Another Hexie Pin Cushion!

It's a beautiful spring day and I should be outside tackling my yard work to-do list that is a mile long... 

Instead, I couldn't resist stitching one more hexie pin cushion!

This time I added some hand quilting stitches using some #12 perle cotton and #12 Aurifil thread.  

Even though the Aurifil thread is more expensive, I discovered that I like stitching with it so much better than the perle cotton.

Here's a view of the back!

Of course, a sweet vintage button from my collection adds the final touch!

Note:  You can get 5 or 10 gram balls of Presencia perle cotton from Colonial Needle Co.  They have super fast shipping.  It's really worth investing in a color chart if you are looking for specific colors for your project.  

I ordered the Aurifil 12 weight spools from Hawthorne Threads.  Again, an Aurifil thread chart is worth its weight in gold, and the colors apply to all thread weights, including their 50 wt which I use for machine quilting.

Have a Happy Hexie Day!

Another Sew Together Bag!

These are addictive!

They are so time consuming, but every time you make another one, 

you just can't take your eyes off it....

As always, it's so fun to select a variety of fabrics and zipper colors to use....

All zippers were from my thrift shop stash again!  :)

The stitching detail really makes the bag, so take your time, make friends with your seam ripper, and stitch up a great bag for yourself!

This one if for me, so I won't have to worry about taking my eyes off it anytime soon.  :)

Click here for pictures of the first two Sew Together Bags I stitched.

Ready to be Quilted!

My Hex on the Beach quilt is ready for some machine quilting!

I LOVE this quilt!!

Hexie Pin Cushion

I wasn't feeling the greatest today, but had enough energy and brain power to make this Pretty By Hand-inspired pin cushion.  (Happiness is being too sick to work but not too sick to stitch hexies!)

It is a bit crazy to stitch such teeny tiny hexies together, but as any hexie addict knows, it's so satisfying!  And, Kristyne is the champion for anything handmade that's tiny!

I used this PDF Hexagon Generator to print off my 1/2" hexagon template onto card stock.  It's a handy site - you can print any size hexagon you wish simply by changing the hexagon size.  Or, you can always purchase precut paper pieces from Paper Pieces.

Stitching the sides was a bit fiddly (not sure how Kristyne managed to do such a perfect job on hers...), but it was worth the effort.  The side band is 1" wide (plus seam allowances).

The linen-looking fabric is a piece of yardage I found in my Great Aunt's attic when we cleaned out her house over 20 years ago.  It looks like it could have been used for interlining in suiting??  It definitely was used in some kind of garment construction based one the shapes that were cut out of it; my guess is that it was used in the garment factory where my Great Aunt worked.  It's a bit heavy, especially for such tiny hexies, but I really like the vintage feel it gives to the cushion.  (This yardage has served a number of purposes for me over the years, including a Christmas tree skirt and a backdrop for photos.  It would also make a great table runner on a long table for an outdoor dinner!)   :)  I'll probably use Essex Linen or Essex Yarn-Dyed Linen in the future for a similar project, but I didn't have any on hand in the right shade.

After stitching everything together, I filled it with ground walnut shells (same thing I used for these pin cushions) using a funnel, then whipstitched the edges together.   (I did however, at Kristyne's suggestion, pick up a 10-lb. bag of walnut shells in the reptile aisle at the pet store for way cheaper to have on hand for future projects.)  I really like the weight and shape the walnut shells provide. 

The yellow buttons are from my collection of vintage buttons I've picked up at the thrift shop over the years.  :)

And, as much as I HATE using anything polyester, I am a Superior Threads "The Bottom Line" thread convert when it comes to English Paper Piecing.  It's strong enough to withstand the abrasive edges of the EPP templates, it doesn't tangle, and it's so fine that my stitches almost disappear into the fabric.

Thanks, Kristyne, for your inspiration!

Back to Hexie Flowers

Now that I'm finished with my "Hex on the Beach" quilt, I figured would go back to stitching some more hexie flowers.  After stitching stacks of coordinated ones like these, I think I prefer the scrappy look better - go figure!

Hex on the Beach Bittersweetness

I am so, so sad to be finished hand piecing this "Hex on the Beach" quilt - I don't know what to do with myself now - feel like I've lost my purpose in life for the moment (I'm exaggerating, of course!).

It was such a pleasure to piece!  Totally brainless, as I purchased it as a kit and didn't have to make a single decision once I figured out the best way to prep and stitch the hexies.  It was the perfect way to unwind from the day, or sit and stitch when I didn't have brain power to do something more taxing.

I had been slowly working at it ever since I purchased it last June.  I never thought I'd have it finished by now; typically I work on a project like this, take a break, then pull it out later.  But, those hexies are so addicting (as so many of you know!) that I steadily worked at it without taking a break; then I really got motivated once the end was in sight.

These supplies had been sitting on my ottoman all this time; feels sad to put them away.

There were few missing pieces; I was make do for the most part, but I'm still waiting on one more green hexagon from the company.

My dear longarmer friend, Kathy O. over at Stitch by Stitch, offered to quilt it for me, but after putting so much time into it, I'm feeling like I should attempt to machine quilt it myself.  

  

I'd really like to quilt it similar to the way it's quilted in this picture, but I'll need to hone my machine quilting skills at bit before attempting this design!

Oh dear, what hand-piecing project should I work on now?! 

:)