Hexagon Challenge

Love quilting; but feel like the techniques challenge your abilities more than your desire to give them a try? Well, that is why quilting has such diversity.

Here is one such situation...

At the beginning of this year, I joined a block of the month at Craftsy. I knew that as I looked at the list of techniques that were to be done, there were several that got this response: "Oh, no, not that one!"

April's Technique: "English Paper Piecing"

Okay, so this looks fun and I think I can give it a try; afterall, it's only one block. I have never done this technique and so why not do it as the video teaches. 

This is what usually happens when I encounter techniques that have a negative appeal, I have a mental battle with myself for a while until I decide it's time to follow my heart. As quilting for me--is a time to enjoy--and a place where I can create my own rules. This brings me either a "I do it another way" or a "don't do it at all" result. (I generally change something, to make it my own.)

So, instead of skipping this month's technique, I decide to do it my own way. So, if you love dislike paper piecing of any kind as much as I do, here is how my first block turned out.

Changing the Rules

Since I always choose machine stitching over hand-stitching, whenever I can, this is how my block emerged. I also like using double stick fusible web.

Here, I only need one template for my pattern. I place it underneath the fusible web and trace out the number of hexagons that I will need for my design.

Tracing the hexagons onto the fusible web

For all of my BOM blocks I am using fabrics from my stash. So each month, I decide on the colour scheme that best suits the technique's design. Since my background fabric had greens in it, I choose to use a variety of greens for my hexagon shapes. I already had these precut squares in my stash.

Hexagon Fabrics--Greens

Following the fusible web instructions, I proceed to attach the hexagons to each fabric. With a quick press of the iron, they are adhered to the fabric. And are ready to cut out. Leave a generous one-quarter inch seam allowance around each as you trim the extra fabric away.

Placing the fusible web hexagon on the fabric

Trimming the extra fabric around the hexagon

I left the top paper liner on as I pressed the seam allowance over the paper. Two reasons for this: the paper helps define where the edge of the hexagon shape is and the iron doesn't pick up any of the adhesive.

Pressing the edges over the hexagon shape

 Seam allowances marked

Then, I removed the second paper liner; and with the tip of the iron very carefully pressed the seam allowances in place. With the seams already pressed, this makes it easy to do this step. Continue to press down each side until you are all the way around.

 Very carefully press down the seam allowances

Hexies ready for block placement

Once I liked the colour arrangement, I carefully pressed each hexagon in place.  If one wishes, they could hand-stitch the hexies together before placing on the block. However, I decided I'd try this one without doing that so if anyone couldn't do hand-stitching it would still look great.

ONE HINT:

When stitching down each hexagon, begin at a centre point where the hexagons touch, this helps keep the hexies from wanting to split apart. Usually when doing fused applique, the complete shape is adhered to the background fabric. However, with these shapes, the fused edge is used in the seam allowance.

My machine has two applique stitches. They are both similiar to what we call the blanket stitch. I have used a dark green thread to simplify the process of not having to change thread colours. And I do like the contract it makes.

Arranging the hexagons

Using an applique stitch around each hexie

 Finished Hexagon Block

Size: 12.5" square

If you wish to see how this is different from the original method, check out the free block of the month at Craftsy. You can still join, if you wish to try out new or different techniques this year and end up with a finished project before Christmas.

And check out this great site for printing hexagon sizes that was shared on the Craftsy chat. I love when websites give these out for free. The instant download sure is handy for saving time and getting that project started.

So... now I have one more hexagon block to create; however, that will have to wait as I need time to figure out how I will redesign it, as there is a challenge to make it our own. One that I must take up!

Thanks for reading, and I hope you see that--your own method to suit YOU--is always the best way!!

Cheers,

Oct-Nov-Dec Review

My 2010 Quilt Challenge is now complete... and here is my fourth and final instalment. It has been an enjoyable and rewarding year. Many things changed as I followed through with the  plan to discover what new quilting techniques would inspire me to complete each project.

Take another look at these projects from the last three months:

--Quilting Books on Review--

Several main goals maintained for this challenge were...

· EXPLORING the books in my own library and public library for this last session.
· USING fabrics I already own, with only a few exceptions, as I bought some new fabrics at a yard sale.
· CREATING small projects to test out these new techniques is still my favorite way to test out new ways.


