Quilt Pattern: Honey Bee

Here is a charming example of a quilt design combining both piecing and applique. A little nine-patch block is used as the center block of another sort of nine-patch the other sections of which have applique as shown in the small sketch. These patterns may or may not allow for seams depending on the size you want the finished block.

It is a bit less ravelly to piece the entire block first and applique the bee's wings and bodies afterward. This is done by creasing a seam width back all around each piece, basting them carefully in place and then whipping or blind-stitching to the white background. Honey Bee blocks are much more attractive when set together with large plain white squares than just the one block suggests.

Material Estimate: The quilt is 7 blocks wide by 8 blocks long and will finish about 77 by 88 inches. Or a smaller center with a 5-inch white border, appliqued with gold and blue "bees" would be unusual. This quilt will require 7 yards of white, 1 1/2 yards of gold and 3/4 of a yard of light blue.

The Snowflakes or a ten-inch Feather Circle would be effective on the odd blocks.