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Tuesday, June 23, 2015

A Modern Hexie Encounter

From the first time I saw Nicole/Modern Handcraft's modern hexies, I thought they were amazing. Like truly beautiful and unusual and just so cool! But I thought to myself, "hexies really aren't my thing." I'd made them a time or two for special projects, but though I didn't mind basting them, I really didn't enjoy sewing them together.

But it came to pass that I wanted some handwork to take on our recent vacation, and well, I had just done an 'On Trend' feature on modern hexies in my newsletter, so they were on my mind. I had even started filling a Modern Hexies pinterest board for goodness sakes. So right before we left, I stopped and bought some pre-cut hexies, downsized a couple of stashed charm packs - Kate Spain's Sunnyside and Cuzco - and I was ready to go.

Miraculously, I managed to baste all the hexies I took with me - nearly 100. Mine were 1 1/2", slightly larger that the ones Nicole uses, because that's what my store had. And I did try the basting tutorial she suggested, one by Ellison Lane, which was new to me. (You don't sew through the paper, which is what I usually do. It seems to me it's just a matter of preference, but I was game to try.)

I ordered Aleene's Fabric Fusion while we were away, and I arrived home just before it did. So when I was ready to go for it, I just had to look up the Modern Hexies tutorial and decide on background fabric. I auditioned several solids and none of them did it for me, so I finally chose a light gray Timeless Treasures Sketch (maybe "mist"?). Because my hexies were rather large, there was no way they would all fit on the fat-quarter of fabric I had laid out. So after playing around with them some, I settled on a relatively cool palette with just 27 of the hexies.

Then came the sticky part. I mean the tutorial is perfection, the glue did just what it was supposed to do, but I must be glue-challenged. I left mid-glueing several times to wash my hands before continuing on, and I confess not long into the process I decided this technique wasn't for me.
 
But then! I quilted them, just like Nicole, and wouldn't you know but I fell in love. The quilting part was seriously fun and it just got better and better. And that night when I added the binding in Carolyn Friedlander's Crosshatch in Cadet, I was smitten. I still can't stop looking at it!!

My mini finished at 18"x22", and despite the glueing, I will be doing this again. Like I still have hexies left, and I ordered some finer tips for my glue bottle to see if that helps me, and Kate Spain herself commented on Instagram that my hexies were stunning! So yeah, I'll be doing this again. Stay tuned! And while you wait, try it yourself!

Linking up with Finish It Up Friday.

17 comments:

  1. Love this little quilt! I know exactly how you feel about the Kate Spain comment. I'm a huge fan, so I get giddy when she comments on my stuff, too.

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  2. Mixin' it up with the quilt celebs ;) love it! you have inspired me to take a little handsewing on my vacay too... normally I like to bind a quilt while on vacay but bringing along 2 or three quilts takes up a lot of space in one's luggage....

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  3. So pretty!!! Good to know I will need to be patient (not my long suit) with the gluing step. I am planning a modern hexie style project with the MANY leftover 1 3/8 inch hexies I have. Thanks for the encouragement!

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  4. That is beautiful! 'Course you had me at 'blue', but the hexies are wonderful! A new addiction, huh? ;)

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  5. It's a beautiful quilt, I love the colour palette you chose. I'm not a hexie fan, but i do love these modern hexies. I had a comment on Instagram from Kate on my Cuzco quilt and was embarrassingly excited!

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  6. I am so going to try this! I loved it on IG to but it's fun to see your process up close,

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  7. I am going to try this! Yours is gorgeous Debbie! I have long admired these hexie arrangements! And I accidentally ordered 1" hexies for a recent project, so I am all set! I even have some linen ready for the background! (I dream of a designer commenting on my IG photos.....)

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  8. I'm inspired! Love this quilt.

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  9. I do love the way this turned out, though I'm not sure whether I will try this technique myself. I do glue baste hexies for EPP but not sure how I'd do with this one.

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  10. Dear Debbie, this is gorgeus! I love hexies but often think also that I'm not really fond of the flowers. So every NEW idea is welcome. Your Fabrics and colours are beautiful! x Teje

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  11. Beautiful! I can see why you can't stop admiring this, Debbie. It looks amazing! You have me thinking of hexies in a different light. This looks fresh and fun!

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  12. This is beautiful Debbie and I really love the colours of your hexies. I also have a pack of hexie papers here that I haven't used yet but this looks like a great project to start with!

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  13. Just gorgeous. Don't you love when you make something and like it so much that you keep going back to look at it?

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  14. I love this technique and love Kate Spain's fabric and love what you made!!!

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  15. Very nice Debbie. you're tempting me with hexies.

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