OCTOBER 2010

Circles of the East

Kumiko Sudo
Peony

Book Project (on left) / My Quilt (on right)

Remembering back... I really had a difficult time choosing one project from this book. What I finally did was put all the project names in a bowl and had my son pick one out for me. This one was one of my favorites and it ends up being the first project in the book.

I do like applique and this project was fun to create. Since I didn't have any oriental fabrics, I choice ones that would give it that feel... especially choosing fabrics that one may not have considered working in this design. It is always good to try different fabrics and see how pleasing they can actually be when the project is complete.

The project was 14" x 14" in the book. Mine turned out being 14 1/2" by 14 1/2". If one desired to make a larger quilt from these designs; they could be put together with sashing. It would, in my opinion, be a very interesting quilt all done up with flowers.

Bonnet Girls

Helen R. Scott

Maureen

Book Project (on left) / My Quilt (on right)

When I first began to work on my website for these book titles, this was one that I really admired. It was not in my personal library; however, I did find it in the public library, this fall. So, I was happy to give this one a try. I chose Maureen, with her delightful little dog and beautiful dress.

At the time, I had just bought the dress fabric and found it perfect for this application. I've always loved these long, flowing dresses. So, this project was fun to create. The added embellishments were from my scraps I already had in my supplies. The little dog was made with a white, sateen fabric and the black patches created with embroidery stitches.

The project from the book was shown just as it is on the book's cover with no dimensions or quilt layout. I copied the pattern from the book, and now I don't remember if I had enlarged it or left it the same. But I decided to add the borders and make it look like a framed picture.

My finished dimensions were 16 1/2" x 20 1/4". I certainly would try some more designs from this book, when I find the time to borrow it again. The patterns in the book were very versatile and one could create some very unique pictures.

NOVEMBER 2010

The Complete Guide to Quilting Techniques

Pauline Brown

Folk-Art Applique Table Center

Book Project (on left) / My Quilt (on right)

I found this book in the library. It has a large variety of techniques and applications. When I turned to this page, I was intrigued with the prairie points and decided it would be the perfect project to complete my challenge.

I had done individual double-fold prairie points, but had not heard of continuous prairie points. Along, with this technique, I also was able to use three different applique methods, as well.

These included:

1. Fusible-Web Method (p168) using Lite Steam-A-Seam 2
2. Reverse Appliqué – (p178) where a seam allowance is cut inside an appliqué shape that is marked on a top layer of fabric.
3. Iron-on interfacing used as a foundation fabric ( great for crazy quilt, appliqués, and selvage blocks)

This was a fun project, and the first one that I have ever made that was completely round. My finished project has a 20" diameter.

MY GOAL REACHED

Originally, my goal was to make a new block each week and then create a variety of projects from those blocks. However after I made my first one, it changed to a goal of creating 20 complete projects over the course of the year.

After several changes to our schedule and a major move; I had a new opportunity to go back to college in September, and my quilting time was altered drastically. And, finding out how little time or desire I had to quilt, I finally decided that 18 projects would be my final total.  With this, I felt I had done enough and am happy to end my quilting technique challenge for 2010!!

Thanks for stopping in to visit, leave comments, and truly keep me inspired to take this quilt journey.  Wishing you the best for this holiday season and into the New Year ahead!!

Happy Quilting!!

Folk Art 2

To continue with the Folk Art Quilt... thanks for waiting for part two.

Three different ways to create the prairie point are shown in this book.

Prairie Points – 3 ways: single-fold (218); double-fold (p219); continuous prairie points (p163)

 
Construction of the Continuous Prairie Point:

The next step was to work on the prairie points that are going around the edge of the quilt. I had not seen continuous prairie points before, nor had I made them.

If I remember correctly, the strip was 4" wide, and then pressed in half to mark a center line from which to create each fold of the prairie points. Then cuts were made every two inches on both sides of the center line, alternating along the whole length of the fabric strip.

Pressing a Fold-line

Cut to the Pressed Line

Then each cut square was folded once towards the centerline and pressed, as shown on the left below. The second step was to go back and fold each triangle shape to create another triangle, shown on the right side of the photo below.  Once all the triangles were folded, all the points facing downwards were folded up to create the finished prairie point. These I pinnned and then basted along the cut edge. They were set aside.

Folding the Prairie Points in Two Steps

Basted Prairie Points Strip

Before stitching the prairie points onto the edge, several things needed to be done first. Stacking the layers of the quilt top, batting, and backing together, to do the quilting. Shown below are the center of the quilt, and the applique elements. I stitched around the star design to quilt through all the layers. Then added a shadow stitch around the complete design.

