I'm always surprised when I lay out my blocks and realise how many I've done. All that colour from just chipping away each month. How amazing is that?! Of course, if you're in the position where you lay out your blocks and feel a bit discouraged, chin up! This isn't a race, or a contract. This quilt is here for you to enjoy, and the pace you're going is just right.
This morning, I spent a bit of time updating the Hexie Harvest Quilt Club page with all the links to past newsletters for the club. If you want extra help organising your EPP, thinking about colour, or with techniques like fussy cutting, go back and have a refresher! (the links are right down the bottom of the page.)
Tidy up Month!
Now that I'm in the final stages of my quilt, here's what I've spent this week focusing on:
Prepping the last blocks I skipped over. Even though I on purpose scheduled the blocks with 1" diamonds throughout the year so that I was just left at the end with easy blocks, I STILL left all 3 designs till last! SO this week I finally sat down and basted the remaining Aster, Lilly Pilly, and Honeydew blocks. I have them separated into ziplock bags, and I've been taking them to my daughter's after school activities and stitching them in the car.
Collecting up the stray shapes. I'm not sure why, but I always end a quilt like this with leftover shapes. It's the reason why I decide what half blocks to make after I've finished all the blocks. I'll use up these shapes first when making my half blocks.
Gathering my scraps. If, like me, you've used a single collection for your quilt, chances are you have leftover strips or other pieces you want to use up first. I keep these in mind for my half blocks.
Planning my half blocks. By the time I've gotten to this stage of the quilt, I'm ready to sew it up and finish! That's why, after using my leftover shapes and scraps, I plan blocks that are easy peasy, like the first 5 blocks of the Hexie Handbook. Once I've made half blocks from scraps, and half blocks that are easy, then I take a look at the pattern and decide what ones to fill any gaps. This step is completely up to you. You can choose favourites, you can decide what you think would look best in your layout, or you can just fill all the gaps with big half hexagons!
Depending on your layout, with or without triangles, the shape of your half blocks will differ. If you're sewing your top together without triangles, use the half blocks diagrams in the Hexie Handbook to make your blocks. If you're using triangles between your blocks, use the PDF linked below. It's a page from my updated Hexie Handbook, which I really hope will be finished by next month!
Check out these beautiful blocks found in the #hexieharvestquilt hashtag!
3 colours and a gorgeous print! What a stunning way to make this quilt, @phipstitch! I love it!
You guys should go check out @pescapresents' progress in her feed. Each blocks is low volume wich a pop of colour, and if I've read the plan correctly, there's a RAINBOW on the horizon! Beautiful!
Such pretty blocks from @earlgreycrochet! Beautiful mix of fussy cutting, scrappy sewing, with a touch of solids. And the white on white joiners just make it. Lovely!
You get a sweet EPP needlebook by me, some Sohmo clips, Victorinox scissors, a sweet quilty tin, and a small sampling of pins and needles. Reply to this email with your address to claim your prize!
(winners are chosen each month at random from the HexieHarvestQuilt hashtag.)
This marks our last Needlebook prize! But I'm cooking up something good for our next and final email. Thanks to everyone who has been sewing along and sharing their work on Instagram. xx
Helpful Links
My EPP for Beginners is full of very, very beginner-friendly instructions, pictures, and handy tips!
