The New Hexagon Millefiori QAL- Rosette 2 the next six hexagons

I made my fabric selections for the next round of hexagons for my Rosette 2 in Katja Marek's The New Hexagon Quilt Along. Rosette 3 is now available so I had better get #2 finished!

So what should I add to my little wren in the middle of the block?

I want to add warm tones so I've picked four fabric that I think work well with the wren and this is what I came up with. The blue flower picks up on the blue in the wren's background and the bands at the top and bottom have some of those warm caramel colours I so love. The band at the bottom was fussy cut so that the rust is at the bottom and the taupe at the top. The cream pieces on the sides are also fussy cut but the top band isn't but it will work just fine!

Need some proof that it will work fine? Well here it is! I am always amazed at the secondary designs that appear with a little fussy cutting. Look at the partial stars that are created by the cream fabric!

So what's next? I have to make five hexagons so I'll start pulling fabrics for cutting, basting and sewing!

Until I post again, happy sewing!
Karen H

The New Hexagon Millefiori QAL - the beginning of Rosette 2

I am so far behind in this month's The New Hexagon Millefiori Quilt Along by Katja Marek but there was a good reason! I couldn't make my mind up about fabric choices and the colour in particular. I've been back and forth about working with a strong colour emphasis versus making each rosette different. This was my version of Rosette #1. It is a big piece and measures roughly 36" across!

My Rosette #1 in The New Hexagon Millefiori QAL

The second pattern in the QAL was released at the beginning of February but I haven't been able to decide what to do. Time is passing and the next Rosette will be available soon so I have to get going. I just started searching for a fabric that would work well for the hexagon in the middle of Rosette #2. Going through my stash I came across this fabric and decided to use it as the jumping off point for my Rosette #2.

I selected a little wren for the centre hexagon and framed her with the grey-blue fabric with gold and olive. It was a perfect fit! The sides of this hexagon measure 3".

Now I have to pull more fabric to make the six hexagons that will surround this one! I think I want this quilt to have a warm feel so I'll be looking for fabrics with rust, caramel, toffee and crimson.

Until I post again, happy sewing!
Karen H

Rosette 1 in the New Hexagon Millefiori QAL and making a ring to frame the birds

If you are visiting for the Grow Your Blog Giveaway on my blog please go here.







I've completed the first rosette in Katja Marek's New Hexagon Millefiori Quilt Along. It may not look like it but it is large. I think it is roughly 36" across. There will be partial rosettes that link into this piece and they will be smaller so that means less sewing than with this one. Don''t get me wrong - it wasn't difficult, it just had lots of sewing!

Katja has set up a Facebook page and a FLICKR page so you'll see lots of  interesting rosettes that look very different from mine! You will find links to both along with the instructions and patterns for this QAL here.

Now it is back to working on my Birds in the Loft quilt! I've made the medallion with birds for the middle of the quilt. It took some time to find just the right fabric for the ring but I finally settled on a very deep brown with olive and grey tones.

I folded a large sheet of paper in quarters and I drafted one quarter of the ring that would surround the birds. I cut it out and glued it to two sheets of kitchen freezer paper that I had ironed together. The ring was cut out. Save the leftover bits of freezer paper because they might come in handy!

The ring was ironed to the wrong side of the fabric.

I cut out the ring leaving the inside intact because I find it keeps the ring more body. I used my Starch Brush from Traditional Primitives to paint the seam allowance on the outside edge of the ring with starch. With a hot dry iron I pressed the seam allowance over the freezer paper.

I then cut out the inside of the oval and clipped the curves up to the freezer paper. Once again the seam allowance was painted with starch and pressed over the freezer paper with a hot dry iron.

Here it is with both sides pressed over the freezer paper. It looks wonky because the heat of the iron made the paper curl slightly. I can now remove the freezer paper.

I used Roxanne Glue Baste-it to affix the ring to the fabric. I'll use Superior's The Bottom Line thread in a taupe colour to applique the inside edge of the ring to the bird fabric.

Until I post again, happy sewing.
Karen H

The second round of Rosette 1 is finished!

I've completed the second round of Rosette #1 in The New Hexagon Millefiori Quilt Along! This is where I left off before I made my fabric selection for the other six hexagons in round 2.

For the next six hexagons I chose another pale flesh tone-on-tone print, a burnt orange batik and the coral print by Kensington Studios for Quilting Treasures.

For the other six I fussy cut so that there was a dark spot in the middle of each diamond and for this six I decided to fussy cut the large white medallion in the centre. This is the first of the six hexagons.

And here it is all put together!

For the third and final round I will need several prints and after considerable searching through my stash I've found a coppery print that I think will work well with what I've already done!

Several people have asked th paper pieces I am using to make the hexagons. I am simply making copies of the hexagons and then cutting them apart. To prep the fabric I am using a slightly modified version of Missie's starch basting technique. I begin by tacking the paper templates to the fabric with my Elmer's Purple Glue. I was reading Esther Aliu's blog and she wrote that it is not a true glue but rather a starch. You can read her post here.

 I fold the seam allowance over and press with my Dritz Petite Press. I paint along the crease with a little starch and press once again.

The papers will remain in place until I am ready to remove them and I have a nice crisp fold for sewing!

Until I post again, happy sewing!
Karen H

Round 2 of the First Rosette in the New Hexagon Quilt Along

The work continues on The New Hexagon Millefiori Quilt Along and my fingers are sore but I just can't help myself! This is what my Rosette #1 looked like the last time I shared it with you.

