For June 1 let's try a traditional block called Honey Bee.
Very nice instructions for a 12-inch block are on-line at good ol' McCall's:
http://mccallsquilting.com/qb/pattern_205/
and here is a link to the pdf for the Honey Bee template:
http://mccallsquilting.com/qb/205_templatediagram.pdf
Ruby McKim says, "Here is a charming example of a quilt design combining both piecing and appliqué. A little nine-patch block is used as the center block of another sort of nine-patch the other sections of which have appliqué..." She also advises, "It is a bit less ravelly to piece the entire block first and appliqué the bee's wings and bodies afterward." For an entire quilt of Honey Bee blocks she suggests, "Honey Bee blocks are much more attractive when set together with large plain white squares..."
Ruby's suggested colors are white and gold for the center nine-patch and gold "bodies" and blue "wings" on white all around. As we all begin posting our blocks, I know we will find this block looks wonderful in ANY colors!
It is also pretty just pieced (we have a few pictures to demonstrate this), so have no fear if you are not inclined to appliqué today.
This is the little picture from McCall's. A few early bird blocks will be posted on the Quilting Board under "Pictures" very soon.
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