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Bonnie Hunter from www.quiltville has been doing a large GFG, I'm sure you could find some hints on her site. She does great tutorials.
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Sue Daley at Busyfingers uses sewline glue instead of basting and it is much quicker and easier - She has a tutorial and glue is water soluable - I love the technique.
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Originally Posted by Mo_Chride
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Any suggestions from anyone or does it just get better with doing it more? Any accessories that I should have? ... Tara http://www.Inklingo.com There are many freebies if you want to test the process. Or, go directly to the hexagons at: http://www.inklingo.com/shop/hexagon-quilt-templates/5 There is a video about making a GFG on the above web page. Linda Franz has a Yahoo group if you have any questions. |
Originally Posted by erstan947
I used freezer paper not card stock. It bastes really ease. When I whip stitch my hexes together I only catch the fabric and not the paper. Lots of ways to do this style of hand work.
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I am working on a GFG also. I have done about 93 flowers. I think I totally understand what you are saying. I think you are only using one cardstock(that is my preference too) but at the corners the fabric is now folded to where there is 4 layers. I just basted one to see how exactly I am doing it. In my corners where you are talking about I have three layers. Depending on the fabric, it usually goes through pretty easily. Some fabrics require a little help. I am wondering if your cardstock may be too thick. I am using a package from thePaper Studio which has 50 sheets of 8x11". It doesn't have a weight on it but check yours to make sure it is just cardstock and not something heavier. And the corners should have only three layers of fabric. Good luck.
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I am working on a GFG also and using card stock for the templates. When I do the first basting of the fabric around the card stock temp. I just fold over the edges and just catch the fabric on the backside of the template at the corners and put a couple of stitches at each corner. At the last corner I continue to the first one and take an extra stitch to help hold them all in place. Does that make sense? No going thru card stock. BTW Love your colors on the one u showed!
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I do not use card stock but paper.
Old books will tell you paper as well, it is what people had. Paper for the printer (olden days: typing paper) is just about right. After they are put together and pressed, there is no need for the basting or the paper. |
Originally Posted by bearisgray
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I guess that I'm doing mine different. I am using card stock from my magazines but I'm starching with Best Press then wip stich. I really didn't want to baste.
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Go to beeinmybonnetco.blogspot.com She has one of the best tutorials for GMG. I am working on one and her tut has been so helpful.
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Originally Posted by KathyKat
Originally Posted by Kas
I completely solved this problem by buying stamps for the hexes from Stamps by Kate. I use brown ink on the light fabrics and white on the dark. It stamps out a sewing line and a cutting line. Presto. Just sew on the sewing line, no basting, no paper to later remove, just cut and sew.
Kathy |
Well, I have been reading with great interest all of the comments here. I am going to try a bunch of different basting methods to find out what works best for me.
It will be a paper piecing method type though because I was specifically looking for a hand pieced project to take along with me while I am out and about with the kids waiting for classes and such or can't be in front of the machine for some reason and want to keep my hands busy. Even if I just don't want to be in front of my machine but would rather be cuddled up on the couch listening to the TV or something. It is very interesting to me to hear other people's comments on GFGs since this is my first one. Tara |
I forgot to mention, I live in Canada, about a seven hour drive from the 49th parallel so many things that are available in the states are not available here. Getting things shipped across the border can sometimes be cost prohibitive too.
Some of the tools that have been mentioned on here I have never heard of but I am taking note! Tara |
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print the template on freezer paper - (leave enough space between each hexagon to you can cut 1/4" to 3/8" around each hexagon) - I cut the freezer paper to 8 1/2" x 11" letter size and then feed into the printer like a normal sheet of paper. Remember to print on the non-waxed side.
