Stargazey Quilts Online

Deb’s Beez Bolster Instructions

Before stitching anything cut;

Hivez Scallops;
from Hive scallop 1 - cut four 2” x bolt width strips
from Hive scallop 2 - cut four 1 1/2” x bolt width strips
from Hive scallop 3 - cut four 2” x bolt width strips
- & cut four 5” x bolt width strips for the backings
These should all be further cut to their working size - cut each in half, approx. 20”

and also the Inner Border;
cut three 1” x bolt width strips

CUSHION SIZE: 53” x 16” (135cm x 41cm)

CUSHION FRONT
BLOCKS
Make one 10” Hivez block.
Make two 8”, two 6” and two 4” Beez blocks.

Stitch fillers to the Beez blocks to bring them to a height of 10 1/2”;
for the 8” blocks cut four pieces 8 1/2” x 1 1/2”,
for the 6” blocks cut four pieces 6 1/2” x 2 1/2”,
for the 4” blocks cut four pieces 4 1/2” x 4 1/2”,
Stitch them together as shown.

INNER BORDER
Stitch together the three strips then;
Cut a top and bottom, 1” x 46 1/2”. Stitch on.
Cut two sides, 1” x 11 1/2”. Stitch on.

OUTER BORDER
Cut a top and bottom, 3” x 47 1/2”. Stitch on.
Cut two sides, 3” x 16 1/2”. Stitch on.

Sandwich with cotton batting. Stay stitch 1/8” in from the outer edge.
Deb machine quilted in the ditch around the beez, hivez and borders. She free-machine quilted clouds in the backgrounds and spiral curls in the border.

CUSHION BACK
Cut the backing strip into two pieces;
The top is 7 1/4” x 52 3/4”
The bottom is 12 3/4” x 52 3/4”

Turn under and press a 1/4” seam on the lower edge of the top. Then repeat turning/pressing under another 1”.
Turn under and press a 1/4” seam on the upper edge of the bottom. Then repeat turning/pressing under another 1/4”.

Align and then stitch a 20” piece of stud tape face down on the top piece and face up on the bottom piece. Two seams are needed to hold the stud tape in position, so to make it neat turn, and return the seam at the bottom to continue stitching the second seam. This forms a neat rectangle - especially if you start and stop with close to zero stitch length.

With these connected pin and stitch the sides together in the same continuous ‘returning rectangle’ seam.

HIVE SCALLOP BORDER
Line up and stitch together, in order, eight groups of:
Hive scallop 1
Hive scallop 2
Hive scallop 3

Cut batting to match the eight backing strips (5” x 20”).

Layer the batting, the backing face-up and the strip-pieced section face-down.
Mark along the length a line 1” in from both edges. Mark between these lines to form a 3” grid.
Freehand mark a variety of rounded hive/scallop shapes. Don’t aim for perfection - quirky is good! Stitch on these lines using a small stitch and leaving four or five stitches between the base of each hive/scallop.
Trim using an 1/8” seam. There is no need to clip around the curves but make sure the base area sits quite sweetly. Turn face-out and press.

Space the sections evenly around the cushion front, raw edges and right sides together. There should be four hive/scallops in excess. Pin and stitch together with the backing - use a walking foot here!

Turn face-out and fill with cushion insert.

CUSHION INSERT
Cut two pieces of lining fabric 54 1/2” x 17 1/2”.
Stitch them together using a 1/2” seam and leave an opening for filling.
Turn right sides out and fill. Close with machine stitches or by hand.