by Sandra | August 30th, 2010
Since I have had many questions regarding my little hexagon project……..
I still do not have a completed design idea in my head exactly how I am going to use these, but I know I want to use them as a background for some applique and/or hand embroidery.
Horrors of horrors I am hand piecing. I can hear you muttering, “but you hand applique what’s the problem?”. Hand sewing seams for repetitive piecing is a whole different animal in comparison to the constantly changing designs in hand applique. I am not good with repetition. At all.
Having said that, I am enjoying piecing my hexagons in the evenings while I watch my television shows. I think the main reason it is working for me is that I took the angst out of it. How, you ask?
Boy do I love computer drawing programs. I drew out the size of hexagon that pleased my eye (no measuring as I am geometry impaired), then created a template on an 8.5″ x 11″ rectangle that would go through the printer. I can print the cutting line AND sewing line perfectly and I have no marking to do later and no guessing on where to stop and start my sewing. All I do is sew and make sure I start and stop at the corners and they go together perfectly.
Cut fabrics 8.5" x 11" so they can go through the printer
Face fabric right side up and iron the freezer paper to the *RIGHT* side of the fabric. Feed the fabric/freezer paper unit through the printer so you print on the fabric (wrong side)
Cutting and sewing lines are printed on the back of the fabric and make for easier piecing. I cut them out with scissors.
See how they line up on the backside and are easy to stitch? woohoo.
As my little gift to you, I am including a PDF for my grandmother’s hexagons for you if you want to create your own as well.
If you can figure out this formula:
for measuring the area of my Hexagons (Frances-<grin>) then you will know the size. I will tell you that one finished side length of the Hexagon is 1″. I will leave the math portion of this there. The seam allowance is a scant quarter inch.
I want the colors to be soft because for my project, I want it to fade as a background. The applique will be the contrast. I am also making this as a utilitarian quilt and I like a softer palette because it reminds me of my grandma’s quilt I grew up with. 
You should check out inklingo by Linda Franz – all sorts of hexes, diamonds, triangles and you can get a free lemoyne star to try out.
Also, you can spray a regular piece of copy paper with basting spray and stick the fabric to it and run that through the printer in the same way. You can also do this with your applique if the pattern is small enough and then you are all ready for backbasting.
well I’ll be DARNED !!
I’m doing a GFG and I use those plastic hex’s . I also use a dot of basting glue in each corner to hold the shape . It sts up really fast. Some use that stick glue , YEW ! what a mess .
I think I’ll try your printing fabric and then I won’t have to mark each piece sepaertly . Thanks for the great hint ! Not sure I’ll ever finish mine !
do you use paper or anything for the inside ? it looks like you don’t . Do you use a running stitch and sew from the back ?
I’m curious how you do yours .
What would we do without you ? : )
Sandra,
This is going to be wonderful.
You do realise that we are all now waiting with bated breath to see how it finishes up, and can’t wait to see the embroidery being added to the applique!
I know, all good things come to those who wait. Just keep in mind we are now waiting.
Judy B
Thanks for the pdf patern for your hexies, Sandra! What a nice size they are! So, no English paper piecing for you, just good old fashioned hand piecing. What a neat idea. I’m sure that way will make a nice flat surface for you to applique and embroider over! I just might have to give that a try — one flower at least!
Well of course, I meant to spell it “patTern.” Sorry!
Perfect timing! I just bought a bunch of hexagon paper templates since I thought I would attempt a project using them. it’s good to see there might be a better and easier way to get the same results! I’ll try both methods now!
Boop,
I do not use any template such as English Paper piecing or a plastic template. I sew from the back using a running stitch, starting and stopping at the corner points of the stitching line.
When you sew the next piece, start again in the corner point and sew to the other corner point.
I am pretty impressed I have completed three already. I thought I would do one and then my attention span would fail me. LOL
Judy,
I hope you have a lot of patience
Well hello Jane!
Long time no “see”. Missed you at the last Quiltfest.
I like to whittle the process down to the fun parts if I can. All that prep work leads to serious procrastination and eventually another UFO for me. As long as the end result meets my expectations, I don’t care what path I take to get there.
Kathleen,
Options are always a good thing.
Tammy,
I knew I couldn’t be the first one to think of this! LOL
Sandra,
I may be impatient, but will still be waiting no matter how long it takes for you to get there.
I might actually get my hexie top complete by then too! I only have to straighten up the edges, bu tI don’t dare count how many pieces that will take!
Judy B
I measured the temmplate I use to cut my hex’s and it looks like it is the same size. I’m going to try your method. It just may save me ton’s of work .
I was wondering, if you have to prep the fabric or wash it after printing . I wouldn’t think so , seeing we don’t care if it is permenant . I have washed all my fabric previously , so it should take the ink .
Hope you feeling better !
Boop,
The example in the photo has been pre-washed. I am using an Epson printer and hit the printed fabric with a hot iron after printing.
I have had no issues with the ink smearing, transfering or rubbing off.
Test your printer’s ink to make sure there are no issues.
Judy,
The fastest way I know to have a project come to a complete stop is to count the pieces! LOL
It always makes me scratch my head when I hear people rattle off how many yards of thread, pieces, hours, etc. it took in the making of their quilt. I don’t know, and I don’t want to know those specifics with my quilts!
That would be the quickest way I know for me to never ever complete a quilt.
Boop thanks for asking, I am finally feeling human again today.
A pretty yellow bird flew into my mail box today ! : ) TY !
Can’t wait to start !
Sandra,
I made my first quilt for my daughters’ baby doll in hexies just as you. I tried pp but I did not care for whip stitching.I could sew them faster hand piecing like you.
Hmmmm, I’ll have to ask her where in her treaures she had stored it. I like to see it again; after 22 yrs to look at how I did now that I have learned so much about quilting.
Anyways Thank You so much for your gift.I plan on giving my printer a try out and seeIf I have a problem with my inks.
I will be waiting anxiously to see your applique. I have thought about piecing a background and appliqueing on top of it but I was afraid of appliqueing over pieced seams. I didn’t think the applique would lie flat. I can’t wait to see what you do with this. I love your blog. You inspire me!
Deb,
I don’t like the whip stitching either. When I am able to cut out all of the double preparation steps, I find it goes really quickly. It feels much softer too.
If you hit the printed fabrics with a very hot iron, that should do the trick to keep it stable while you work. After we get them sewn together. if the ink washes out? so be it.
Jane,
The nice thing I have discovered about hand pieced seams is that they are more soft and flexible than machine sewn seams. I am thinking this bodes well for not giving me hard ridges underneath the applique.
It will be interesting to see how the applique goes when I reach that step. I will certainly share here on my blog what I discover!