Quilting the Layers

Quilting All Around the Outside of the Design

Still having a square-shaped quilt, it was ready to mark the cutting line. I placed the pattern piece back onto the quilt and marked the edge with a pen. When completely marked, I stitched inside these marks about a quarter of an inch, and then cut on the dotted line, marked in pen.

Marking the Cutting Line

Stitching 1/4" Inside the Marked Line

Attaching the Prairie Points

Closeup of Binding

I enjoyed making this quilt. It has lots of variety; especially, with the applique techniques, involved. And this quilt makes a delightful centerpiece, if one has a place to display it. I have done lots of square-shaped quilts on this challenge; however, it is my first round one.

My Finished Project

Size: 20" diameter

This concludes my 2010 quilt technique challenge. I will try to complete the final quarter review within the next month.

Enjoy the holiday season....

Folk Art 1

Time to reveal my last project... I chose “Folk-Art Applique Table Center” on page 160.

The project is listed under hand appliqué in the book. However, I didn’t use any hand appliqué. Instead, I used three different methods for machine appliqué.

Machine Appliqué methods used:
1. Fusible-Web Method -- using Lite Steam-A-Seam 2.
2. Reverse Appliqué -- where a seam allowance is cut inside an appliqué shape that was marked on a top layer of fabric.
3. Iron-on interfacing used as a foundation fabric -- great for crazy quilt, appliqués, and selvage blocks.

Book, Fabrics

For this last project, I am going to divide it into two parts. That way, I can dialog the process the way I wish to and still have time today to continue with my preparations for this week's exams.

CONSTRUCTION

First, I hand-stitched my layers together and marked where the leaves were to go using a yellow tracing paper. Below it shows that I machine stitched on this yellow line before the shapes can be cut out. I had three layers of fabric - top, white, yellow-green. The backing fabric was stitched on after all the applique was complete.

Stitching on the Yellow Line

The pattern was copied from the book with my printer and the pages assembled before I could transfer some of the details to my top fabric.

The Paper Pattern

Next, with a small pair of scissors I cut just inside the machine stitched lines. This was done in two separate steps as I didn't want to cut too deep and mess up the process. Below you can see one shape is cut one layer deep revealing a white fabric. The shape beside that one is cut two layers deep to reveal the yellow-green fabric.

Because the yellow-green fabric is much darker then my top layer fabric, I used a white layer in-between them so that the darker colour would not show through the lighter fabric.



Yellow-Green Leaves

After all the shapes for the leaves were cut out, I used a light coloured thread and zig-zagged around the cut edges. Also shown below are the cut-out pieces for the flowers and the red hearts.

Applique Pieces- Leaves, Flowers, Hearts

The green flowers (tulips) and red hearts are ready to attach to the quilt top. Along with the leaves, this quilt uses three applique techniques. And now that I think about it, it appears to be a very fitting finish to my year's technique challenge, in that I end with my favorite technique.

Applique Pieces Ready to Attach

The tulips are stitched to the quilt tip using the machine buttonhole stitch in a variegated thread to match the fabric. Also, you can see the zig-zag stitch around the leaves. As this is a folk-art quilt the leaves to me don't really look like leaves, but they do create an interesting pattern around the edges of this quilt.

Leaves and Flowers

Lastly, the hearts are stitched to the quilt top. I was originally debating whether to use the buttonhole stitch or the zig-zag stitch. But after trying both, I wasn't happy with either. I also considered trying handstitching them on, but of course, you can probably guess how that went.  Or didn't go!!

So, digging out my sewing machine manual, I decided to use a stitch I hadn't used yet, and that one worked perfectly. A new machine stitch and no messy results, well, that was perfect! The book calls is an applique stitch.

Stitching on the Hearts

Before stitching on the flowers and hearts, I machine stitched the star in the center of the quilt top, as shown above. First, I marked it with the yellow tracing paper and then marked the points with pins and then carefully stitched on the yellow lines.

This may look confusing, but it worked really well. I didn't want the tracing lines to be dark, so this helped me see the points where I needed to turn the fabric. After stitching it in yellow, it needed more punch, so I stitched more lines with a red thread.

The Pins Mark the Star's Lines



Next week's entry will show the completion of the construction process and final photos... Enjoy your creative time!!


More Book Titles...
If you wish to see more quilting books you can check out my website for more details. Those books reviewed are listed on the "featured" page.