Dies used: Hexagons, 1 1/4in Sides Hexagons, 1in Sides #2 (for the papers) Drunkard's Path Quarter Circle Drunkard's Path & Fan Background
We're back home again now after our family holiday to the Isle of Wight. The days were packed with visits to castles, beaches, Roman villas, boat trips, dinosaur attractions and more but the evenings were much more relaxed with plenty of time for some English paper piecing. The box I took to hold my basted hexagons filled up nicely over the course of the week.
Still going to need quite a few more though to make a 6ft+ festive table runner!
Returning home again meant getting back to the deadlines and trying to get back on top of the to-do list. One of my close friends is due to give birth in the next few weeks and I want to make a little quilt for the new baby's arrival. Whilst there isn't quite the same pressure as a work deadline, time is running out quickly and so it was time to get on with it!
I've been wanting to use my Drunkard's Path dies for a while to have a go at a circles design and this seemed like the perfect project. I decided to make 4 circles using some printed children's fabric and see how it went. Having spent years sewing toys full of tricky curves as a result I don't really mind sewing curves and found that the quarter circles and background pieces went together really nicely. With the finished circle being quite large at 7in diameter, the curve isn't too tight and didn't feel awkward to manage instead it felt quite comfortable to sew.
I think 4 circles by 4 circles will work out at a good baby quilt size and so the top is almost a quarter complete already. Oh and if you haven't guessed, it's a boy!
To make the children's prints stand out more it might be good to add a few circles made with basic blender prints, or add another background fabric, hmm. Some more playing about with fabric is needed I think!
Dies used: Hexagons, 1in Sides #2 Hexagons, 1 1/4in Sides
We're away on holiday at the moment and the last couple of times we've been away I've taken some English Paper Piecing with me and it's the same again this time - it may qualify as a habit now! When preparing a project to take on a summer holiday thoughts don't automatically go to Christmas but I was sent a couple of bundles of gorgeous Dashwood Christmas fabric last week and I wanted to use it straight away along with a few others from the festive section of my stash.
Also my son's teacher told me that her mum, who is a keen quilter, has recently made 30 mini stockings like the ones I made as teacher gifts using my Big Shot and posted about on here last Christmas. Suddenly making Christmassy things in July seemed thoroughly reasonable!
Using the Hexagons, 1in Sides die and a few sheets of scrap paper otherwise destined for the recycle bin, I cut a pile of papers. Then with the Hexagons 1 1/4in die I set to chopping the fabric.
They are intended to become part of a table runner which will need to be 2m long to fit our dining table and so Christmas 2016 may be a more realistic finish date if sewing is to be as relaxed and enjoyable as planned.
And so along with the clothes packing an EPP sewing bag containing all of the essentials had to be packed too.
Cutting the papers and fabric and getting the travel EPP kit together was so much easier and took a fraction of the time it took to pack one of the boys' bags! My Big Shot Plus really is an invaluable piece of kit.
Hopefully a week of relaxed hexagon sewing in the sunshine lies ahead!
I'm sticking with hexagons at the moment and have been making some mini quilted hexy stockings (hang-on-the-tree size) to give to my sons' teachers for Christmas.
I've never made presents for teachers before and so wanted to start off with something small but personalise it for each recipient.
Out came the Big Shot and the Hexagons, 1in Sides #2 die to turn this pile of Christmas fabric scraps into a neat stack of hexagons.
The Hexagons, 3/4in Sides was used to cut all of the papers to use with them.
I English paper pieced the front of the stocking, joining the hexagons together until they formed a piece big enough to cover the template I'd drawn out (I did cheat a bit and adjusted the template here and there if the hexagons didn't quite reach by a fraction).
I drew around the template with a water erasable pen, cut it out and then, because I'd just cut through some of the seams, machine-sewed around the edge to hold them together. With some scrap lining and a thin piece of batting I quilted the front with a simple diamond pattern.
The template was used (in reverse) to draw out and cut the back of the stocking from a neutral fabric. Before pinning and sewing it to the front, I wrote Aidan's teacher's name on it in water erasable pen and embroidered over the top in red before sponging away the remaining visible ink.
The front and back of the stocking were sewn together leaving the top open. The lining was made in the same way but the bottom of the foot part left open as well, to allow the stocking to be turned out the right way at the end.
I basted a ribbon hanging loop to the top back of the stocking outer and then stitched the lining to the outer around the top, reversing over the section that held the loop before continuing on to make sure it was well secured.
