I'm so glad you've decided to join us for the Hexie Harvest EPP Club for 2023! This is your first stitchy email, and each one after this will look something like it. I'll send them out on the first of each month. This year, my goal is to share lots of helpful tips that I've learned in the last several years of making quilts by hand. As a naturally disorganised, messy, easily distracted creative, I hope you enjoy hearing the discoveries I've made that help me tune into what I love, make progress easier, love what I'm making. I haven't beaten myself with a stick, or changed all that much, I've just learned what works for me rather than against me. The schedule this year is quicker than I usually move through a club quilt, and that's really just for my sake! Please don't feel any pressure to keep up, follow the order, or finish by October. This quilt is for you! |
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Mistletoe and Rosemallow Aren't these beautiful blocks above by Lucy?! You'll find the diagrams for making these blocks in the Hexie Handbook, but read on for lots of extra tips! I chose these blocks because they're a good intro to EPP if you're new. They're not too big and awkward in your hands, and they're not too small and tricky. I love making these blocks together, because the scraps from one can go into the other. I made the video linked above of my stitching over the last 2 days and edited it down to 90 seconds, so it goes through everything quickly! Here's my run down to go with the video: - I cut all my hexagons first. I decided to use low volume centres for the Mistletoe so that the scrappy border wasn't competing, and I used 2 colours for Rosemallow. I like to draw around my shapes in lead pencil or pen rather than use my rotary cutter. I've slipped and cut myself once too many! I find cutting my hexagons out first, and then choosing my border fabrics for each block, helps me keep colours and volume (light and dark) balanced.
- Cut 2" strips for your Rosemallow blocks (if you're not fussy cutting), and if you have room left in your strip, cut a few extra half hexagons and set aside for Mistletoe.
- Keep any leftover strips! There's a couple of other blocks with half hexagons, and a few with 1 ½" diamonds and triangles. You'll cut a lot of 2" strips in this quilt (if you're not fussy cutting), so they're worth saving.
- Mistletoe blocks can go either direction. I've done mine the opposite way to in the book. I realised it after the first block and decided I preferred to keep all of them the same. ;P
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My Favourite Tools - I love, love, love Bohin Milliners needles, size 9. I've tried lots, and these ones are cheap, don't tarnish or bend quickly and glide through the fabric folds easily.
- I use Aurifil thread. It's high quality cotton. Thread the needle at the end that comes off the spool first, and you'll find it tangles less. Some people prefer polyester thread like Invisifil, which is thinner and less prone to tangles, but I don't like how stretchy it is.
- I use regular craft glue stick. Pictured above is a Woolworths brand, but they've stopped making them, so I buy Bostik. I buy them in bulk packs of 20. They're much cheaper, water soluble, and equally messy. Use a bowl with a damp face washer in it to wipe your hands if they get too sticky.
- I use clover clips when I'm sewing longer EPP seams together, just like you'd use pins in regular sewing. I recently found these SOHMO stainless steel ones if you're wanting to go plastic-free!
- Finally, you'll need the things you use all the time in regular quilting - good scissors, cutting mat, rotary cutter, quilting ruler, and as mentioned above, acrylic templates and a marker of some kind.
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Get Organised How do you prep your blocks? I highly recommend doing some prep in moments you're able, so that it's easier to pick up your stitching during times that you're waiting to pick the kids up, in your lunch break, or watching tele! * Use a tub to store your Hexie Harvest project in. Before I EPP'd, I just had piles of blocks everywhere, but now I store everything in tubs. It makes putting a quilt down and coming back to it later so much easier. And you won't lose those tiny shapes! * Buy a pack of zip-lock bags. (Ikea has the prettiest!) Use them to store each prepared block separately. It's up to you what you prepare as you go. Alyce has a wonderful video here showing you how she puts her paper pieces and cut fabric in bags so she can baste on the go. I usually choose a quiet day (if I can!) to take over the whole dining table to choose colours and cut in daylight. Then I baste them all and put them in bags for stitching. |
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Prizes! Remember I promised PRIZES?! I've had the best fun doing a little shopping AND a little making to create a little collection of gifts for you each month! I'm just waiting for the goodies to arrive, and until I finish my specially handmade treasures, and then I'll share what they are, and the first winner, in the next email! Be sure to open it so you can claim your prize! I'll pick the winner at random from the #hexieharvestquilt Instagram hashtag. I'll only pick from the photos shared in the next month. |
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Helpful Links The Hexie Harvest Club Info Page has FAQs, block order, links to the listing, and links to past newsletters. Find everything there! |
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The happiest of stitching, my friends! Have a lovely February, Jodi. xx |
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