Tutorial: How to Sew a Quilted Bee

You will need:

• Fabric
  • Wings
    • W1: (4) 2" x 2 ¾"
  • Yellow stripes
    • Y1: (1) 3 ¼" x 1 ¾"
    • Y2: (1) 3 ¼" x 1 ⅛"
    • Y3: (1) 3 ¼" x 1 ¼"
  • Black stripes
    • B1: (1) 1 ¼" x 1 ¼"
    • B2: (2) 1 ½" x 1 ¼"
    • B3: (1) 3 ¼" x 1 ⅛"
• Pen, water soluble preferred
• Printed templates - see end of tutorial

Prepare the Wings

1. Trace the wing template onto the wrong side of a W1 piece. Align it with an unmarked W1, right sides together (I used a scrap piece of fabric doubled over in my example).
   
   
   
2. Sew directly on the marked line. Back stitch at the beginning and end of the seam. I recommend using a 1.8-2 mm stitch length.
   
   
   
3. Cut out the bee wing, leaving a scant ¼" seam allowance around the wing.
   
   
   
4. Flip the wings inside out (this is super awkward). Use a pen end to try to smooth out the inside of the wing edge as much as possible.
   
   
   
5. Press wings, and then top stitch around the wing.
   I like using a narrow foot for this. Stop and adjust the wing position every stitch or two. Trim any loose threads.
   
   
   

Assemble the Bee

1. Form a sandwich using a wing, B1 and B2. Align the wing and B1 to the short/right edge of B2. B1 and B2 should be right sides together. Be careful to center the wing end in the middle. Sew together. Back stitch along the wing to secure it.
   
   
   
2. Press seam towards B1. Top stitch seam to further secure wing.
   
   
   
3. Create a second sandwich with the remaining wing and B2. Again, be careful to center the wing in the sandwich.
   
   
   
4. Press seam towards B1. Top stitch seam.
   
   
   
5. Sew Y1 to one side of the wing piece. Fold the wing out of the way of the needle. Press fabric towards Y1.
   
   
   
6. Sew the remaining body pieces (Y2, B3, Y3) to the opposite side of the wings.
   
   
   
7. The bee body template includes a ¼" seam allowance. Use the template to cut out the unfinished bee.
   
   
   
8. Appliqué bee onto your project. Use French knots to add eyes to your bee. 
   (Optional) Place a piece of batting under the bee to make him into a mega bumbler.
   
   
   

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