I save my mis-printed pages from my printer. I then print my Hex grid on the back of them. I fold the fabric around the papers one edge at a time and baste THROUGH the paper. (strong needle and thimble) using hand quilting thread, and leaving about a 4" tail. When I finish stitching the hex into the quilt (all six sides joined), I tease the basting thread out with my stileto, and re-use the thread to baste another hex. The papers can be used for up to three hexes.

I do use a mylar hex to outline and cut my fabric scraps into hex units, and they go into a plastic coffee can. I fill more plastic coffee cans with basted hexes and simple flowers (7 hex units) until I have enough to work into something.

Superior threads sample rings of cotton and polyester colors fit into the coffee cans too, and provide all the colors you will need to match anything!

Scoopie wrote:
Thanks for posting, Dawn! I just received my blocks from Kate!

Blinky,

Yea! That's how I did mine! Stamps by Kate! I loved the process. Two things to remember, though. 1) Stamp on the back side of the fabric (I cannot tell you how many times I have accidently stamped the front) and 2) Do not load up your stamp with ink, or press too hard. Lighter is better! Have fun!

Dawn
In beautiful Norhtwest Montana

grannyagnes wrote:
Thank you!! I just watched Jenny Byers video! I ordered the Stamps by Kate and when I recieve them I will try Jenny's method! Thanks so much for posting!

English Paper Piecing is not a method for me. I hand stitch mine together using Jenny Byers method 3. They work up very quickly. I draw my sewing lines first but many don't.

I also recommend the hexes from Paper Pieces, and I bought a bag of 1,000 basically because all of my flowers still have the papers in them, and will stay that way until I start sewing them together for the quilt top.
As far as piecing, I just make a small knot at the end of whip stitching two hexies together, turn the angle and start adding the next one. Make sure and use a good quality thread for that hand sewing.

i did and do inklingo hexagons (freezer paper printing with fabric on) i find it great!!! save a lot of time.
you need to find the right way to print (you have a very good instruction by linda franz website).
i am so happy with it that i bought some more patterns and no disappointed at all.
i started with inklingo because i didnt like my stitches between the hexagons after paper piecing.
good luck.

I have a little experience with those addictive hex s !! I must say all things considered...papers from PaperPieces beats making my own...
more accurate and more durable than home made..tho ones made from a magazine insert are just about right. I've used Quilt Patis and
they also work very well.. there's also a freezer paper method. I've also hand-pieced the little devils and suggest Jinny Byers' hand joining
methods because having quilted several "antique" gardens that weren't well fasten , they can be a nightmare.! I love them..portable and fun
to do ! Scrap eaters ! Never-ending combinations !

Why worry about the intersections? Just add the next shape when possible and tie off the thread when it isn't possible to continue and you have to start with a new thread somewhere else.

But then again...... Don't listen to me. I'm well known for being quite relaxed when it comes to piecing and the word 'perfectionist' is not in my personal vocabulary book. I'm sure you'll get plenty of superb advice here on how to do it.

Saying that, I do make sure that I use a fine needle when over-sewing hexagons together, and I match the thread colour quite carefully to the background colour of the fabric, or - if that is difficult - I use a neutral medium grey. And I'm a little fussy about the thread I use. It has to be fine but fairly strong. My personal favourite is Masterpiece from Superior Threads for this sort of work.

But whatever you do, jump right in and have a go. You'll work out what suits you personally as you go along.

And, of course, we want pictures of the finished piece.

I have a box full of paper-pieced flowers (perfect project to take with you when travelling), but haven't use them yet. I did make a table runner though when I was about 11 or 12 years old. At the time I didn't know that there was such a thing as 'quilting', and I had never heard of 'English Paper Piecing'. My grandmother gave me some scraps of fabrics, showed me how to do it and then left me to it. The box with the scraps came out every time I was visiting and it was raining, so I couldn't play outside.

Lorchen wrote:
I hear yah about being frugal!! I am with yah! Now I am wondering about sewing the hexagons together with English paper piecing or thinking about using the Stamps by Kate and hand piecing them or being even more frugal by making my own template out of cereal boxes, etc. And then hand piecing. The thing about hand piecing I am worried about how to stitch the intersections. Maybe I can find a video on the Internet to learn from. Thanks for posting!

Didn't we have a topic somehwere about being 'frugal'......??

I have one hexagon template made from very thick cardstock, and I make my own hexagons from old Christmas and birthday cards. The boxes of cereals also seem to be about the right thickness. I know it's a little time-consuming, but can be done so easily whilst watching old episodes of 'The A-Team' or 'Indiana Jones' or whatever floats your boat.

One of our members, Patti Shambaugh, markets "QuiltPatis" for hexagon paper piecing: http://quiltpati.tripod.com/index.html

[url]community/my-profile/quiltpati[/url]

kquilts1 wrote:

Thanks Karen!

ritzy wrote:

Wow! Thanks Ritzy for the tip! Who would of thought! :shock: