half hexagon quilt-a-long part four - sewing your quilt top

I have decided to add this instalment today for those of you who wish to sew over the weekend.  As I have said before do not worry if you are not at this stage yet or haven't even started yet, there's no rush!!!!  Today we are starting with stripping!  Hopefully you should now have a few piles of half hexagons all ready to sew.  I use 100% white cotton thread for almost all my stitching.  Before you start, I would suggest you fill up as many bobbins as you can so you don't have to keep stopping while sewing. 

Starting with your first row, take your first two pieces and place them right sides together as shown, so you have the bottom edge of piece one aligned with the top edge of piece two.  As we are sewing diagonal seams, the end points wont be flush but cross a quarter of an inch from the edge. 

I never pin or tack but you can if you find it easier.  Sew your seam, allowing for your quarter inch seam allowance.  Continue by sewing piece number three to the bottom of piece number two and so on.  I normally temporarily remove the paper row label number then re-attatch it once the row is sewn.

 

 

 

You may want to lay out your strips as you go, to check each half hexagon meets it's partner in the next strip!!

 

Once sewn you need to iron your strips, I would recommend you iron your seams open rather than to the side as your hexagons lie much flatter like this. 

 

Now you can start sewing your strips together.  Line up the first two rows as shown so that the vertical edges are aligned and the points are flush then sew with a quarter inch seam allowance.

 

From time to time as you sew you'll notice that your points wont be exactly flush.  To remedy this I usually pull the top/bottom strip down gently as I sew so that the points are aligned. 

In this instance the top strip was pulled down. 

 

Sew all your strips in this way until.........

 

Hooray!!!  your quilt top is done.

I hope you are finding the instruction here useful and easy to understand!!  I am not trained in any technical way and learned to quilt from books and just giving it a go!  I hope your quilt's are coming along nicely and you are enjoying participaiting in this quilt-a-long.  Can't wait to see how you are all getting along.

Have yourselves a lovely weekend whatever you do!!!!!!!  See you all next week!

Comments

[marie]

I really want to join now!!!
looking so tremendously good.

[claire]

I need to start on this soon just need to sign up to flickr and buy a little more stash too!
Yours is looking so nice.

[bakeandsew]

It looks fantastic. Well done you for helping everyone with this great sew along. I wish I had time to join in it looks so much fun.

[amy]

Yours is coming out SO PRETTTTTTY, Aneela! All of that Liberty is working its magic!

[madeline]

I love these sewing blogs. you make so many nice things and you work so fast!

[RuthDesigns]

Your instructions are great Aneela, you are doing an excellent job. Quilt is looking very pretty :)

[Ann Champion]

You've given wonderful step by step instructions Aneela. The pics you've included are real good at showing what that 1/4" offset looks like as you align your pieces. I jumped ahead a little bit and have sewn my pieces and now will get busy and press and sew into rows. Thank you for taking the time to include others in learning/teaching this half hex method. I'm seeing all kinds of future design possibilities in my mind! :)

[Carolina K]

What a gorgeous looking quilt, you make things sound so easy too. I lvoe the colours you use in all your lovely projects.

[Sally Bramald]

What a wonderful collection of Liberty prints you have. I think you might have go them from the same source as me.

[magikquilter]

I am with the others in saying that you are doing a fabulous job Aneela, and I love your quilt...it is going ti be gorgeous!

I am tackling some sewing of hexagons this weekend...thank you for all your clear instructions and the wit with which they are delivered!

[Amy - parkcitygirl]

Looks so pretty! your fabrics are beautiful :)

[Tacha]

Very pretty. I am going to have to give half hexagons a go.

[trashalou]

Does it count as being pro-active if I added to my fabrio collection for this hexagon-a-long this week?

[jaybird]

your looks great!... thanks for all the tips... i have my fabric now i just need to cut it all and start sewing!

[Connie Colten]

Hi,

With your permission I'd like to add your blog to the blog page of my new quilting directory, Quilt Qua : http://www.quiltqua.com/links/blogs/ You can let me know if you'd like to be included. If you would like to be on the first alpha list, you simply need to let me know you've made mention, or placed a link on your site, back to Quilt Qua. I can send you a graphic if you'd like one for that purpose.

I try to check my lists, but if I've already contacted you, I'm sorry.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Here is info on the latest giveaway: Win: 1 Frosted Memories Fat Quarter Bundle by Holly Taylor for Moda Fabrics ! To enter simply "tell a friend" to spread the word about Quilt Qua. You can send an e-mail to people, post on your blog, comment on someone else's blog, put info in your guild newsletter, etc. Then send an e-mail to: quiltqua@gmail.com and let me know what you did. Enter as often as you wish. Random drawing for the winner will be at 10 pm July 31st. (Feel free to post giveaway info on your site)

Also, please note there is a new category in links to list Etsy/Artfire shops. Send me title and link.

Let me know if I've missed your business to list on the web site!

[Valerie]

Hi
Interesting to see you sewing half hexagons with a sewing machine. I make quilts with hexagons and half hexs, but always using the paper method to hand sew. Which takes forever!
Nice blog, enjoyed stumbling across it.
Best wishes Valerie

[Rick]

WOW this is exactly what i've been looking for and seems like the perfect next project to get going around here. I'd love to join in the fun and start the quilt-along if it's not too late. I'd also like to link you to my blog as well.

[Valentina]

Aneela!!! I have got the bug: I started cutting strips last night and cleared my schedule this morning to start sewing!!!
Can I join your awesome group, please?
Valentina from Cyprus