Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Hexagons! A beginning


I make Hexagons and you should, too! It's a little project that travels very nicely.


If you use freezer paper pieces, the hotel iron comes in handy!


See how great this is? When your child is getting ready for his game, in the cold rain, you can park the van nearby to watch....


And have all you need to work on these little guys right in your lap!



I liked freezer paper since you didn't need pins to hold your scrap in place and it has some body. Regular paper was my least favorite. Too easy to warp your shape I think.

But my favorite was the card stock - I felt like my hexagons were the most neat with the firmer edge. But see how lame my cutting skills are up there!? Even with a nice template download, and using my rotary tool and ruler, I had the worst time with slipping! {This is standard with my cutting in general. I have tried all kinds of things to help. Maybe I should join in on Becket's preschool class to get some tips!}


Anyway, since I like the card stock best, cut terribly, and need UNIFORM hexagons - these pre cuts from Paper Pieces are what I'll use from now on.



I mentioned how freezer paper holds fabric in place nicely - well I tried just holding the fabric in place with the card stock. It was frustrating every time it slipped! Not enough fabric on an edge, or a rumple in the top....I had to pin. But I didn't want to pin through the card stock and bend the shape. A little hole punch is perfect here.


Ignore the random thread! I'm too lazy to go take another one.

This is how I like to baste down my edges. It's a small stitch through just the fabric at the corner, then take one more back stitch in the same spot before moving onto the next corner. I knot at the start, but not at the end.

Here at Sunshine's Creations is a great tutorial that I followed for this part. Huge plus for this method seems to be the ability to just leave those threads in when you're done, instead of pulling them.


I did a few with some Heather Ross poplin cuteness. I found that the poplin tended to kind of bow out and wouldn't stay flat with my finger pressing and just tacking the corners. So I did a few like Camille, actually sewing the corners and mid way on the edges through the paper.

Besides needing to pull all those threads at the end, I didn't enjoy the process as well. I don't know why.


That's as far as I've gotten. Once I decide how I would like to stitch these guys together, I'm interested in finding out if any of the different paper types result in nicer looking joined hexagons. I'll keep you updated as I learn more on my new mini hobby!

20 comments:

Kris said...

This is so helpful! Thanks!

Unknown said...

I, too, love hexies!! I use freezer paper exclusively. All my shapes are cut on my AccuQuilt. Both the fabric and the freezer paper. The freezer paper comes exactly 1/4 inch less than the fabric. I agree, quite portable too. Yours look absolutely gorgeous!

Liz Jimenez said...

Stop it! I don't need to add anything else to my to-do list! :-)

Seriously, they're adorable. And I LOVE the time you take to go through the options and tell us all about it! Reminds me of the recipe write-ups in Cook's Illustrated, which I adore so much.

Leslie said...

they look so pretty all stacked up together like that

Dresden Quilter said...

You are tempting me! I am awful at cutting too. I really need some hand projects.

Abbybeth said...

my first package of papers came from paper pieces yesterday - it's going to start as a project on the airplane next week .... this is very inspriring!

Anonymous said...

Looking good, thank you for sharing!

Audrie said...

So cute! I can't give in because I'll never get anything else done... they look very addictive heehee!

RaisinCookies said...

Ooh, I just blogged today about my budding hexagon obsession! I, too, like how portable it is, and how quickly you can sew a few at a time. It's going to take me a looong time to make enough for anything substantial, but that's okay. :)

Yours look great! I like the freezer paper idea; I'm using card stock and I have the same problem with the fabric and paper slipping as I sew. I might have to try a hole punch!

www.shelvesinmymind.blogger.com

RaisinCookies said...

D'oh, typed my blog address wrong! www.shelvesinmymind.blogspot.com

Stephanie said...

So pretty, and thanks for sharing your tips and what has worked for you. The hole punch for a pin is a great idea for cardstock. Smart thinking!

amy smart said...

Mmmm. Such pretty pictures. Thank you so much for passing on your new found knowledge! You did so much leg-work for me. This is going to be my summer project. I'm going to order some cardstock pieces today. Right now!

Rene' said...

Angela, with your great instructions, there is really no reason for me to put off making these cute hexies! Thanks for doing all the legwork and trial and error for the rest of us. Or maybe I shouldn't thank you for giving me something else to add to my to do list ;-)

Alyson said...

I had hoped you didn't mind the link. :) I just laughed when I saw this post...pretty much what I was going to write. Yours look great! Can't wait to see how you stitch them together. I've been whipstitching but I don't like how much it shows.

erica said...

Love the Hexies!

Vicki said...

hexagons are soo cool. I love the yellows and oranges you are using here.

Rebekah said...

cute hexagons!

(this is why I like to knit and embroider while waiting :)

23rdspiral said...

Thankyou! i've made 148 hexies so far, and my pin has gone blunt. blunt!! so from now on i'll punch a hole like you - they wont warp at all and will be more re-usable and if i pop a crocket hook in it, maybe even easier to remove? :0)

Liz Jimenez said...

I know this post was roughly forever ago, but I wanted you to know that your hexie posts have been SUPER helpful and I'm starting in on them, now. Not like I need another project/addiction, but it's nice to have something to bring along...

Will link up to you a bunch on my blog. Certainly won't be claiming credit for all of the ideas I'm borrowing from you!

Unknown said...

Wonderful idea. Thank you for sharing. x x x x