Honeybee Quilt Block

Honeybee Quilt Block

According to Quilt Historian Barbara Brackman, the Honeybee quilt block dates back to at least the 1840s. The block was pieced with a solid square for the center; then "bee wings" were appliqued in place.

Sometime in the 20th century (1920s or so), quilt designers of the time began to use a nine patch for the center square. Ruby McKim created a Honeybee pattern showing a nine patch center for the Kansas City Star in 1929.

More recently, Roxy Burgard of Calico Hills Farm, published her version of the Honeybee quilt block as part of her traditional quilt pattern, Honey Bees, in the 1990s. She used a traditional nine patch layout to create her pattern, with five Honeybee blocks and four Bee Skeps. Popular for the past 25 years, the pattern continues to be available at Grandma's Attic by clicking here. If you would like to read a more in-depth history of the Honeybee quilt block, you will want to read Barbara Brackman's Material Culture post by clicking here.

Honey Bees Quilt Pattern