Stash Bee 2026 - Sign Up by December 20th 2025

  

Registration for StashBee 2026 is Live!

CLICK HERE to access the sign-up form. 

Registration will be open until December 20th 2025, and Hives will be announced before the new year via email. 

Please share the link with your Quilty Friends and encourage them to sign up too!

New to Stashbee? Read on, to find out more!

What is StashBee?

Stash Bee is an annual modern, international, online quilting bee.  It runs for 11 months (January-November) on multiple platforms including facebook, instagram and on this blog. 

StashBee is open to new and returning members. Stash Bee is international friendly. All hives can expect to have a mix of countries. In the past, the majority of participants have been American, with 1-3 hive members from other countries. Participants are responsible for the cost of mailing blocks to their Hive Mates.

Participants are divided into several hives, each containing 10-11 Hive Mates.  The total number of hives will depend on how many people sign up, so invite your friends! We need 10-11 people per hive, so there may be a wait list if there is an incomplete hive.

Each of the members acts as “Queen Bee” for one month. Before their month arrives, the Queen is responsible for testing out their choice of block and creating a tutorial post on the Stash Bee blog for their Hive Mates to follow. All of the hive members then create the requested block from their own fabric stash, and mails the block to the "Queen Bee".

As "Queen Bee" you specify the block, and the color scheme and type of fabric you would like your hive mates to use (ie. solids, prints, low volume, novelty, florals, tone on tone etc). Since this is a modern bee you  can ask for modern blocks, or a classic block but with modern fabrics. 

By signing up, everyone commits to making 10 blocks over the course of the year (January to November). In exchange, when its your turn as "Queen Bee" you will receive 10 blocks.

Reasons to Join

1) One block a month is an easy commitment!

2) Make new Quilty Friends around the world!

3) Try new blocks and new techniques!

4) Make a dent in your stash!

5) Make a quilt with a great story, and a wonderful diversity of fabric from other people's stash!

6) Have fun!

Rules & Expectations

Please review our Rules and Participant Roles & Expectations before signing up. 

If you have additional questions you can email me at the StashBee email:  Stashbee.blog@gmail.com

During the sign-up process, you will be asked what platform you would like to use (facebook, instagram, or the blog). Hives will be assigned based firstly on platform preference, then skill and design/fabric style preferences will also be taken into account. Anyone not assigned to a hive will be placed on the waiting list in the order that they signed up.

One more thing...

Follow our StashBee Instagram profile, and tag us in your StashBee makes!

@StashBee.blog

Hive 1 November bonus block for Nicole

 The first ever jaguar-astronaut. 🚀 This is on its way! -Julia

Hive 1 November gnome for Rita

 

This gnome is on his way to you now, Rita. (Orange nose unfortunately won’t be included.) It’s been such a joy sewing with you this year, and seeing all the amazing things you create! I hope he makes you smile. 

Happy November!

Julia has a plan in mind for a future Hive project so I did a little block exploration on her behalf. I hope these blocks work out and lead to a successful collection of blocks in 2026!

Marie

Hive 1 November - Bat Block for Jai

I forgot to post after I mailed this off (around November 7)! I hope this bat made it to its friends--sometimes the post office likes to eat mail instead of delivering it... 

--Caitlin 

Hive1 November Block for Marie

 Hi Marie,

I just realised, I forgot to take pictures! I was so sure I did :(.

Well, you asked for more Tree-Blocks, so I made three 🌳🌲🌳. Hope the colours go with what you are aiming for with the quilt. 

Some of the scraps come from left-over fabric I had from taking a workshop with Lorena Uriarte this September, so those came all the way from Australia! 🐨

I put the blocks in the post on Monday, so they are already on the way to you. 📮

Happy sewing,

Rita

Hive 1 November - Fat quarter for Beth

It's been a great year sewing with Hive 1. Even though we had some folks drop out, I love that we are still sending fun things in November to our hive mates.

My exchange buddy for November didn't have any blocks they were working on, so I'm sending a surprise fat quarter. Happy sewing, Beth! 

Nicole

Hive 1 October Bat for Jai

 Thank you so much for your patience with me, Jai! This belated bat is on its way to you right now. 

Hive 5, November Tutorial - Scrappy (Almost) Bear Paw Block

Can you believe it's November already? Or finally? 

This month I am requesting that you all make a not quite completed Scrappy Bear Paw Block. Instead of a completed traditional block like the one below, I am asking that you only make the 4 "paws".  This will allow me to mix your paws with my paws and the paws of the others to get a very mixed up, scrappy look.  It also saves you fabric as well as some time cutting and sewing. 

I love Bear Paw blocks, they are simple in their construction, even a beginner could make them. They can look modern and cheerful when made with bright fabrics, vintage or traditional by changing the colors. They can be feminine or masculine. 

This is what I am asking you to make.  

