Originally Posted by PaperPrincess
In the book, the author says to put the straight grain of the fabric to the outside of the hexagon blocks. I figured that I knew better and took a lot of time turning the triangles to get the 'prettiest' blocks. Well, I'll be darned if she didn't know what she was talking about! The blocks that had the straight of grain on the outside were easier to work with and you are going to be hard pressed to pick out an individual hexagon when you are done. They will all blend in, so the extra time I took playing with each hex to get it pretty was pretty much wasted.
This is incredibly good advice; thank you. Of course, I've cut out my first set of triangles, and grouped them already; I suppose I can return them to straight grain out; I haven't started sewing yet.
Related: I figure I should have spray starched the strips before I cut the triangles to help control those bias edges. Does anyone else do this?
Originally Posted by PaperPrincess
BTW, fussy cutting the hexes is what you would do for a Stack and Whack. In this type of quilt, you fussy cut your blocks then use other fabric (usually solids) to isolate and highlight your kalidescope blocks. Because you are surrounding them with a solid color the individual blocks stand out and so fussy cutting them makes sense.
Admission: I guess I *am* doing a Stack & Whack, as I plan to do exactly what you describe. Learning SO much. This is, however, like building the plane while one is flying it... oops!
I'll post progress photos later...
Thanks everyone!
-- Jillaine