Thursday 20 February 2014

february heart, scrappy mini quilt, charity blocks

I have just finished the february BOM for the hexie challenge,  this time it was a heart so I have been busy cutting out card for the hexies.   I used the sizzix machine and 1" hexie die and have cut out about 400 pieces,  using old Xmas cards and cereal packets which are much easier to work with than papers.  I take the easy route and cut the fabric in a rectangles,  2. 5" by 2. 75" using the rotary cutter,  I know this way I waste a little fabric but it is so much quicker.   When I tack the fabric to the card I do not stitch through the card, this means it can re reused time and again,    why on earth have I cut so much card out you might ask,   well I am not really sure but I will make lots and lots of hexies ready for the next challenge and quite like the idea of doing  a bigger project too so if they are tacked together it will save time when the next challenge is posted at the beginning of march.    what a woffle that was.


I am not sure what to use as a background so have decided not to stitch them to the backing till all 12 are stitched then I will decide what to use and if sashing is required etc.

Last week I saw a blog about  a fab 4 link up party on quilting lines blog.  I should know to read all the info but no saw the design and rushed in with my scraps.


Having re read the blog today I think I am meant to use 4 fat quarters but reading again I think that might be incorrect as it is all to do with the Beatles. They are the fab 4. Patricia asks us to either applique the names of the Beatles or stitch or applique your favourite verse from one of their songs or add a silhouette of a favourite photo of the boys,  Well I misunderstood all that so will not link up with mine.  When Helen saw it she thought it would make a nice blanket for her cat Alfie  I don`t think so!

Lesson to learn from all this is to read all the details first!   not rush in like a bull in a china shop.   Must own up to being guilty of this in the past and should have learnt my lesson then 
Have now to decide how to quilt this piece. 

Last week I did have a go at machine quilting the sashing on my batik Tula quilt,  just straight lines either side of the ditch and now wondering about quilting the blocks, would like to do them in different colours and different patterns but not sure how that would work . The backing is blue so have blue thread in the bobbin.   Will ponder some more.

Prior to doing the batik quilting I made 2 blocks for little island quilting, she wants 12.5" blocks as quilt as you go so these are my first attempts with the machine quilting.  



Alison is sending the quilts when she has completed them to Mexico for the poor children,   well no not sending as they are unlikely to arrive, not sure who will be taking them but it is a worth while cause.

29 comments:

Mary Ellen said...

I really like your hexie heart. I decided to put mine on scrappy (i.e. different but similar) gray backgrounds. That way I can use a slightly lighter or darker gray depending on what looks best with the current month's finished hexies. I am thinking that she will have a green something-or-other for March, but maybe we will be surprised.

Rosa said...

Beautiful blocks.The hexie one is my favorite.Have a fun day!

Starr White said...

You are such a delight, Margaret! and I am always impressed by your wonderful eye for color - these are just beautiful…I'm not a quilter, so I'm very impressed! the hexies look hard and sound complicated, but you have done a beautiful job!

Cattinka said...

I like the heart best. Since you have that machine to cut them out, you should make some more with hexies.
KATRIN W.

Suztats said...

You've been sewing up a storm there, Margaret! Your heart is terrific-- I can't imagine all those little hexies!- and love your other blocks. Just think-- it wasn't so long ago that quilting was new to you, and look at you now!

Gaia said...

I love your heart..so neatly done and the colours are lovely too.

deanna7trees said...

love the hexie heart. i, too, am a fan of hexagons. i do a basting stitch through the card but am still able to use them over and over again. we all have our own methods that work best for us. you sure are busy with stitch.

Queeniepatch said...

Hexagon piecing is like a drug - you can't stop once you started so you will get use for all those cards!
All your work is looking good. Yes, read the instructions first, then act. That is a lesson I need to learn, too!

Nana said...

I am curious how you will end up quilting all those blocks.

Nana

PS: I love he heart.

Turid said...

Your heart is so cute with all those colours. I haven't stiched mine to a background either. Will wait and see what the coming months bring.

Annet said...

This hexie heart is gorgeous, never thought hexies could be this beautiful! And I like your fabfour block.

Pippas quilts said...

The heart is lovely so many things you can do with hexagons. I hardly ever read the full instructions and like you have come unstuck sometimes, you have made a great piece using up your scraps. So nice to make blocks for charity, well done.

Dianne said...

The hexie heart is really cute, Margaret. It must make it so much faster having the cutting machine. Good idea not sewing through the card, it is so tedious to take papers out. You are keeping busy!!

Jane said...

Looks like hexie heaven! Have fun with the quilt blocks

Celtic Thistle said...

You have been busy Margaret, the hexie heart is lovely. I am looking forward to seeing what you are going to do with 400 hexie papers!

Margo Brooks said...

II just love that Fab Four block. I can see little appliqued music notes on it....all you need is love!

shirley said...

loooove the heart Margaret, the colours are gorgeous. You are just the most amazing lady. I keep saying it, but it is true you just blow me away with all you achieve and the high standards you reach.
You are on a roll girl

Vicki Miller said...

I love your heart. The colours are really vibrant and gorgeous. Did you use a walking foot for the machine quilting?

Stitching Lady said...

Bautiful heart, Margaret. And what a work all lyour cutting out. I also like to use cornflake boxes for templates. The little crap quilt you made in your enthusiasm is just wonderful. It is made full of joy of working. And bravo for the charitiy blocks.

Jillian said...

I agree your hexie heart is great - fantastic blend of colours. My hexies, by the way, are 3/4 inch (you asked in your comment on my blog).

The Inside Stori said...

Wow....I love the Fab 4 piece you did....colors are great and the patchwork design is one I could handle....great way to use up those scraps. Thanks for sharing!!

Purrfect Lady said...

I 'love' your heart (sorry I have a thing about puns lol) and I really like the brown and orange block.

Anita said...

Love your hex heart.Your machine quilted blocks looks so good,doesn't look like your first attempt at all.

Anonymous said...

Once again lots of work has been going on and lots to see. Your hexagons look very neat and the machine quilted blocks are looking great, I especially like the first one!

cottonreel said...

It is kind to do quilts for charity causes but they don't always end up where intended . I hope you really get into machine quilting

Rose said...

Margaret I don't know how I missed the fact that you also blog! Somehow I thought you didn't, silly me! Now that I've found you I'll be back to poke around. Love hexies and I'm loving all of your work!

Adventurous Quilter said...

I love that heart! I am getting close to ready to quilt my Tula blocks as well, and may do it as QAYG since my Pfaff isn't working for FMQ atm, so it'll be interesting to see what you do.

Anonymous said...

I really like your hexagon heart. I think you are wise to wait until the end to choose a background. I DO stitch through the hexagon papers - it's thick paper from Paper Pieces - and I reuse them a lot of times - until they are really falling apart, but not if they have lost size, which they don't really seam to do, since I'm not tracing around them. =)

Margreet said...

I do like your hexacon heart.