I've been going a little hexagon crazy over here. I'm going to blame it on the Japanese and their seemingly effortless way of mixing traditional with kick-ass new and turning out something so good it hurts your guts. Can I get an Amen?! I started working them out a little bit by hand and just eying the seam allowances. Not so hot. Instead, I'm using a couple of paper piecing* methods that take the guess work out of the seam allowances. You can find quit a few resources on line and in about any traditional quilting book. It's the crazy turned corners that get to me. If you can navigate those, you can do near anything.
I cut my hex template out of plastic and used a nice short, sharp needle. I can't imagine this working on my machine but I know that it's possible. From where I'm sitting this is a straight up hand-sew deal. The coaster comes straight out of Machine Made Patchwork #2 that Sally gave me. The flip-side is about the same and can be seen here. The instructions in the book for this particular project aren't great but google "grandma's flower garden" and you'll get there. My dirty coffee table is courtesy of me.
The bag is appliqued using fusible interfacing (steam a steam). I'm going to put a running stitch around the pieces, but that's been sort of an afterthought. I don't love the stiffness of the applique, but I think after a good washing, it should look a little more worn. I closed it up using a loop of ribbon and one of Molly's buttons . They are so perfect, Molly, thank you! The outside of the bag is a shirting fabric (the same I used for this shirt and this skirt . I had wanted to go a different way, but I didn't have anything that was right) and the interior is interfacing under brown dotty fabric.
I'm afraid that this is just a start to the whole hexagon thing. There will be more. I bought a vintage quilt block this summer that spurred me into action on all this (I can't find it now, and it's making me nuts), and having friends like Amy is not helping any. That woman knows her stuff. I am lucky.
*If you had told me I would be using phrases like "paper piecing" whilst still in my 20s I would've give you a look making it perfectly clear I thought were crazy. And wrong. Of course, the signs have been there all along, and the least I can do now is roll with it now...
