I've Developed a Leak

Did you ever feel like you have so many ideas bubbling around in your head that if you don't use some of them they will leak out of your ear? I think that's started happening to me. I feel like I've been blogging about the same projects for months with a huge backlog of ideas.



The truth is, I don't really get a lot of time to sew. My 2 little ones keep me pretty busy most days. Last week however, I was able to take a few hours to myself here and there and knock out this little doll quilt/wall hanging that I've had in my head for awhile now. It was intended to hang on the wall in my daughter's room. It matches the decorative painting that I showed you in my last post. It was inspired by this doll quilt. I was able to get it quilted at the PMQG's sewcial at Modern Domestic on Saturday night. Loads of fun. I may have had a few margarita's beforehand, but I don't think the quilt suffered much from it.

Before the Sewcial, I was able to attend Elizabeth Hartman's (Of Oh Fransson), freestyle quilting workshop. It was super informative and super fun! I had never tried free-motion quilting before, and this helped me to jump right in. I haven't finished my project from the class yet, because I wanted more practice time with my free motion skills. Elizabeth is a quilting guru, and I would recommend this class to anyone looking for a jumpstart into quilting, or to hone their skills. I'll post more on this when I actually get the pillow done!

I did finally finish my daughter's new wave quilt, and even got the chance to wash it. So crinkly and lovely...

(This quilt is so bright and lovely, why can't I get a good picture of it? They all look washed out! Any photography buffs out there that can give me some tips? I work with a point and shoot - Canon powershot SD1100. I have no idea how to use it to it's fullest.)





The other exciting thing that happened this week was receiving my lovely package of hexagons from Shelly at PinkPunkBoutique! These were from the flickr swap organized by Heather and Kerri. Thanks ladies for organizing, and thanks so much Shelly for my super cool hexies and pouch, I'm in love with them! I've decided that I need to use the hexagons on something that I will see/use every day. I have a few ideas in the back of my head. I'm hoping I can keep them from leaking out. ;)

Look Familiar?

I have been pretty busy over the last week, most of it did not involve sewing. My husband's business is finally starting to pick up a bit (phew!), so I've been with the kiddos what feels like 24/7. We all cycled through a nasty summer cold, had 2 more family birthdays, and got a cool new swimming pool. My wonderful husband did feel bad for me not having ANY 'me' time in awhile, and took the kids over for a few hours on Saturday AND Sunday. It was awesome. I worked on a bunch of long overdue stuff. First to get finished was this bag that I made for my friend Lily to donate to a charity auction that she is working on. Yes, it looks just like this bag that I made a couple months ago. I really loved the design, so I just mixed up the colors a bit, and I think I love this one just as much.

The hexagons do take awhile to sew together, but I don't think the bag would be the same without them. I'd love to make this same bag in a bunch of different colors. We'll see if I get around to it. I love the cute polka dot interior with my silly label - I think it makes it pretty fun. I hope they get alot of money for Intercambio de Comunidades, that's the charity that the auction will benefit. I was trying to figure out how many hours I spent on it - but with all the hand stitching it was impossible to track (plus I'm really slow).


Ahhhh, we've finally reached kiddie bedtime - I'm off to relax, or fold laundry...

Hexagon / English Paper Piecing Tutorial

My first tutorial!! OK, I know it is pretty basic, this is (hopefully) a good start for someone who hasn't paper-pieced before. English paper piecing is a type of hand-piecing fabric shapes using paper templates. Fabric is basted to the paper templates and then sewn together. The paper can be removed after all of the pieces are attached to each other.

PART 1: basting the hexagon to the paper piece

A note on sizing: These hexagons are measured along 1 side. So, a 1" hexagon will have a finished size of 1" along 1 side.

You can find these hexagon templates in my etsy shop on the sidebar, they have built-in seam allowances for perfect cutting. Tabslot is the name of the etsy shop.

STEP 1: Gather your materials. You'll need a rotary cutter and a template (if you don't have a plastic template, cut one out of paper, and use it as a guide to draw a hex on your fabric - then cut using your ruler as a guide).

STEP 2: Cut out your fabric. Make sure you have at least 1/4" seam allowance all around the hexagon. Some people cut squares from their fabric and baste those directly to the hex paper (this is totally fine, it's a matter of personal preference), but I like my backs neat and tidy, and I think you can get more out of your fabric if you cut a hexagon.