Then all that was left was to turn it the right way out and close the opening in the bottom of the lining. I say all that was left but I do still need to buy the bits and bobs to go inside...and make 2 more. One down though.
I was away in North Wales last week with my two boys and my parents for the half term break. I wanted to take some sewing with me and whilst I've had a little try of English paper piecing before (the needle book in the second photo, I did say a little try) I've never had a proper go and this seemed like the ideal opportunity.
The day before we set off I found a little plastic box and assembled a travel-hexy-sewing-kit. Using my Hexagons, 1in Sides #2 die I cut approximately 80 hexies on my Big Shot, using up lots of leftover scraps of some favourite prints in the process. Then with the Hexagons, 3/4in Sides die I cut the papers to use with them.
Now I know I'm a EPP newbie but surely there can't be an easier, faster way of preparing hexies than this?
A needle book, small pair of scissors and 2 reels of thread went into the box along with the papers and hexagons and it was ready to go. Next time though I'll definitely add basting glue to the kit and use a dab to hold the paper to the fabric as it was awkward holding the paper in place whilst folding the sides over.
It was lovely to sit and baste a few hexagons in the evenings when the boys were winding down or asleep in bed.
I managed to get all of the hexagons basted over the course of the week (it's pretty addictive once you get going) and started to join them into 'flowers'. There is a plan for these once they're all joined together.
The more I've got into quilting the more enjoyable hand-sewing has become, I spent years trying to avoid it and used a machine wherever possible. Maybe hand-sewing will even start to overtake machine sewing one day - although probably not too soon as my new sewing machine is due tomorrow, yay!
Some time ago I got some fat quarters of nice linen fabric in different prints from the Creative Fair in Madrid. They have been waiting for a new project and finally it has been their turn.
I must to say I´m a lover of the traditional hexagon block in quilting, so I thought it would be a good idea to try this kind of material in an hexagon quilt.
You know that hexagon are sewn in the paper piecing method. I saved a lot of time doing the cutting of the cardboard and fabric pieces using my Big Shot machine and two of the hexagon dies.
Oh, My !! I couldn´t believe how fast you can get a lot of cardboard and fabric hexagons ready to use.
I prefered using cereal cardboard so I can enjoy the pieces in the future and recycle them.
Just you need to cut the cardboard pieces smaller that the fabric and then start to prepare the individual pieces and after that sew one to each other.
I have done flowers with two kinds of linen ( cream and natural ) in the middle and alternating both of them.
Around sixty pieces are already sewn by hand and more will be coming next weeks.
I´m not in a hurry , just try to enjoy every moment with this addictive method!
Here it´s the back .
At this moment I don´t kow how big will be my quilt. I need to plan a border too....maybe with some natural linen.
It´s a slow task to get all together but I really love.
Fat quarters de
diferentes clases de estampado en lino . En mi caso tenÃa 6
Lino Crema
Lino Natural.
Echa un vistazo al vÃdeo que tiene Sizzix grabado y verás lo sencillo que es prepararlos. Mis troqueles son de hexágonos más grandes que los usado en el vÃdeo.
I've been tidying up my sewing room, or at least I made a start on tidying and then got somewhat distracted by some scraps of soho solids by timeless treasures. I was supposed to be tidying away a lot of my big shot dies that were all sat in a pile too, and before I knew what was happening I'd cut the scraps into hexagons using the 1.25" hexagon die and had english paper pieced a few diamond flowers.
At least my lack of tidying produced something pretty, even though I'm still surrounded by piles of mess and my dies still aren't put away properly! I love the colours in this, it's making me think about starting a quilt in just solids. Which will probably mean my sewing room stays messy for a lot longer!!!
If you fancy getting distracted from jobs you should be doing, take a look at the new quilting and applique page on our website. There are loads of downloadable project ideas and tips for you. It's definitely worth a visit, just make sure you have a cuppa with you because you might be there for some time!
If you follow me on my personal blog then you may be aware that I've been spending most of the past week and a bit visiting my husband in hospital (you can read more about what's up with him on this post).
Certain things happen when you are in and out of the hospital visiting a loved one - you don't eat properly, your pets are also fed at peculiar times, you don't sleep very well and you think to yourself 'oh, I can do loads of hand sewing' and you pick up a little bag (which you fortunately already have organised and carry around with you most of the time anyway).
In reality I have sat like a zombie and haven't managed to do very much sewing at all. Actually, I only managed to sew together the outer rings of these hexagon flowers, I still have to sew them to the flowers (I have finished one, and started a second). Not very impressive at all!
