No more cutting Hexagons!

So I'm a lucky lucky girl. 

It might be Fathers Day, but my hubby got *me* a present. He bought it on EBay - it's a Creative Memories punch. Makes 1 1/4 and 1 1/2 inch hexagons. And he also got me the smaller one 3/4 inch and 1 inch. :)

Yahoo!!  No more hand cutting for me. Just slide the paper in and punch.  I have a ton of file folders that are too big, and I had to trim them up so there's a ton of extra manila around.  :) 

 

Scrappy Grandmothers Flower Garden - WIP

It's been in the works for about 2 years now. I've cut over 3,000 squares, each measuring 2.5" and basted about 1800 or so (probably more) into hexagons.

This is my progress so far:

I'm not counting it as a UFO because it's constantly being worked on. this one goes everywhere with me. I just love it.  The goal was to make it a true charm quilt.  A charm quilt, for those of you who don't know, has all different fabrics with no two fabrics being the same.

60 Degree Triangle Table Runner Tutorial

To start the Table Runner, you really only need your ruler, 2 fabrics, and a rotary cutter.  If you want to use a special ruler, you can. Otherwise you would use the 60 degree lines on your ruler.  This is a photo of the 60 degree triangle ruler that I used for my runner.

If you wanted to make a smaller runner, you can use a smaller triangle ruler (60 degree). 

 

Here are my fabrics.  I cut 3 -  2.5" strips from  EACH of the two fabrics. If your fabric is 44" or so wide, you'll be fine with cutting 3 strips. If it's not 44", you'll need to cut 5 strips from each.

Sew two dark fabrics to each side of the light fabric.  Press to the dark side.

 

 This is what the strip set looks like from the front.

 

From one of the sets (it doesn't matter which one - it's a personal preference) you need to cut 8 triangles. Cut on one side, then cut the other. If you're into scrappy quilts, you can save the triangle to the right for a place in a future scrappy project.

 

Here's the other strip set. From this set, I cut 6 triangles. 

 

 Now, take the 6 triangles you cut, and make a hexagon with them. (you can lay it on the ironing board or wherever you want - I put them here for ease of photo taking).  Then, you'll need 4 of the other triangles. Put them to the side of the hexagon. Border the edges.  Repeat on the other side of the hexagon with the other 4.

 

 When you sew the triangles together, start at one end. Pick the top or the bottom half. Start on either side right or left. I've found that it reduces bulk if you press these seams open.

 

Here's the view from the front. Keep adding the triangles until you finish the bottom or top. Repeat for all triangles and the other half.

 

 Now you should have two halves with a flat edge on both sides.  Take out your pins!! Get ready to pin like crazy. The pins will help you keep the points sharp. Stitch the two halves together and press.  You can press these seams open or two one side.

Voila! Your runners top is done.  Now all you have to do is sandwich, quilt and bind it.  If you want, you can add a border or two. 

 

Feel free to leave a comment or link on your blog. :-)

No, I'm not hexagon obsessed, really.. more 3/8" and 1" sided hexies

Yep, I'm on a roll with hexagons. I'm obsessed, really I am. I've got 4 pencil cases full of hexies, and 6 of those craft containers with dividers full of basted hexagons.

DH just found out that he is sent to Boston for 4 days and I'm going along with him and our DD. So I figure that the car drive up to Boston will be a great time to put them together.

I have 600 of the 3/8" hexies basted and about half of them are in flowers - and those flowers are currently in the room past my DD's (and she's sleeping now!! a rare feat) so I'm not going any where near her room lest I disturb her.

In case anyone wants to know, I'm being eco-friendly. All my hexagon templates are cut from a plastic template that I made, then trace that template on cereal boxes and Smart Ones boxes.

These are 2 of the 3/8" hexagon flowers.


I have a whole bunch of these hexies basted - this is just one small handful.


Here are some of the larger flowers. They do have a center, and at the time of the picture, they didn't, but they do now.


And here's ONE of the craft/pencil boxes. Both of the sides are full of basted hexies, the two centers have some of the cardboard templates in it. And I still have 3 more cereal boxes ready to cut up.

I'm officially Insane.

I'm doing it. Finally figured out a use for all my 1" squares that I've been saving. I'm going to make a miniature quilt (maybe bigger, I have a ton of 1" squares). Each of the finished hexagons is 3/8"!!

I have over 50 of these basted, but wanted to share my first flower with everyone!

Hexagon Obsessed.. Honest

I am so obsessed with Hexagons. They're taking over. Literally. But, I've finally found a use for a jelly roll that I've had for over a year. And I've been using my scraps up for a scrappy GFG quilt. I'm also going to be making a GFG with the Odyssea jelly roll.

They're really portable, and I just LOVE hexies. Maybe a swap in the works? oh.. now that would feed my obsession.

Hexagons.. a new obsession

I found something to do on my lunch break! English Paper Piecing!! This one little flower took me over 2 hours! No one wants to see the back of it, but it's ok - I'll get better the more I practice.




Wonder how many flowers I can get done on lunch now?? Now I've got a great portable obsession. If we can still afford to go on a vacation, I'll have something to do in the car ride.