For the next round I'll need twelve hexagons from two different hexagons patterns. I decided to do the first six and then I'll make my fabric selection for the second six . I decided to repeat the fabric I used in the centre and to it I added a pale print with pale peach overtones and the same batik I used in Round 1. I just can't get the colours in the batik to photograph accurately. The green is actually more olive and is not as bright as it appears.

These are the six hexagons stitched together but not stitched to the centre. I'll select my fabric for the next six hexagons, make them and the sew everything together into one big happy rosette! You'll notice that I fussy cut the coral diamonds so that there is a dark motif in the centre. I think I'll fussy cut this same fabric but centre a light motif in each.

Just a little bit of hexagon sewing to go on Lozagons and then it will be finished aside from the border. I'll try to take a picture when the wind dies down!

Until I post again, happy sewing!
Karen H

Round 1 of the First Rosette in The New Hexagon Quilt Along

I did my fabric pull for the first round of Rosette 1 in Katja's New Hexagon Millefiori Quilt Along. The colours are more saturated than they appear in the picture.

I cut the pieces out and prepped them. So far so good.

When placed next to the centre hexagon it still looks good. However I worry than when the other units are made and put together the rusty batik patches will just look like a rusty batik blobs. Not exactly the look I am going for!

So I pulled a second batik that is a little darker and arranged my hexagons on it to see how it would look and I think that it is better so I replaced one side of each hexagon with the darker batik.

The addition of the darker fabric gives a more dimensional effect to the cogs and I am much happier with it! These hexagons are really big - I've been told that this rosette will finish at 36" across. I think If I were to do it again I would reduce the patterns just a little because smaller hexagons would work better with the scale of fabrics in my stash. But I've already started so I will continue on with the large hexagons!

Now I have to pull fabrics for the next round. I'm considering repeating the coral fabric from the middle.

A number of readers have asked about the design sheets that I use to help with the planning and/or construction of my quilts.

PaperPieces.com had free design sheets on its site but I don't seem to be able to fin them. They may still be there and if they are please let me know. I did a quick search for hexagon design sheets and found a link to printable hexagon design sheet that you can find here. There are lots of them out there so if this one doesn't suit you can look around and I'm sure that you'll find one that works for you!

I just use a pencil to draw my shapes on the graph paper. In this picture you can see I've done my pencil sketch of the quilt top. The pink lines were made using a Frixion pen and their purpose is to identify the units that will be constructed. If I want to remove the pink lines I can just take an iron to the sheet and they will disappear but the pencil sketch will remain!

When I want to colouri the design I make a black and white copy. If I'm not happy with the colours or I make a mistake I still have the original with the pencil lines. I can just make another copy and start again!

Later this month it will be the 2015 GROW YOUR BLOG event organized by Vicki at 2 Bags Full. This is a great way to promote your blog and it is also a great way to find new and interesting blogs. If you would like to sign-up your blog you will find the details here. Many of the bloggers have giveaways and last year I was lucky enough to win two prizes! If you don't have a blog it doesn't matter - you can still visit the blogs and enter to win lovely prizes!

Until I post again, happy sewing!
Karen H

Playing with my hexagons

I've been playing with the filler bits of Lozagons am happy with the arrangement. I ran short of the turquoise so I had to substitute a slightly darker blue. I carefully placed them on either side of the middle unit and am satisfied with the effect. I'll order more of the blue so that I can add a wide border. I think it will finish the quilt nicely. Now I've got so stitch the turquoise hexagons into units for easy stitching to the rest of the quilt top.

I've done my fabric pull for the next round of The New Hexagon Millefiori Quilt Along by Katja Marek. The sun is shining on my fabrics so they are looking a little washed out. I think they will work but I won't know for sure until I cut them out and start sewing. Stay tuned and I'll have an update for you tomorrow!

Several people have asked about the paper pieces to make this block. I am making copies of the hexagons from Katja's book and then cutting them apart to make my hexagons. I'm using regular printer paper and it works just fine for me. For those who are less experienced with English paper piecing you may be more comfortable using a heavier weight paper stock because it is easier to feel the edge of the paper when folding over the seam allowance. You can buy it in the stationary store where you buy your printer paper. It is often used for professional reports (and hexagons)!

Until I post again, happy sewing!
Karen H

My first hexagon in The New Hexagon Millefiori Quilt Along

I've picked my fabric for the centre hexagon in the January rosette in Katja Marek's The New Hexagon Millefiori Quilt Along. The toughest part is picking the fabric. I chose this print is called Kensington by Quilting Treasures.

I originally bought this fabric because I thought it would be perfect for fussy cutting. I love the rich coral colour. I made myself a little window template and moved it around until I was happy with what I was seeing. These are the patches I cut out; they are ready to be basted and stitched together.

I tacked the paper templates to the back of the fabric with a tiny dab of water soluble glue and then I used my Dritz Petite Press to turn under all the edges to give a nice sharp fold for stitching. I thread basted only the two outer edges on each template. This is the finished block! I'm pretty happy with how it turned out! It is a fairly large hexagon - each side measures 3" so the pieces are large and easy to work with.

The next round is six hexagons and I'll need to pull 3 fabrics for each hexagon. That will take some time but once I decide they blocks should go together quickly!

Until I post again, happy sewing!
Karen H