These hexagons have been cut using the 1" hexagon die for the papers and the 1 1/4" hexagon die for the fabrics. They look lovely and tidy from the back, which makes me a happy bunny.
Hopefully I'll be able to get some more of this done now I'm spending less energy on worrying as my husband's surgery has gone well and he's starting to feel much better.
Last week I promised I'd show you what I take when I'm travelling to english paper piece with.
Many people are wary about taking scissors and needles on a plane because of the heightened security restrictions these days, but as long as you know what you can take and what you can't you'll soon be happily stitching away in the mile high sewing club!
Scissors - you can see from the photo mine have a very short blade. From handle to tip they're about 2" (the cutting part actually measures about 1/2"). These particular scissors are called little gems and they're 100% safe for flight. They're also very sharp - they do cut thread with no problems at all, despite their tiny size!
The TSA states that scissors with a blades less than 4" are allowed but British flights are sometimes stricter, and I've been told different things by different security staff when I've flown, so in my opinion - get the smallest you can possibly find. Nail scissors are ok too.
If you're still not sure then pack a thread cutter - it's a concealed blade that is completely safe for flights and can picked up quite cheaply (mine is the red plastic thing in the picture and cost £1 from a quilt show). Clover make a lovely one that can worn as a pendant, it's more expensive but does look nice (and it works really well).
Needles - these are fine for flying. You can take as many as you like to be quite honest! I think you might get some issues if you were taking super long thick needles, but regular hand sewing needles are no problem.
I then take a glue stick for help when I baste my hexagons, and some thread. I try to pack as light as possible and take 2 little sewing kits with me (both were made by a friend of mine and I've used them so much!) One is especially for my papers and fabrics and one is for my tools. You should be realistic - on a flight how much sewing will you actually do? Don't pack a massive bag full of bits, take enough to keep you busy, possibly a little too much, but don't go silly. I have packed enough to make five full double ringed flowers. It might take me the outward and return journey to make those, because at some point I'll have a nap, watch a film and read a book or magazine. Space is tight on a plane, and you can always pack extra in your suitcase for whilst you're away and the return trip.
Not a lot of progress to show you this week with my grandmother's flower garden quilt, but I do have 5 flowers completed now.
If you're wondering why I've sewn the black and white spotty hexagons to just part of the flowers then let me explain....that's the background.
Rather than sewing all of the background/sashing once I've finished the flowers I'm doing it as I go, that way I'll be much closer to finishing when I have all the flowers done, and I won't have to sew hundreds of black background hexagons in one go.
They'll go together like this....
Obviously I've still got a long way to go before my quilt looks quilt-like, but I love how it's looking so far!
This week's job is to baste/tack a whole heap of individual hexagons ready for a plane trip to the US next week. An international flight is the perfect time to stitch up some hexie flowers, don't you think?!
Next week I'll show you my inflight sewing kit - you can take scissors and needles on flights, you just have to be careful with the sizes.
Have a wonderful week - what are you working on this week?
I've been thinking ahead to Summer. With the crazy snowy weather as it is here in the UK (as we come to the end of March!) I need to cheer myself up a little and at least dream about the warmer weather we are bound to get any time soon (I live in hope!)
The Summer means more time spent outside, and less time spent at the sewing machine, so I need portable projects that can be hand sewn and my default hand sewn projects are usually hexagon english paper pieced.
My 1" and 1.25" hexagon dies are getting a work out at the minute, the 1" is turning junk mail, used envelopes and (dare I admit it?) bills into hexagon papers and the 1.25" die is making light work of cutting my fabrics into perfect hexies ready for basting. I love using the dies for cutting paper. It should be incredibly obvious to use them this way, as Sizzix is so big on scrap booking and paper crafts, but when I realised I could actually cut papers from my hexagon dies it was like winning the lottery. Simple things, eh?!
It's so satisfying getting these prepped and ready for sewing together. My long term vision is a traditional grandmother's flower garden quilt, something big enough to cover a bed. I know it's going to take me a long, long time but having this kind of project where I know there's no deadline helps keep me sane amongst a stack of projects that are more urgent.
In a couple of weeks I'll be at the Spring Quilt Festival in Exeter demoing the Big Shot on the Cotton Patch stand and, as I'll be away from home for a few nights, my hexies will be there keeping me company on an evening. I'm hoping to get a fair few 'flowers' stitched up. I'll keep you posted on my progress! This is where I'm at so far. It's a start, albeit a small one!
Have a wonderful week - keep warm and happy stitching!