STEP 3: Grab a hex paper to use for basting. You can buy these precut, or cut your own. I use regular printer paper (use your junkmail to recycle). I re-use my papers many times, just iron them after you pull them out. TIP: You can use a hole-punch to make a hole in the paper to make it easier to get them out after you take out the basting stitches.

STEP 4: Place your fabric wrong side down on a hard surface, and place the paper centered on top of it. Finger press one side down using the paper as a guide.

STEP 5: Continue finger-pressing. I first press three opposite sides (not touching each other).

STEP 6: Finger press the remaining 3 sides. Prep your needle and thread.

Some notes on thread: I first tried using red thread, thinking it would make it easier for me to keep track of. I ironed it, and it bled. Don't use red thread. I then used my cheap 100% polyester thread, thinking it was a good way to use it up. I ironed it on hot and it melted to my hexagons. If you use poly thread, turn the heat on your iron down.

STEP 7: Start basting! I like to put my needle in through the back first, that way it's easy to find the knot to clip later.

STEP 8: Bring your needle back up through the paper and all near a corner.


STEP 9: Take a stitch over that corner and back down though the paper, then back up near the next corner.

STEP 10: Continue this pattern all the way around the hexagon until you come back to your first stitch. This will hold down the corners of the seam allowance, giving you that nice, crisp hexagon shape. Tie off to your first stitch (or how ever you are most comfortable tying off - keeping in mind that these stitches are made to come out).

STEP 11: Cut your thread and baste your next hexagon.

STEP 12: Admire your adorable new creation. This is what the front will look like. Now's a good time to give these guys a good hot press.

PART 2: joining your hexagons

STEP 1: Take 2 hexagons and place them right sides together, making sure you note where the sides to be sewn together are. Things can sometimes get all mixed up with these 6 sided guys.

STEP 2: Insert your needle under the seam allowance but on top of the paper, going directly through a corner. I am right handed, and I find it easiest to sewn the side from right to left.

STEP 3: I use a ladder stitch to connect my hexes. Follow the red arrows above to see the path that the thread will travel. I keep the hexes right-sides facing while I sew, but thought this view provided a clearer explanation of the stitch. After my needle exits at the end of the seam, I come back in for 1 more locking-stitch to really keep the corners together.

STEP 4: Tie off and admire your work! I find that the ladder stitch is pretty invisible, even for beginners. I like to piece columns first, then sew the columns together to make a field.

Neglect

That is what my sewing machine is feeling right now. I have a bunch of 'in-progress' projects, but they're all in the hand sewing stage.




I'm working on a second 'hexie' bag, using the same design I used for my Paris Hexagon Bag. I should probably photograph my progress in case i ever want to make a tutorial or pattern out of it. Anyhow, this new bag will be in aqua and red with a stone color canvas for the main bag, and it will be donated to a silent auction to benefit Intercambio de Comunidades. I still have alot of hand sewing of hexagons to do before I get back to my machine. I'm also sewing the binding on a baby quilt for a friend due with a little boy later this summer. I was able to do all the quilting at Modern Domestic on Friday evening, I really love working on those Bernina's - real work horses.



Also, I may have given in and dropped a chunk of change on a 1/2 yard set of the new Heather Ross Far Far Away II. Really, it's so cute, how could I not. I really have no idea what I'm going to use this for, but it has to be something special. I hope to update some time in the next week with a finished project, but who knows.... it's summer, and it gorgeous out and the kids don't want me to sew.

Paris Hexagon Bag

I really didn't have a plan for these hexagons when I started them, I just thought the fabrics were really cool. Some of the fabric is from Cool Cottons, and some is from here. Well here is what I came up with. It's a simple sling bag, perfect for a trip to the library or the farmers market. It has 1 open pocket inside and a little clasp for my keys. This is the first time I used my little labels, I think it looks cute.

It's almost cooler than a lot of my purses and my diaper bag. Maybe I will use it as a main bag for awhile - just to show it off. The hexagons are 1.25" quilting cotton, and the main body is an organic cotton canvas that I picked up at Cool Cottons, I love the weight and feel of it.

Quilted Hexie Pillow

Well I got my hexagons onto a pillow finally, and I think it looks cute. It's for the kids playroom, to go on the fold out couch/bed thingy. I need to get a proper pillow form for it though, this one is pitifully under-stuffed and rectangular. Which isn't working for the square pillow cover. Hexes are Heather Ross, background is Kona coal and binding/accent is Tula Pink Hushabye. I think it's really cute for the playroom which has dark gray walls and a light tan couch. My son likes the gnome with the wheelbarrow the best.