 

Below is what the completed block will look like, As you can see, what you will be making is not quite "finished" as it's lacking the sashing and center cornerstone. 

 

Because you are sending separate paws you can make them all the same, you can use the same fabrics just mixed up in each block, or you can make each block completely different. It's up to you. 

I do ask that you not duplicate a fabric in a block and instead use 8 different fabrics, not counting the background fabric. The 4 blocks above were made from 9 different colored fabrics, not counting the background fabric. 

For the fabrics I am looking for bright colors either prints or tone on tones that have good contrast against the background fabric.  Please no brown, gray, white, or neon.  Below is a photo of some suggested colors and fabrics to add to what is shown in the photo of the "paws" above.

For the background I am wanting black fabric, it can be solid or a tone on tone. Feel free to use one or multiple different black fabrics for the background. Please don't use fabrics with colors other than black, no white on black, gray on black, black with colors, etc. The backgrounds should read as black. 

 

You will be making 4 paws so in total you will need:

16 colored squares, it can be 4 each of 4 colors or any variety you choose

16 half square triangles of a background and a color, 4 each of 4 colors or any variety you choose

4 black squares  

 

Cutting 

16   2 1/2" squares from the colored fabrics

4    2 1/2"  squares from the black background fabric

8    3" squares from the colored fabrics (or whatever your preferred method calls for to make 16   2 1/2" half square triangles)

8    3" squares from the black background fabric (or whatever your method calls for to make 16   2 1/2" half square triangles)

 

Making the 16 Half Square Triangle Blocks please use the method that works best for you.  This is the method I used, it makes 2 half square triangles at a time:

Using the 3" squares of colored fabrics draw a line from one corner down the center of the square to the opposite corner. Place a colored square and a black square right sides together. Sew a 1/4" from the line on each side.  Cut the block in half on the drawn line, you will now have 2 half square triangles.  Open, press seam to the dark side, trim to 2 1/2". Make 16 of these.  

 

Assemble Rows of Blocks

 

 

 

Row 1  Will be a black square, then 2 half square triangles (watch the direction of your triangles, ask me how I know...) Press seams all going the same direction.

Row 2  will be 1 Half Square Triangle, then 2 colored squares, press seams opposite direction of Row 1

Row 3 will be 1 Half Square Triangle, then 2 colored squares, press seams in same direction of Row 1

Sew the rows together in the order listed.

Press the block, it should measure 6 1/2", make 4 of these

 

 

I hope you all enjoy making these blocks! I look forward to seeing what you all come up with!

Thank you -  Bretta

 

Hive 3 - November Tutorial: Bright Scrappy ShooFly Block for Wendi

Wow, it’s been another year already! I’ve moved from Arkansas to Alaska but I was able to keep up with my monthly blocks, whoo hoo!! I would like a repeat of the block I requested last year so I can make a bigger bed size quilt for my first winter in Alaska.

I love traditional quilt blocks in bright, modern fabrics! I have chosen the Shoo Fly quilt block for my month. There is a tutorial here for the 12" Finished (12 1/2” unfinished) Shoo Fly block: https://www.polkadotchair.com/shoo-fly-quilt-block-tutorial/

Picture of blocks I received last year:

I prefer bright colors, any type of print except for cartoon characters is acceptable (florals, stripes, dots, animals, solids, geometric, just whatever you want to use). Fussy cutting is at your discretion, not expected nor required. Red, pink, orange, yellow, green, aqua, blue, purple or any color in between. Scrappy background fabric is good: white, white-on-white, cream, white-on-cream, or coordinating low volume fabrics welcome. I am wanting a nice scrappy look! Here are some pictures for color inspiration:

 

You will need the following for one 12" finished quilt block, measurements given here are for the 2 at a time half square triangle method.

2 - 5"X5" blocks of brightly colored fabric for half square triangles

2 - 5"X5" blocks of background fabric for half square triangles

4 - 4.5"X4.5" blocks of background fabric

1 - 4.5"X4.5" block for block center (I fussy cut the block in this example but I don't expect you to do so unless you want to. You could also piece this block center from 4 - 2.5” squares if you’d like, the scrappier the better!).

Use your method of choice to make 4 half square triangles from the 5"X5" squares - I use the 2-at-a-time method shown in the referenced tutorial. I draw lines on the back of my background fabric using a quilters' quarter ruler and sew on both lines, then cut the blocks apart.

Press and trim the half square triangles down to 4.5"X4.5". No preference on pressing directions, I press open because it is more precise for me but no judgement here - do what works for you!

Arrange the finished blocks in the following order. Sew the blocks together and press as desired:

I’m excited to add to my blocks and make a bright, happy quilt to grace my bed during the long dark winter here in Alaska! Thank You all for the challenges, joys, excitement and learning opportunities that you’ve granted me this year. Have a great Holiday season everyone!