Good afternoon! This is "organized" in my studio -- all the fabrics and Marti Michell templates in one place as I work through this years edition of #100days100blocks along with lots of quilters around the globe.
Did you join in this challenge?
If you did, are you still on task and keeping up!
So far, so good here!
My design wall is right up to date with block #61 for August 30 starting a new row across the bottom!
I'm using my Marti Michell templates to cut most of the pieces and as I was stitching up several sets of HST's this morning, I was thinking about quilters I see trimming their HST's to the correct size.
If you are one of those, I urge you to give Marti's templates a try.
I would rather spend the time cutting around a template than trimming up anything!!
You can't see the square under this HST and that's because they are the exact same size.
But I digress from my true purpose here today.
I started a new project!
I "had" to because I ran out of stuff to use as "leaders and enders" as I chain piece the #100days blocks. It is inspired by (eye-catching) randomly pieced hexagons projects I keep seeing on Instagram -- my "saved" folder is full of other quilters' cool hexie projects! I'm using a layer cake of assorted blue prints -- purchased and intended for random hexagons a couple months ago!
Wait a minute?!?
Doesn't piecing hexagons mean y-seams?
Yep!
I have been chain piecing y-seams for about six years now!!
If you didn't know that already, read on.
If you didn't know that already, read on.
Before I retired from active teaching, I taught workshops to share this technique inspired by a student -- it's so efficient and so accurate but I know just the phrase "y-seam" scares the crap out of most machine-piecers.
Last week, I had a nice note from a follower, Glen (wondering why I have been quiet in July) who shared that "Your set-in seam technique changed my quilting life! I still like to hand piece but now can cover a lot of ground with machine piecing Y seams."
So maybe you should give this a try?
Would a coupon for 25% OFF give you the courage?
Click HERE to go to my Etsy Shop and purchase the downloadable PDF!
(If the link doesn't apply the discount automatically, use the EASYPIECING in the "coupon" box.)
Offer is good through the end of September, 2019.
Then grab a layer cake with 42 squares (I know you have one with no particular purpose intended) and follow along over the next couple weeks. I'll start by sharing my cutting strategy today.
So maybe you should give this a try?
Would a coupon for 25% OFF give you the courage?
Click HERE to go to my Etsy Shop and purchase the downloadable PDF!
(If the link doesn't apply the discount automatically, use the EASYPIECING in the "coupon" box.)
Offer is good through the end of September, 2019.
Then grab a layer cake with 42 squares (I know you have one with no particular purpose intended) and follow along over the next couple weeks. I'll start by sharing my cutting strategy today.
No layer cake, you say? How about cleaning out that scrap pile?!?
And look at this, perfect size for "charm packs"!
The layout I drafted (using 2" hexagons) makes a quilt top that is 55" by 69 1/2" before borders. It's a good size hexagon to practice the y-seam technique and will come together easily. It should be a nice crib or lap size top -- might work for that gift you want to make for someone or to brighten up your own space?
I chose the large hexagon (2" finished on each side) from Marti Michell's Set G because it makes good use of a 10" square.
I chose the large hexagon (2" finished on each side) from Marti Michell's Set G because it makes good use of a 10" square.
Working with stacks of four 10" squares at a time, I cut two strips (approx. 4") leaving a leftover strip of about 2".
The next two pictures illustrate the most accurate way to measure the strips needed.
Line up the edge of the template with the straight right-hand edge of the fabric.
Push a ruler up against the left-hand edge of the template -- test this position in several places along the length of the fabric.
When you are satisfied that you have an accurate "measurement", pull the template aside and cut along the right-hand edge of the ruler.
(This is a great trick from Marti for cutting messy measurements like 15/16ths!)
See Marti demo this process with the Kaleido-ruler HERE -- the measuring part starts at about the 2 minute mark of the video.
NOTE -- Set aside fourteen assorted of the 4" strips to use later for cutting partial hexagons for the outside edges of the quilt. I didn't do this but I should have -- it will be easier!!
Then cut hexagons from the strips keeping them at the far ends so the leftovers in the middle are something that might be usable (but that's for another day).
Cut a total of 138 hexagons.
Here are the leftovers -- I'm not sure how or if I'll use them but don't they look tidy?
Of course, I'm already enchanted with this new project so I'm just chain piecing hexagons into pairs to help me calm down or get focused or relax -- any excuse to stitch.
So now you cut a stack of hexagons and we'll talk about the piecing in the next post scheduled for Tuesday, September 3.
We are having a holiday weekend here in the USA so whether you are stitching or headed for the beach or just hiding out, I hope it's a good one for you!
Mary
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Congratulations on keeping up with the daily blocks. I look forward to following your new hexagon project
ReplyDeleteI really like how your 100 days quilts is coming. The colors are so pretty!!
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