I know I'm late for this post. It's already November but I wanted to share two quilties and one mini quilt swap that were both due in October. I learned how to paper piece. I was so confused in the beginnning but after the first pumpkin face, I really got a handle on it. It was so much fun and very accurate.
Take A Look:
Signed up for an Autumn Quiltie at my Art4Mail Yahoo Group. Here is my plan of attack.
I have to make 3 of them. I decided that I am going to paper piece it together. This is the first time I will be using this method. Let's keep our fingers crossed.
I've been wanting to learn felting. I saw these little bitty felted houses and want to learn how to make them. I'm so confused, so many different process. But I thought I would start small. I picked up one of these little kits from A.C. Moore. This leaf took about 45 minutes to make, it was very relaxing and fun.
Look what I found at the supermarket !!!!!
That's right - ain't she sweet?
I'm going to line the inside and put a few pockets and it will be a great carrier for small projects or a place to put your hexagon's on the go.
Love hexagon and now there is a very easy way of cutting them. You can cut dozens in no time at all and the papers for paper piecing as well. All you need is a die cut machine like the Big Shot and some dies from Sizzix/Westminster and just get going.
Just line your fabric up on the die (If you order a charm pack you don't even have to cut your fabric down to fit into the Big Shot)
Make a sandwich of the cutting plate A, die, fabric and cutting plate B and run through the machine - easy peasy.
In a few moves, you have quite a few cut perfectly.
Now, you can either cut the paper from another larger hexagon die, also sold on the Sizzix website or you can buy pre-cut, whatever you think is easier and more economical.
Now just start sewing.
Thanks
It seems the world is just crazy with Hexagon Fever. They are easy to make and you can make them on the go. No need for a lot of space, you can do them right in your lap and there are several ways to do them. I English piece them with pre-cut templates. I joined a Pin Cushion swap. The only requisite was to use some sort of patchwork, so of course, I chose hexagons. The first one I made was much too large, I don't know what I was thinking. I loved the little faces, it reminds me of a kaleidescope, but when I was done, it looked more like a pillow and less like a pin cushion.
Here is the bottom of the cushion.
And the side - see too much . . . . .
So I decided to take it down a notch and loved the results:
Here is the process:
First, make the hexagons - I'll explain in my next post.
Iron fusible fleece on back side and cut out.
Next, for this cushion I wanted a 3" side band, so I cut my fabric 6", folded in half lengthwise and ran a stitch down the long end (right sides facing) then I turned it right side out and I have clean finished look. Iron the band with hot iron. I didn't give you the length measurement, that would depend on how large your hexagon is, so that your band will go all the way around.
Next, sew band onto hexagon top. This isn't such an easy task because it's hard to pin. The hexagon's go in and out and there's not much space to work in, but if you take your time and ease it around slowly, you can do it. I just used a whip stitch to close.
Just keep taking little stitches all the way around until you meet up to where you started.
I use "Quilting" thread because you can pull it tight without the worry of breaking the thread. I just have a few colors but I make do with them.
You will have some of the band left over. I never cut the band exactly to the shape. I always like to leave a little just in case. After I sew the other side on, and see how the bands meet up at the end, I don't cut anything.
I turned it right side out so you can see how the band looks after you just have the top sewn. I will turn it wrong side in again and attach the other side.
I pin this side because you have to "eyeball" where the hexagon should go. You need to match up with the points of the top hexagon. Now you can see what you need to squeeze in between to match the points.
Now it's time to fill it
I finally got the island for my sewing room so now, I can call it complete (for now) and move on. Here is a few pictures of the completed room.
I can put up a large tac board later on, but that would mean losing the sofa, so I'll think on that awhile, but for now the room is very funtional and bright. Just what I set out to accomplish.
Some of the detail: