This goes with that – Tutorial – Week 1
What is this quilt you ask?
It is similar to the one Frederica Josephson made way back in approx 1850.
You may also know it as candied hexagons.
Each week for the next 6 weeks I am going to post 2 blocks that go in to make up this quilt.
Mine varies a little firstly my version is English Paper Pieced
Each finished hexagon will measure 2 1/2"
I am using primarily reproduction fabrics with a few others thrown in because I can.
The following is a list of shapes that are needed to complete the quilt. (I don't know the finished quantities of papers yet as I am making it along with you and you can make it what ever size you like)
Requirements
Pre- cut paper shapes
- 2 ½” hexagons
- 1 ¼” hexagons
- 1 ¼” half hexagons – (These can be
made by just cutting the 1 ¼” hexagons in half) - 2 ½” equilateral triangles
- 1 ¼ “ equilateral triangles
- 2 ½” 6 pointed stars
- 1 ¼” 6 pointed stars
Acrylic templates for rotary cutting your fabric (optional)
Lots of small pieces of fabrics
Sewline glue pen
Superior bottom line thread
Size 11 milliners needles
Board and cutter
Let's get started
Block 1
Hexagon surrounded by 1/2 hexagons
You will need 4 – 1 1/4" hexagons – cut 3 in half point to point
Take your acrylic template and cut out the shape
Turning the board and not the fabric
Lay the hexagon right side down with the paper centred on the top and with your glue pen, glue along 1 side of the paper. A few tips. Keep the glue a little away from the edge of the paper. Don't use too much and if the weather is really hot put your glue pen in the fridge occasionally.
Fold the edge over and smooth it down firmly with your finger.
Continue around and glue all the edges over.
Thread your milliners 11 needle with your Superior bottom line thread and knot the end. Make it a double knot as the thread is so fine it will slip through.
Can you see these needles are long and fine and our new size 11's have a gold eye now.
I use this thread because it is a polyester thread. When doing English paper piecing the thread drags across the top of the card and cotton and the cotton blends will shred and we don't want that happening. Superior thread is also very fine and you won't see your stitches on the right side of your work.
It comes in a large reel or the small convenient supabobs.
The other great thing is that you don't need to have lots of different colours as they will blend. Also silk thread is not recommended for English paper piecing either.
Come up from behind and lose your knot between the card and the fabric.
Taking a small bite of fabric make 1 stitch. Take another small bite of fabric and leave the needle in position like in the picture above.
Now for the Knicker Knot
You have a single thread at the front. Wrap it around the point of the needle once. Take the 2 threads at the back and bring them forward and wrap them around the point of the needle in the other direction.
Like a figure 8. Pull the thread through and there you have it the Knicker Knot .
That will keep it all locked off so your stitching will not come undone.
Sew all of the pieces together till you have this.
See how the little tails stick out. That is how it should be. DON"T fold them all in so they are nice and neat.
Block 2
Tumbling Block
You will need
3 – 2 1/2" 6 pointed star papers
Again you will have tails sticking out and that is a good thing.
Ok so there are the first 2 blocks.
You can go ahead and make as many as you like and next Monday I will be back with 2 more.
Have fun.
Don't forget if you would like to talk to some like minded people come and join us here at Busyfingers chat.
See you soon
Sue x x x