Hexagons

When Martelli had templates on their Redline Direct, I bought a set of hexagons. At the time I bought then I had no idea what I was going to do with them.  Then I saw a "Grandmother's Flower Garden" quilt on line and knew that I had to make it.

 Well, for starters it is pieced together using the English paper piecing method.  If you don't know what that is, here is a video that will help you understand English paper piecing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHe-MJavMqI.

I decided to start by making a pin cushion that I found in McCall's Quilting Magazine (Nov./Dec. 2013) to get me started with hexagons.

I used Martelli hexagons to cut both the paper and the fabric.

I used the 2 inch fussy cut template to make my paper pattern.  After I make one sheet, I then copied the paper several times and then cut out all the hexagons.

 

I first cut a 2 1/2 by 3 inch pieces of fabric, then using the template, I cut the hexagon shapes.

 

Next I pinned the paper shapes to the fabric.

I have stitched the edges down and now I am ready to whip stitch the hexagons together.  I stitched mine down differently than in any of the other videos.  I tack down ONLY the corners (with a stitch and then a back stitch) making sure that I do NOT go through the paper. This helps preserve the paper so that it can be used over many times.

Next I pressed them and right after I press them and before I sew them together, I take out the papers (which can be used again).  This is different than any of the youtube videos that I watched.  I just don't see the need for the paper when sewing them together.

I sewed all the sides together except one.  I stuffed it with crushed walnut shells, that I got at the pet store, before whip stitching the last side of the last hexagon.  My finished pin cushion!

Martelli Red Line Direct

Martelli is selling their mats and Christmas Stocking templates at 50% off this Thursday October 10th.

QUESTIONS: Call 850-433-1414 9a - 4p, Monday - Friday Date & Time Thursday, October 10, 2013 Midnight to Midnight, Eastern Time Remember to adjust for your time zone!

50% OFF! Promo code: RL1309 Single use per customer. Valid on purchases thru online store. Not valid with other offers. Get started now at: www.martellicatalog.com OCTOBER 10, 2013 ONLY!  QUESTIONS: Call 850-433-1414  9a - 4p, Monday - Friday

Binding Halloween Quilt

Today I thought that I would talk about how I bind a quilt.

First off I cut my binding 2 1/2 inches wide.  I can't tell you how easy cutting binding is with the Martelli strip ruler.

As you can see I have numbered the slots in one inch intervals.  I have also made a line every 2 1/2 inches for cutting binding.  These marking make it so much faster and easier to cut all my binding by placing both my ruler and fabric on the table once.  I can cut five strips WOF (with of the fabric) without moving the ruler.

Now that I have my binding cut, sew the strips together to make one strip. Now it is time to attach the binding to the quilt.  I use Martelli's Zip Bind system.  I have tried other ways of binding and with the other methods I never had a good looking corner.  With Martelli's Zip Bind System,  I have never had a bad looking corner.  Now with that said, I don't follow her system to the end.  I find that once I get the binding sewn onto the front of the quilt, the back comes without an effort, so I do not follow her instructions on finishing the back.

I am going to take you through how I bind my quilts but highly recommend you looking at her video first. 


Fold binding in half WRONG sides together and sew a 1/4 inch seam lengthwise.

Stitch as close as you can to the outer edge of the quilt.  This really helps keep the edges flat and clean while adding the binding.

Using the Stitch-N-Ditch Binding foot set at a scant less than 3/8 inches.  Start stitching on the binding by starting in the middle of one side leaving about a 6 inch tail.

 

Mark a line on your binding a scant less than 3/8 from the bottom edge.  Sew to that line and back-stitch to lock stitches in place.

 

Using you Minute-Miter (medium size for 2 1/2 in blinding strips), placing it on the edge as shown.

Fold the binding up on top of the binding that is already sewn to the quilt.  Pull the Minute-Miter to the right so that the bottom is even with the folded side of the binding.

Now fold the binding to the left so that the raw edge is even with the bottom of the quilt.  Use the Zip gun to clip the binding in place 1 1/2 to 2 inches to the left of the Minute-Miter.

Next, remove the Minute-Miter by pushing it left, up and then right.

 

 Pop

 Pinch

  Fold

 Starting at the edge of the corner start stitching again.  Stitch until a scant less than 3/8 inch and repeat the process.  Repeat for the next three corners until you are 6 to 8 inches from where you started.  Overlapping the binding by the width of the binding.  In this case 2 1/2 inches, and cut so that your overlap is now exactly 2 1/2 inches.  Open up your binding and place right sides together at a ninety degree angle and sew a diagonal line from top right to bottom left.  Trim to a quarter of an inch.

Refold the binding and stitch in place.

When you stitch the back side of the quilt, the corners should look like this.  The miters should be going in opposite directions.  Snouts vs no snouts.Once you have your corner nice, I whip stitch the back of the quilt.  Again watch the video for a more detailed description.

Martelli Redline

Tomorrow is Martelli's Redline day.  All cutters, blades, template, and rulers are 50% off. Please take advantage of this.  You will not be disappointed in these products.

50% OFF! Promo code: RL1308	Single use per customer. Valid on purchases thru online store. Not valid with other offers. Get started now at: www.martellicatalog.com
September 12, 2013 ONLY!  QUESTIONS: Call 850-433-1414  9a - 4p, Monday - Friday

Martelli Red Line

Just a quick note to let you know Martelli is selling all of their tables at 50% off August 1  midnight to midnight eastern time on line only.  If you were thinking of buying one of these tables, now is the time to buy then.  The promo code is RL1307. Also, if you are interested in this or any Martelli products make sure to sign up for their red line newsletter.  You will get all of their red line notices a couple of days early.