So, I finished Honeycomb Quilt #2, and already started on Honeycomb Quilt #3 last week. I haven't had a chance to photograph the finished quilt yet, but will try and do it as soon as the rain stops, the skies clear, and some decent lighting returns.
Here's the label I made for it. (Sorry for the bad lighting. See what I mean?) Anyway, for this quilt, I used a soft contrasting color of bias binding to compliment the minty green border strips. My usual choice for purchased binding is extra wide double fold instead of "quilt binding" which is wider. Sometimes I make my own bias strips, but for this quilt I found Wright's sunlight #206 was perfect, so I got online and ordered it here.
Also on the cutting table... the makings of a flannel patchwork. All this cut from scraps! I am putting together a cuddle quilt for a little granddaughter who is turning five next month. Oh, we do keep ourselves busy around here.
But back to the fun at hand. A few of you have asked questions about the hexagon quilt, so I'll try and give a little more information on this method. As I mentioned before, I'm basically using my own 4" hexagons that I've printed and cut out from the 8.5 x 11" freezer paper craft sheets. I can get six hexagons per sheet; they are printed without seam allowance.
I make my hexagon "patches" just like you would make an applique using the freezer paper method. What I do to streamline the process, is to first cut 5" strips of fabric. Then I place the hexagon template waxed-side down on top of the fabric making sure I have at least 3/8" all the way around to allow for the seam allowance; then I press it lightly with an iron so it sticks to the fabric. Since this is a symetrical shape you can place the template on the right or wrong side of the fabric. I usually fold or stack up to four layers at a time to save a bit of cutting--you will need good, sharp scissors for this.
When I cut around the paper template, I just eyeball the seam allowance. It does not have to be perfect. BUT, your template does need to be accurate, so make sure you cut those carefully. After cutting, peel off the template and place it waxed-side up on the wrong side of the fabric, centering it so that you have an equal seam allowance all around. Fold seam edges over, and press with an iron again to hold them in place. I find a mini craft iron works well for all the pressing. I do a few dozen in a sitting, and then stitch them together later with a single strand of quilting thread which has been knotted at one end. Stitch hexagons together right sides facing, with a small whip stitch. (This is a variation of the English-piecing method in which paper or cardstock templates are used and fabric is tacked at each corner.) Carefully remove the template when all sides have been sewn.
The freezer-paper patterns are easy to use and can be used over and over again. I'm still using some of them from the first quilt! Recently, I noticed that a few quilt companies are starting to offer pre-cut fabric and paper hexagon templates along with new machine piecing methods, and that's a great idea and certainly a time saver. But I would really like to see someone produce pre-cut freezer paper templates in a variety of sizes for hexagons, as I think this method trumps all for the hand-stitcher.
