Quilt as You Go Hexies with Amy Butler

With a ton of things to do before the end of the year I got distracted yet again! I saw the "Quilt as you go Hexagon" tutorial from Missouri Star Quilt Co. (here) and realized that this was my kind of hexie! Paper piecing and little hexies scare me - but this bigger, faster and easy version seemed like a whole lot of fun.

You don't have to buy a template; there are lots of tutorials and videos that show you the same technique using cardboard and different sized units.  I did get the one sold by MSQC on their daily deal and am loving it.

I got a "Scrap Pack" of fabric from Hawthorne Supply Co. in Amy Butler fabric to expand my own Amy stash.   

This may not be the traditional way to do this but here is my process. Cut your larger hexie and then with a pencil trace the image of where the batting and smaller hexie will go.

Position your batting on your pencil lines and stick the batting down with the help of a little glue stick.

Pin the smaller hexie onto the batting.  Put a little glue on the bottom edge of the larger hexie.

Make the first fold and press.  Then dab a little more glue onto the hexie, fold and press with the iron. Apply glue and press one side at a time.

The MSQC tutorial shows Jenny using "Magic Pins" - pins that have a silicone tip that can be ironed and not melt.  I don't have those and figured applique glue would work, which it does just fine.  

Lastly, straight stitch around the unit and that's it. Will experiment in the final joining of all the hexies with a thicker #28 weight Aurifil thread using a zig zag so that stitching shows up even more.  

This is a long term project but it's easy to pick up for a quick sewing fix when one gets tired of bigger projects and you 'just want to sew something!'   So, for good instructions and lots of ideas of what to make with these hexies - check out the MSQC video here.

Materials:
Quilt As You Go Hexagon Template from Missouri Star Quilt Co. 
Amy Butler everything :)
Hawthorne Supply Co.  
Aurifil Thread #50 weight (#2024-white)
Warm & White batting scraps
Roxanne Glue Baste Glue & Collins Fabric Glue Stick
December 2019

December Projects

Here are a few things in the garage (aka my sewing room) for December.

Three minky blankets ready to quilt and rolled up on swim noodles.  The spray baste washes out even if you leave it a few weeks - and the vacuum clean up is sometimes nicer to do all at once.  I have lots of pixs and explanations to share as each quilt is finished.

I bought some flannel buffalo plaid and black Kona cotton and made holiday coasters for myself and friends.  The tutorial on how to make these is here. 

Went to IKEA and bought a $20 grey fleece blanket - cut it in half - and put some of the plaid flannel on the top.  Very rustic (which might mean sloppy) but oh so comfy. I ran out of plaid - but no worries - got some more to put on the remaining grey fleece.

Will take pixs and show process when I sew this one up.

Lastly - I got some 20" x 20" IKEA pillow inserts for $3 each.  They did squish down to a finished 17.5" square and for a first time effort, I am pretty pleased.  Will share that process too when I get the next two done.  

You might be wondering why I am obsessed with plaid. It started with these reindeer in the display area in the freezer section at my local market.  They were reduced and I couldn't resist.  We opted to keep things simple this year and just scatter a few live trees from Trader Joe's along with my mini herd of 3 reindeer. It has turned into an explosion of plaid and learning two new projects: envelope pillows & 'rustic' fleece throws.  

I hope you are having as much fun as I am messing around with little projects no matter what they be.  

Materials:
Buffalo flannel plaid
IKEA fleece blanket / pillow inserts
Minky from Hawthorne Supply Co. (White, Blush & Stone)
Date: December 2019