It's getting to be a delightful habit.... meeting in the Mezzanine Room to sit-n-sew...and chat...and eat...and sew.
Today we are working on Glorious Hexies... all hand work... For those who do not know what Hexies are...
English Paper Piecing (EPP).
Charlotte's very first GLORIOUS Hexie. Isn't she Glorious? Her name is "Carol." (as a point of clarification, we are both named "Charlotte." Pictured above is Charlotte-from-the-East.)
I've done 3 so far, Dolores (Block 6)
and two Marena (Block 8.)
(You'll understand the names in a moment.)
Here is a picture of Hexies posted on Facebook. This person is actually keeping up with the Glorious Hexie "quilt-a-long."
Pretty Glorious, if you ask me.
The Quilting Auntie, Nyla, asked me how to get started. It is a bit of a process so I thought I'd write it all down so you, too, can make Glorious Hexies.
First, join the Facebook page for Glorious Hexies. Click HERE
Next, buy the book "The New Hexagon" You can get it at PaperPieces.com or Amazon
(I think it goes without saying, don't buy the Kindle version of this book.)
You will need some EPP papers (and for those of us who had some EPP papers already (Auntie) you can start with those.) I did get my EPP papers from PaperPieces.com. It was a bit confusing trying to decide what I needed so I called them. The lady I spoke with was nice and VERY helpful. She suggested I start with the pack that has a enough papers for one of each block in the book. Good Idea. Click HERE to see that package of papers.
The Glorious Hexie Quilt-A-Long is sponsored by PaperPieces.com. There is a link on the website. Click Here
If you want to participate in the Quilt-A-Long, they will send you papers every month to make three of each of the blocks in the book. That felt like a life-long commitment to me so I opted for the package of papers to make one-each. Click HERE to see that package of papers. I did not buy the second little booklet. I may later... I did not buy the acrylic templates, a bit spendy for my budget. (Many of the truly GLORIOUS Hexies you will see on the Facebook site are made fussy cutting the fabric, including Charlotte's very first pictured above. If you are going to do a lot of fussy cutting, the acrylic templates might be a good option. (Auntie, I have a different option for you.))
One word of warning with this package of papers.... when you get the papers...they are ALL JUMBLED UP. It's just a big pile of papers! Pour yourself a glass of wine, turn on your favorite trash TV and spend some time separating them. I put mine in snack-size sandwich bags I purchased from the Dollar Store.As I start putting together the actual block, I use snack-size bags also and I mark them with a piece of painters tape with the block # and name. Oh, I almost forgot...all 52 blocks in the book have a girl's name. Cute.
One last tip....
We quilters have worked hard perfecting our quarter inch seams. This author suggests 3/8 inch seam allowance.
I poo-pooed that right away. Crow-eating time...quarter inch seams are a bit skimpy when doing EPP. EXCEPT when using the teeny tiny pieces.
OK. I think that is about it. Another excuse to get to your favorite quilt shop and stimulate the quilt economy. Then, book a flight to Fiji so you can spend some quality, uninterrupted time with your Glorious Hexies.
July 22, 2016: This just in...more GH information. (This is copied and pasted from the comments below, if you find this too small to read.)
I was under the impression that Paperpieces.com was the sponsor of this quilt-a-long. But it is really Glorious Color! Their website IS very helpful. Click HERE
AND, they have FABRIC and other quilting goodies.
More good reasons to get on board the Hexie train!
Glorious indeed! Aren't they contagious??
ReplyDeleteYes, they certainly are!
DeleteI agree about the 3/8" seams. I just wanted to add, that if you want to make the "Glorious Hexagon" quilt that they are doing in the group, the booklet is helpful as it has two more blocks in it, one for each of the designers who came up with the Glorious Hexagon's QAL idea - "Kim" for Kim MacLean and "Liza" for Liza Prior Lucy.
ReplyDeleteAbout the packs of paper pieces. A new pack is released each month in 2016. The ones I get do not make 150 blocks as you suggested. They make 28 blocks. Some blocks are repeated each month, but each month there are a few new blocks - all from the book and the booklet. I find it quite helpful, as I am not inclined to make my own paper pieces and not all the shapes are readily available at any quilt shop.
Also, there are 3 main sources for the book, templates, paper pieces. One of them is Canadian, which I find helpful. Paperpieces.com and GloriousColor.com are in the USA. Glorious Color is owned by Liza Prior Lucy, so you know she will have what you need. Both are great to deal with and will ship to Canada, also. Plus there is Katja's Quilt Shop in Kamloop's, BC. She actually wrote the book, "The New Heaxagon". They have a website, but you need to call or email them to actually place an order. They are fantastic to deal with. http://www.katjasquiltshoppe.com/ Phone (250) 851-0324.
I did buy the acrylic template set, pricey though it was. I have not been sorry. It makes my life a hundred times easier.
VERY good info. I didn't know any of this. When I joined the group I just ordered the book and one pack of papers and enjoyed the blocks as they were posted.
ReplyDeleteThank you.