A Honey of a Hive 6.5” Block {a tutorial}

Materials:

• six 1” background squares
• two 1”x2.5” background rectangles
• two 1.5”x2.5” background rectangles
• twenty-six 1.5” yellow squares for hive
• one 1.5”x2” doorway rectangle
• two .75’'x.75’' yellow squares
• two 1”x2” yellow rectangles
• one 1”x2.5” yellow rectangle
• as many applique bees as you want!

***I nearly always press my seams open.  It’s up to you how you want to press yours.

Making the door:

Draw diagonal lines across the back of the .75”x.75” yellow squares.  Sew to the upper corners of the 1.5”x2” doorway rectangle and trim.

Sew the yellow 1”x2” rectangles onto the sides of the doorway piece.

Sew the top 1”x2.5” yellow rectangle to the top of the doorway.

The doorway is done!

Draw diagonal lines on the back of each 1.5” background square.

Sew each background square to six total yellow 1.5” squares.  Trim the seam allowance and press.

Okay, now we’re ready to make the bottom tier of the beehive! 

Sew together the four squares on each side of the doorway.

Sew the three pieces together to make the bottom tier.

Now onto the middle tier.  Sew together the two rows of yellow squares.

Then sew on each 1”x2.5” background rectangle.  And the second level is done!

Sew together the top tier of the beehive.

When sewing the sections together, I recommend pinning and using a basting stitch first before using a smaller stitch.  If you need to make adjustments to how the angles line up, you can easily pick out the basting stitches and try again.  If everything is lined up correctly after basting, just stitch back over the basting stitch with a smaller, permanent stitch.

Now the fun part…applique on some bees!  I used Steam a Seam and hand-stitched on some antennae and “buzz trails” with black embroidery floss.

Any questions?  Feel free to email me or leave a comment.