Personalized heart

The New Year arrived with many expectations.
The great news here: I am totally recovered from shoulder pain. I promise never stop making exercises and take a rest every hour when sewing or sitting in front of computer.
By the way if somebody has such problem don't hesitate to write me for support. I have collected many useful videos with exercises which are helpful.

So the new pattern arrived right for Valentine's day.
If you like to make happy your beloved one make a cushion with a heart personalized by his letter.

The pattern is designed with letter A and you can download.
Need another letter?
Simply add a message after purchase and I will send manually.

What about making a bunting flags with the letters of whole name?
Do you know that one of most popular names in USA is Ava?

You can put inside any letter from the funny alphabet.

The heart is made as a frame and it is easy to put inside any picture if you don't want to add a letter.

Enjoy sewing!

The Hexagon Alphabet

I decided to share some tricks making letters from Hexagon alphabet.

In case you have two sections' letter paper pieces both sections.

Sew together the sections.  

Then add two pieces on the left and right.

Then add pieces up and down.

As you see it is not necessary to add perfect cut rectangles. I use every piece the same color I have by hand.
 Then align the paper hexagon on the back and reduce the exceed fabric.
As the hexagon has lines you can easily align them to the stitch lines. 
Make EPP your prefered way.

I pin and baste.

If it is still difficult to center the hexagon to the letter, look at the following tricks.

Happy sewing!

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.