Hexie Queen Blog Hop!

Here it is, the last day of the Hexie Hop, and once again, I am truly amazed and dazzled at the creativity of our hoppers!  The star of the show, though, is the hexagon herself!

Big THANKS to our Cheerleader Debby and our Blog Hop Queen, Madame Samm for organizing this hop!

If you've stopped by my blog before, you may have noticed I have a thing for hexies!  It started with an assignment at the beginning of Summer to come up with quick projects using Lori Holt's Half-Hexie rulers for a new video tutorial with Cindy at Riley Blake Designs.

LINKS to these TUTORIALS may be found HERE or HERE.  VIDEO HERE.

Then I began seeing that versatile little six-sided beauty everywhere - logos, architecture, even bathroom floors, not to mention being featured in magazines, new patterns, new rulers; new twists on an old favorite, which was popular in the late 1700s / early 1800s (wow!)  Here's an example circa 1830, courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum.

http://www.metmuseum.org/collections/search-the-collections/13878

This technique became popular again after 1925, with the Grandmother's Flower Garden layout using feed sack prints.  Here's my sample, using reproduction Depression era prints, applique'ed to a background for a "someday" sampler.

And that brings me to my project for today.  Definitely NOT your Grandmother's Flower Garden.

 Table Topper made with large hexies, using this TUTORIAL or this VIDEO
(Did you see? Scrapbook Chickadoodle used my tutorial for her Hexie Hop, too! Cool!)

Blanket-stitched finish.

 Add a couple of Hot Pads...

Throw on some pretties.

So Happy Together fabric by Deena Rutter for Riley Blake Designs
plus RBD Basics: Yellow Cotton Dots, Sunshine Solid, Bubblegum and Cotton Candy Shades

We've really been enjoying this topper.  Now I'm dreaming of a full size quilt using the same technique... Here are the topper fabric requirements, just in case you'd like to make one for yourself.

HEXAGAMI Tutorial

   NOT Your Grandmother's Flower Garden
  2/3 yard main print (floral)
  1 fat quarter print for flower center/hot pads
  3/8 yard each of three solid/shade/tone-on-tone prints for backings.
  5/8 yard cotton batting, or use 10" scraps of batting for each section/hot pad
  1/3 yard insulated batting for hot pads (optional)
  Two 1" buttons

By the way, if you don't own a tool to cut hexagons, here's a great TUTORIAL for cutting equilateral hexagons with your ruler.  My hot pads finished at about 8-1/2" from side to side.

You'll enjoy these stops to wrap up the Hexie Queen Blog Hop!

Wednesday, August 28

Adventurous Quilter

Scraps of Life 

Sew and Sow Farm

Kwilty Pleasures 

Just Sew Quilter 

Marjorie's Busy Corner   

NitaDances

Pig Tales and Quilts  

>>Quiltscapes<< 
Livinbluequilter

Sew We Quilt

Hexagon Project Video

I See Hexagons... Hexamacallits - Hexie Pillow/Zipper tute Hexilicious PJ Pillow An Independent Hexie Hexie Hot Pad Come to my Hexagarden Hexie Half Ruler/Templates by Lori Holt for Riley Blake Designs

Come to my Hexagarden...

...complete with Hexagami flowers. 

Continuing with projects from the Hexagon project video (see link below), the large pink flower is made up of six small half-hexie shapes, stitched together to form a ring.  The Hexagami centers were applique'd then quilted in place, with the button sewn through all layers.

You can see tutorials for the large yellow hexagami flower and small blue center hexie methods HERE, or follow along with our video. Even the leaves are half-hexagon shaped, and so is the butterfly!  

The pattern is now available on my Craftsy Store HERE.  

I love this little Hexie Wall Flower ~ another sweet little hexagon project to finish up Hexie week!

19-1/2" x 31-1/2" Wall Hanging

But wait... what's that?  It's a Hexarose.  Looks like another tutorial to me.

Until then, I've had this tune in my head all day.  Maybe you'll enjoy it too!

COME TO MY GARDEN

Hexagon Project Video
Hexagami
Hexagami from Circles
HEXIE WEEK:

Day 1:  I See Hexagons... Day 2:  Hexamacallits - Hexie Pillow/Zipper tute Day 3:  Hexilicious PJ Pillow Day 4:  An Independent Hexie Day 5:  Hexie Hot Pad Day 6:  Come to my Hexagarden Day 7:  Hexarose Hexie Half Ruler/Templates by Lori Holt for Riley Blake Designs
Half-Hexagon Dies by AccuQuilt

Hexie Hot Pad

 A pictoral tutorial:

 1)  Make a TEMPLATE with 10" Hexie Half Ruler, 7" Circle Ruler.

 

2)  Gather Supplies:

12" square Non-Fusible lightweight interfacing (Pellon 905)

12" square backing

10" square heat reflective batting (Thinsulate, Insulbright, etc.)

1 or 2 @ 10" squares cotton batting *

10" square focus fabric *

*Cut using Hexie-Half large ruler for 10" squares.

Fold the 10-inch square in half, and place the dotted seamline on the fold.

3) Backing:

Trace template on wrong side of fabric.  Layer right sides together with interfacing.

 Stitch on the outer drawn lines, pivoting at inner corners.

 Trim curves with pinking shears for a nice, notched smooth result.

 Clip inner corners.

 Snip Pellon

Turn right side out.

 Press.

 

 Lay out backing, mylar batting, cotton batting, focus fabric.  Add an additional 2nd layer of batting below mylar, if desired.

