basic mat. I would love to have a rotating mat.
It's got to be my olfa rotary cutter! Others just don't match up.
The Olfa Frosted Rulers are my favorites for sure. -- soparkaveataoldotcom
I love the Olfa mats, but I use the cutters also, I have 4 of them.
I love the rotary cutters. I remember when we made our templates and cut all fabric by hand!
I just received my first Olfa cutter for my birthday. I am in LOVE. My next purchase will be the folding cutting mat.
Oh my...Olfa has so many things that I want to try! I love their rotary cutters and mats...but it would be amazing to have their chenille cutter and their circular cutter.
The style of Olfa rotary cutter that I have closes automatically when you stop squeezing the handle. I love that! I have the folding mat on my wish list because it would be so convenient for travelling.
My favorite olfa product would be my mat. I use it alot.
I love your quilt
Thanks for the chance to win.. I love my olfa 45 mm cutter and the new 45mm endurance blades are very nice... I use ALL OLFA blades and have their rotating 12" mat too :) Kathi
I love their rotary cutters and mats, great to use :-)
I'm not sure how I would do any crafts without my rotary cutter and mat!!
Your blocks are beautiful!
Definitely the rotary cutter☺
Olfa mats and cutters are a crafter/quilter/sewer/scrapbooker's friend for life.
I love the rotary cutters the most. I recently bought a purple one.
I love my Olfa cutters- have several in various colors and I use them all.
I use their rotary cutters and mats.rita_l_39212@yahoo.com
Gosh! My Olfa rotary cutter & mat/pressing surface combination & my tiny Olfa cutter. I want a bigger one the 65mm one!
Thanks for the opportunity to possibly win some OLFA products. I love my cutter but plan to buy a mat sometime soon.
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