QUILTS & FABRIC: PAST & PRESENT


Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Fussy Cut Hexagons

Pyracantha Quilt Top
42" x 48"
Barbara Brackman

I finished this hexagon top in time to quilt it while the pyracantha berries are
providing autumn color.



I fussy-cut the prints in my Moda reproduction collection
called Morris Modernized: CFA Voysey.

And rotated then around some solid colors.

Pyracantha is also the name of this print from the group.

Charles Voysey named it Grategus in 1901. Another spelling for the Latin name is Crataegus. Common names for the plant include pyracantha, hawthorn, hawberry or thornapple.

In this colorway you get an idea of what Voysey saw in the way
of hawthorn berries.

I used paper hexagon templates with 1-1/2" sides.

I cut 6 identical rectangles from the prints. I tried using a see-through plastic template for placement but it really didn't do me much good. The secret is to cut identical rectangles and then glue the hexagons with a dab of glue stick in exactly the same spot on all six.

I glued the edges over without trimming the fabric
and whip-stitched the hexagons together.
I trimmed the fabric flaps later after I took out the paper.

I added the solid colors between the rosettes as
it grew.
Most of the dark colors are from my Civil War Jubilee collection
which has some very dark prints. I used the front of those prints
and the reverse for two different shades.


It's always a problem to fit the hexagon format into a 90 degree angle. I just cut some dark print strips and appliqued the outer hexagons to them for a border.
This works better than other schemes I've tried.

To my surprise it came out as a rectangle and not a square. I trimmed it fairly close,
I'm hand quilting around each hexagon now.

See the Morris Modernized collection here:

I came across this tutorial on hexagons and was
pleased to see that wiggle print
is one of Terry Thompson's and mine from the long-ago
Lewis and Clark collection for Moda.

See the tutorial here at Luann's Loose Threads:

Moda packages pre-cut hexagons. Many of the collections are cut into "Honeycombs"---6" Hexagons. They offer a lot of Bella Solids packages too. See a Bakeshop recipe here:

13 comments:

  1. I love the fussy hexagons. I've never fussy cut any big projects. I always feel like I'm wasting fabric by fussy cutting. Overcoming this idea is on my list for 2014.

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  2. The woman who works for a fabric manufacturer says Fussy Cut! Fabric is a renewable resource.

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  3. I had the swiggly fabric in my stash for a long time. Loved it and used it so many ways, the first time when I appliquéd a sheltie dog.

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  4. I love how those look with your fabrics, really beautiful prints for that.

    Debbie

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  5. OH WOW!!!! I love to fussy cut (save the scraps for other projects) but I aint this good, of course. I need more practice and I am addicted to making hexies. my favorite sizes are 1/2, 3/4 and 1 inch! I am guessing these are one inch? GREAT work and gorgeous! thanks for sharing! *!*CAROLE*!*

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  6. ooops--went back and re-read and saw
    1 1/2 inch hexies....still quite amazing!

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  7. Wonderful flowers! Your line of fabrics is so versatile. I like the subtle light-dark lines in the finished super hexagon.

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  8. It is also called the Firethorn. I just finished giving mine a good pruning and I have the scratches to prove it!

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  9. Am going to try the Elmer's glue method. Would not only save time, but threads as well.

    Wonder how easily the papers come off with the glue?

    JulieinTN

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  10. I love that swigle print from a long time ago. Still have several versions on the shelf.

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  11. Julie-not elmer's glue, a glue stick which is much less sticky.

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  12. Thanks Barbara! Glue stick I will do... what a difference gluing could make!

    Smiles, JulieinTN

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  13. I'm really into the hexies, too. Love your hexie project with your new fabric!!! In Mickey Dupre's book she states that hexagons are wider than they are tall, so you will always get a rectangular quilt and not square. I had never thought about it before, so it was something new to me!

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