 Pin; then stitch from point to point, quilting through all the layers.

(Followed a line of tape to keep line straight without marking.)

 Stitch from point to point.

Fold each curve over the raw edges and stitch along the curved edges to finish.  I used a blanket stitch.

Voila!  A Hot Hexie Hot Pad.

See this VIDEO for a terrific Grandmother's Flower Garden table-topper with matching hot pads, made using this technique.

Hexagon Project Video
Hexagami
Hexagami from Circles
HEXIE WEEK:

Day 1:  I See Hexagons... Day 2:  Hexamacallits - Hexie Pillow/Zipper tute Day 3:  Hexilicious PJ Pillow Day 4:  An Independent Hexie Day 5:  Hexie Hot Pad Day 6:  Come to my Hexagarden Day 7:  Hexarose Hexie Half Ruler/Templates by Lori Holt for Riley Blake Designs
Half-Hexagon Dies by AccuQuilt

An Independent Hexie

It's Independence Day in the USA ~ a Red, White & Blue Day!

Last night, Mother Nature gave us her idea of fireworks when our mountain valley was treated to a thunderous display... I love thunderstorms.  And this sunny morning looks like a perfect picnic day at the lake.

One little solitary half hexie shape makes this sweet Hexie-Boat.  Added a triangle made from a folded 5" square for the sail, and a little 3" anchor, all applique'd with a blanket stitch to a 15" square of Maritime Modern background fabric, and we're ready to sail away.

I quilted the boat and outlined the print to give a little dimension.  I basted a couple yards of pom-poms around the edges, then folded a couple of fat quarters in half and overlapped to create the pillow back--trimmed and pinned to the pillow top, right sides together, then stitched all the way around and turned right side out through the open edges.

Short on pillow forms, I realized that I could fold up batting remnants to the perfect size, usually about 1" larger than the pillow itsself for a nice fill.  I used poly and wool batt for a soft, springy loft; 6 to 8 layers did the trick.  Later I'll stitch up muslin casings for easier changeout.

Let's meet here tomorrow for another installment of Hexie Week projects when we'll play in my "Hexagarden".  Have a safe and happy 4th of July!

Hexagon Project Video
Hexagami
Hexagami from Circles
HEXIE WEEK:

Day 1:  I See Hexagons... Day 2:  Hexamacallits - Hexie Pillow/Zipper tute Day 3:  Hexilicious PJ Pillow Day 4:  An Independent Hexie Day 5:  Hexie Hot Pad Day 6:  Come to my Hexagarden Day 7:  Hexarose Hexie Half Ruler/Templates by Lori Holt for Riley Blake Designs
Half-Hexagon Dies by AccuQuilt

Hexilicious - PJ Pillow

Continuing with Hexagon Week....

Today's Hexie cuteness is this adorable PJ Pillow!

  

Summer is the time for sleepovers in the back yard, camping, and trips to Grandma's house.  This pretty little pillow is the perfect size to stash pajamas...

... and the little purse pocket on the front is the perfect place to stow a note, a treat, or maybe some $$.  It brings to mind girl's camp as a kid.  We'd draw names for "Secret Sisters", leaving little notes, treats and gifts on each others' sleeping bags.  (Hey, that could work at a quilt retreat, too!)  And of course, the Tooth Fairy might like it as well!

I used the 10" Hexie Half ruler to cut two purse pieces, and from various prints, cut three half-hexies and six side pieces- three left, three right.  Backing: 3/8 yard, Jumbo rick-rack or other outer trim: 1-1/2 yards, Ruffled gros-grain ribbon or other bias trim for the handle: 1/4 yard. 

With right sides together, stitch the top end of the purse pieces together using a generous 1/4" seam. Press seam open, then fold in half along the seam, wrong sides together, and press again.  Align the raw edges and baste to the center half-hexie piece along the sides and bottom.  Lay out the pillow top pieces into rows, with the purse in the center.  Stitch each row together.  On the top row, stitch the ruffled ribbon to form a handle, aligning inside the center unit.  Stitch the rows together, careful not to catch the top edge of the purse in the seam.  Quilt the pillow top if desired, leaving the purse area unquilted.  You could embroider or applique' a name below the purse at this point.  Baste rick-rack, pom-poms, ruffles or other trim along each edge, if desired.  Here's a TUTORIAL with more options to finish a pillow.

From backing, cut two 13" x 15" rectangles.  Fold each in half, right side out, (13" x 8") and overlap the folds about 2" to 3" in the center.  Place pillow top right sides together over the backing pieces, trimming and adjusting the backing to align all the raw edges. Pin in place then stitch all around the pillow, overlapping the beginning and ending stitches.  Turn the pillow right side out through the backing flap, and press.  Stitch a small Hexagami flower (here's the TUTORIAL) to the front of the purse to embellish.  Fill with a 12" pillow form or your pajamas! Sweetness.

Tune in every day this week for more hexagon projects (featured in this VIDEO)!

Hexagon Project Video
Hexagami
Hexagami from Circles
HEXIE WEEK:

Day 1:  I See Hexagons... Day 2:  Hexamacallits - Hexie Pillow/Zipper tute Day 3:  Hexilicious PJ Pillow Day 4:  An Independent Hexie Day 5:  Hexie Hot Pad Day 6:  Come to my Hexagarden Day 7:  Hexarose Hexie Half Ruler/Templates by Lori Holt for Riley Blake Designs
Half-Hexagon Dies by AccuQuilt