Hexies are going viral!
Inf 'hex'tious
I find hexagonal shapes everywhere I look... virus research and quilting! Everyone seems to be turning out hexies :) So I too have made the leap from my hexagonal viruses to incorporating these shapes into my quilt designs - experimenting with the creation of these shapes in fabric. I have to credit my wonderful quilting crew for hints, advice, and support! After a horrible experience of guess work on my own and then a wonderful hands-on class night at our Modern Quilt Guild I have success and thought I would share the tools and tricks to making these fab shapes.
Luke Jerram designs viruses in glass sculptures! Check out his GLASS MICROBIOLOGY website! http://www.lukejerram.com/glass/
TOOLS OF THE TRADE!
Fiskars Hexagon X-large easy squeeze punch: This size gives you a final hexie that is 2" across from point to point.
Fons & Porter water-soluble fabric glue stick and refills: There are many brands on the market. This one was the only one at the store and I didn't want to order one online - it works perfect! I do suggest you get the refill packs at the same time just in case you go hexie crazy and run out! They are addictive to make :)
Fabric squares (2 1/2" square) - A perfect use of all my scraps from previous projects; it pays to keep those scraps :)
Card stock - From a 8.5" x 11" sheet of card stock I was able to punch 24 hexies. As the card stock was about $0.40 a sheet this was very economical; however, you can purchase precut hexies from many stores in so many different sizes. It was definitely cheaper to buy the punch and paper and make my own!
MY MAKING HEXIES PROCESS!
Cut out as many 2.5" square fabrics as you want - just make sure they are ironed smooth!
Use your punch and card stock to make as many hexies as you will be making.
Place fabric right side down and center your hexie paper template on top of the fabric back.
With a scissors trim off the corners at an angle. This will give your final shapes a clean seam allowance.
5. Using your fabric glue stick, start by placing a line of glue along one edge of the paper template and immediately fold fabric over edge and smooth down firmly. It only takes a second for it to hold securely! 6. Rotate hexi template and repeat step #5 for each side (5 more times until each side is folded over and secured. NOTE: It is important to make sure you are doing these steps on a hard surface and as you wrap the edges of fabric over , make sure fabric is pulled taut but not overly stretched!
7. Now you wait for the glue to dry :) It turns from blue to white when dry and usually only takes 5 minutes. I make about 10 at a time and by that time the first ones are dry! 8. I give a quick press with a hot iron, let cool, and then slip my finger gently between the fabric and paper template to release them. Pop out the paper back and give a quick press again! *NOTE: Use freezer paper or other non-stick paper between them and your iron to protect from getting glue on your iron!
9. You've done it! Now let your imagination run wild and design a cool one-of-a-kind hexie quilt of your own :) I would love to see what you make with these shapes so send me pics of what you've made and I will post them in our hexie gallery!
