I am also making a GFG quilt top. I am using 1 inch hexies and a whip stitch to put them together. I will try the ladder stitch now that I have seen it. I am putting the same fabric hexie around a different middle one and then surrounding the "flower" with white, connecting them all with green. I have some hexies that I do not like for the flowers, so am sewing them together for another top. It is addicting. I found using an applique needle and fine thread works best. Photo posted when I figure out how to do that.