Let's make Hexies!

March 2015 BOM - Arabella - Designed by JoJo Hall

Have you joined the hexie craze? No? Well, I'm here to remedy that right now. In case you are a new visitor to my blog, I'm a bit enthusiastic over the hexagon shape. So much so that I designed a block of the month and taught it at a local quilt store in 2015. It was so much fun seeing each student's monthly blocks.

Our souvenir for Canada is the perfect "dip your toes" hexie project. There are only 10 hexagons to make. I have videos for you to watch on knotting, basting, and joining hexies. The videos are posted them on my website HERE. Note: there are many ways to baste hexies: glue baste, through the paper and through only the back. Choose the method that you prefer. For me, I prefer through the paper.

Here's our finished souvenir.

Sewing map

After appliqueing hexies, prairie points & stitching

After trimming batting and backing

Sewing binding on

Love Clover mini clips!

Front view before stitching down back

It's a Party -- A Hexie Party

Oh and we had a great time complete with cupcakes and sparkling white grape juice (which is simply awesome by-the-way). Last Saturday, was our mid-year mark and to celebrate we had a party. Those that had completed each of the last 7 blocks were eligible to win prizes. The grand prize was a hexie project carry-along and the second prize was a quilted wine holder complete with a bottle of Sparkling Cider. I wish I could have given a prize to everyone because in my book, everyone was a winner. All of the blocks were stunning!

If you missed out on the classes, you have a couple of options. I will repeat the class next year for those who are local and want to attend class and join in with others. It's amazing how much creativity is spurred in a classroom environment each month. I think it really helps to get ideas and see others creations in progress.

For those who are not local or cannot attend the classes, I will have the pattern for all 12 blocks available for purchase at the end of this year once all of this year's classes have completed. And, whether you attend actual classes or buy online, online videos will be available to help you get off to a great start. It's like having me by your side whenever you need me.

Stay tuned for more information!

Here's our party in progress! I added a video at the end for those who haven't thread basted before and want to see how I do it.

Another photo album by Smilebox

I'm too Hexie for my love---too hexie for my love...

I'm too hexie for my stash....
too hexie for my stash...so hexie that it hurts...

I'm your model you know what I mean...
When I do my little joinings on my hexie things!
On my hexie things...you know what I mean.

I can go on and on...
making hexie things.

Making hexies...yay...my hexie things.

Come on now...you know you were humming it along with me!  :)  A songwriter I will never be, but everyone know that I am 'head over hexie' for hexies. Don't believe me? Just ask any of my students.

And speaking of my students, last Saturday during the Intro to Hexie class one of my students (thank you Jenny Tuomi!) showed me how to make her awesome pincushion. During the class, she drew a hexagon and asked which direction to stitch and then she numbered each one as I went around the hexie. I used her method of writing the numbers on the paper to figure out how to sew it. I couldn't help but make one for myself after hearing her explanation. I love learning new things from my students!!!

Wanna make one for yourself? Yeah, I thought so. And when you finish it, you too can sing the "I'm too hexie for my love" song.

I should have been making a sleeve to go on a quilt that I am to drop off on Monday. I cannot make myself start the stupid sleeve! Anyone want to make some extra money and make and sew it on for me!

Here is the drawing I made based on Jenny's instructions. I color coded the numbers to help making following it easier. I used 3/4 inch hexie papers and it is a little pincushion that's a perfect travel size.

It is a little fiddly to sew when you get down to the last few corners. Just remember to work on the seam right in front of you and ignore the others sticking out. I couldn't remember when Jenny took the papers out, but I found it too hard to leave them in until the very end so I removed the paper as soon as I had sewn around all sides. For example, I took out the middle (back) hexie as soon as the 6 hexies were sewn on.

Here's the center flower done with Nos. 1 and 2 sewn,

You can see it gets a little odd looking as you keep going.

This photo shows the papers being removed as I progressed. This made it much easier to continue. Note: see that white ball of fluff in the background. My boy, Dillan, is always ready to lend his thoughts on my projects.

Here I am on the last two sides. I left it open so I could turn the hexie. I also removed all the papers before turning it. When you remove all the papers, the edges do 'not' want to stay shut. I used Roxanne's glue baste to glue baste them back in the position I wanted. It works perfectly!

Here it is all turned and finger pressed into position. Isn't it cute?

I opened up the two sides so you could see a little better. Because I seriously dislike feather light pincushions, I stuffed it with crushed walnut shells with added sand and lavender buds.

I love it! Added a ribbon flower to the front and a small button to the back and pulled the thread tightly to make a little indent.

Now go grab some hexie papers and get started!