A quilt "Chemistry, named love"

Lately I haven't wrote here although I am still making quilts. 

So I want to share with you the story about the last one, which was a baby quilt.

 The parents are amazing couple - one is chemist and the other a cartoon maker.The design should be something with hexagons.

The hexagons were made from two different stripes - one is 1 3/4 inches, another - 3 inches. I have challenged myself to bind hexagons. First found three different ways , and finally made my own way :) I used a bias stripe - the outer corners are easy to bind - very similar to right angle binding. The tricky way is for the inner corners - I pull the bias tape and stitch to the middle point, then pivot quilt and follow stitching. On the back side I stitched by hand.

I like using rests for making back, so my quilts always have two "faces".

 

Merry Christmas to all!

A lettter in a hexagon - tutorial

My interest in making letters has new shape - letter in hexagon.
I love making tiny things, I adore mini quilts.
Last year I have designed another Hexie alphabet.
Now I finished the new one.

Let me introduce the letter A

 The letter B.

                                                                                 The letter C.

Here is the whole alphabet. You can get the PDF pattern .

How to do a letter...

Each letter is made first by paper piecing and then by English paper piecing.
Print  the pattern and cut the hexagons.
Set the machine stitch length to shorter than usually you sew - somewhere between 1,5 and 2.
Keep in mind - with small length you will easier tear off the paper, but if there is a need to rip a seam you will be in a trouble.

Step1.
Prepare pieces for the background :

• two pieces - 1 x 2 inches 
• two pieces - 1 1/2 x 1 1/4 inches 
• a small piece round 1 x 2 inches for the inside of the letter.

Use a 1/2 inch strip for the letter. It is easier to work with strip instead of small pieces.

Step2.
Use a source of light - the sun, a lamp etc.
First seam will be between area 1 and area 2.
Place first piece wrong side to the paper to cover the area 1 and pin. Then place the strip right side together and repin. Keep in mind that after sewing a seam and turn over the strip, it must covers the area 2.

See how it looks like on the back side.

Sew a seam between 1 and 2 starting1-2 stitches before and ending 1-2 stitches after. If prefer make a backtitch.
Cut the strip align to the previous piece, turn over and iron.

Trim the seam allowances to less than 1/4 inch. No need to use rotary cutter - simply use a scissors.

Step3.
Repeat the same steps to cover the whole letter.
Using a strip for letter is very tricky - look at the next photo.

After you position the strip you can easy control its direction.

Add the next four pieces the same way - first left and right.
 

Then up and down.

Now you should start and finish stitching a quarter inch wider than the paper.

This letter is one section, so it is very easy to follow the numbers.
When the letter is two sections simply paper piece the letter and then proceed from this step forward.

Step4.
Now you have a finished hexagon. Trim a quarter inch seam allowances.

The front look

Step5.
Tear off the paper carefully.
Place a one inch paper hexagon in the centre and make EPP the way you prefer.

Use the letters for small project, to personalize pouch, mug rugs etc.
Happy sewing!

Personalized Hexie mug rug

I need to make a special gift for a dear friend.
Sewing hexagon by hand seems the best way to put all my feelings into this mug rug.
Making a mug rug for a man has to be more personalized and I decided to build a letter inside.
I have chosen different prints in blue and began cutting and  sewing.
It was a peaceful process.
At the beginning I paper piece the first letter of his name.
I have designed the whole alphabet.

 

 The paper hexagon is the same size as all the hexies in the project - see the back side.

I used the paper as a template for EPP.

Then prepare all other hexies (I use running stitch), order them on table and stitch them by hand as usual.
You can use this tutorial for hexagons paper templates or simply download for FREE and cut as many as you need.
Carefully remove the paper especially when tear it from hexie with letter.

This is the top of the mug rug.

Add batting and backing, quilt as you desire and make a binding.

Coffee or tea, please.

Hexie needle case - so inspiring

Last week I saw a small hexagon needle case shared by my friend Elnora at Instagram.
She make beauties with fabrics. And she is always a supportive helper when I have difficulties with American English.
So, what has happened next. I have to make a present for a friend of mine - Maria, who creates nice bags and cushion covers. And the solution was - to make such hexagon needle case.

 The front and back are paper pieced hexies sewn together by piece of felt.

Each of the covers is made by two hexies prepared with well known  English paper piecing.
Stitched together using blind stitch.

I decided on two colors felt pages - red and gray.

It is cute, isn't it?

If like the idea, the pattern will be available soon.
Happy sewing until then...

Hexagon template for English paper piecing

Anyone who likes English paper piecing knows how important is to have proper Hexagon templates.
Thee are many places for buying them.
I offer you an easy way to print and prepare so many as you need.
You should follow these simple steps.

1.Print the template from here.
Or from here. At the bottom of the page there is octagon templates, too.

2. Fold twice and then again twice (or simply use the dotted lines for folding)

3. Staple the center of each hexagon.

 There is no problem you can see the printed instructions on the back side.

4. Cut round  hexagons carefully.

5.Unstaple and you will have 16 perfect 1 inch hexagons.

Print and cut so many hexagons as you need!
Happy English paper piecing!