The two blocks we did for April were totally different from any of the others we have learned. The main difference was that these were done almost entirely by hand. To make the hexagons we used a method called English paper piecing where we cut hexagons out of card stock, wrapped the fabric around them to get it in the shape of the hexagon, pieced it together, and then stitched it to the white fabric.
bunches of little hexagons
after we loosely basted the fabric onto the hexagon-shaped card stock so the would hold their shapes, then after we had sewn them together we removed the basting stitches.
Here’s my first one – I love how it turned out! Even though it took a while since I had to hand stitch everything, I kind of liked that because I was able to carry it around and work on it wherever rather than being tied to my sewing machine. I think I’d really like to make a while quilt out of just hexagons – it would be perfect to keep in a tote bag and work on it wherever and whenever is convenient. Maybe that will be my next project.
The Hexi Stripe worked out so perfectly because we needed 13 hexagons and I had exactly 13 different fabrics that I’ve been using for my other blocks so I was able to incorporate them all into this one block. Very fun!
This one is not my favorite block. It’s cute and all, but I much prefer the blocks that have a bit of a pattern rather than make a picture. I thought about not doing it, but then I figured that the whole reason I’m doing this Block of the Month thing is to learn about lots of different quilting techniques so I should give it a try. Our instructor gave the option for us to create our own block using hexagons that was not a sunshine, but I just decided to do one like hers.
For some reason, this one was much harder for me to sew than the hexi stripe block. There were some options for how we could stitch the sun and the rays to the background (blind stitch, straight stitch, zig zag, satin stitch, etc.) – I chose the blind stitch, which is by hand and more time consuming. I chose that one because all the other options (that used the machine) would have resulted in the stitch showing, which could be kind of cool except I’m still so new at this that it’s hard for me to sew in a straight line and I thought that would be really obvious if the stitching showed. But man, was it hard! The hexagons didn’t want to lie flat and kept bubbling up. And my hands/wrists/thumbs were killing me!
Anyway, so Sunny with a Chance of Hex wasn’t my favorite, but it is cuter than I thought it would be and it was a good learning experience.
New here? Not sure what I’m doing? Let me fill you in. Craftsy is a website where you can “take” tons of online craft classes. There are classes on quilting, sewing, knitting, scrapbooking, crocheting, and more. From what I understand, all the classes are videos that you watch. Most of the classes cost $30-$60 to enroll, but they offer the Block of the Month class for free. I have been wanting to learn how to quilt, so this was the perfect opportunity for me! Each month Amy Gibson (our instructor) teaches us how to do a new quilting technique and then has us use that technique to make two quilt blocks (so I guess technically, this should be the Blocks of the Month…). We’ll do two blocks a month for ten months, and then the last two months will be spent learning how to put the blocks together and quilt them. In addition to her videos, there are written instructions, patterns (if needed), and a discussion board where you can talk to others in the class, ask questions, and post pictures of finished quilt blocks. If you’re interested in learning how to quilt (it’s not as hard as I expected! And I just learned to sew this fall so if I can do it anyone can.) I think the class is still free. You can sign up for it and then just do the blocks at your own pace and get caught back up. It’s been really fun!
This is so neat. Just yesterday at my quilt class our instructor shared this same web site and the hexagon square. Thanks for sharing more. I hope to try it.
I love the hexgon stripe. I once saw someone at the sewing shop with a huge band done quilt top made of tiny hexagons. She was buying wadding for it. She said that she had been working on it for decades. It had bits of school uniform and so many scraps. It was a wonderful history!
I wish I could quilt. One day, I want to make a quilt of my kids’ baby and toddler clothing.
So fun. Did I mention before I quilted in college? It’s such an awesome thing to see something come to together piece by piece! You are so talented wtih your cooking, sewing and other projects! :)