To save even more on the cutting out time, once my template page was printed - I staple a blank sheet of freezer paper to the back of the printed one, allowing me to cut out two hexagons at a time. I tried adding more sheets, but they slide, so two seems to be the maximum that can be done with accuracy (Accuracy is VERY important when making a hex quilt). The next step is to iron the little hexagon templates (waxy side down) to the wrong side of the fabric. Really iron them on so they don't come off too easily. Let the fabric cool down flat before continuing to the next step or the hexagons will just pop off. Cut out the hexagons leaving a 1/4" to 3/8" seam allowance around the edge. Now, because the freezer paper template is stuck to the fabric, it is much, much easier to accurately fold the seam over and baste around the edge to keep the shape. Baste only through the fabric, not the freezer paper and make sure to get the corners down securely. I normally double-baste at the corners. I "press" the fold with my nail when I fold it over to make sure it's a sharp edge Make sure you secure the corners well. Voila, we're ready to whipstitch! Good Luck with your Grandmothers Garden quilt. Took One Year to make this hexagon queen size quilt - all batiks - hope this helps! [ATTACH=CONFIG]203555[/ATTACH] |
I haven't read through all the replys so forgive me if someone has already suggested this...I use glue stick for basting the fabric onto the paper, it works great.
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I'm doing one, but I don't baste through the index card/cardstock at all. I'll see if I can take a picture of what I do. I've made tons of hexagons.
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Originally Posted by d.rickman
I staple a blank sheet of freezer paper to the back of the printed one, allowing me to cut out two hexagons at a time. I tried adding more sheets, but they slide, so two seems to be the maximum that can be done with accuracy (Accuracy is VERY important when making a hex quilt).
Hit the stack of freezer paper with the iron in spots to tack the sheets together. Then it won't slide and you can cut multiple sheets/templates at the same time. |
Originally Posted by bookworm
Wait... why are you using 2 layers of card stock and 4 of fabric? Don't double up on those you really don't. Try it with one layer of card stock and one piece of fabric. WAYYY eaiser... oh and I just use printer paper
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I believe you are only suppose to sew through the fabric.
If you sew through the cardstock how will you pull it out if its sewn into your quilt piece? |
Glue it!
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Cast an eye here to see how interesting is this way to to English Paper Piecing... and here you'll have a good notion on how to sew the hexes together...
http://sewmanyways.blogspot.com/2010...-tutorial.html |
Originally Posted by sfguimaraes
Cast an eye here to see how interesting is this way to to English Paper Piecing... and here you'll have a good notion on how to sew the hexes together...
http://sewmanyways.blogspot.com/2010...-tutorial.html Thanks for sharing. |
Originally Posted by MTS
Originally Posted by sfguimaraes
Cast an eye here to see how interesting is this way to to English Paper Piecing... and here you'll have a good notion on how to sew the hexes together...
http://sewmanyways.blogspot.com/2010...-tutorial.html Thanks for sharing. |
First of all, you don[t sew through the cardstock, (or paper, if you use that..) secondly, I'm having trouboe with wsome hand sewing, and have a small hemostat handy, to pull the needle through.... I found some, (made in asia,) at a huge(so called) Yard sale, at the local airport.... They usually sell for $3, or 5/$10.. I have them laying all over the house, to help me pull small things through material, etc... Hemostats come in many sizes, but I like the smaller ones for sewing... Try it, you'll like it... I like them now, since my 2 little fingers, (left hand) are numb, due to too much knitting & crocheting. my operation will be 6/2/2011... Diana.
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Originally Posted by Mo_Chride
The problem isn't when I am whip stitching the hexes together. That is going great. The problem is when doing the initial quick baste to hold the square of fabric around the hex. I'll get pics.
The first pic will be my first flower and the second will be the baste process the tutorial taught. Tara I don't ever baste through the card stock, I go around the edge with a basting stitch, making neat folds at the corners, pull my thread tight, it'll pull together like closing a bag, do a few back stitches and it is all nice and flat against the card stock hexagon. You can pull the card stock out after at what ever point you want to, but you never have to go back and remover the basting, which is time consuming, as it doesn't show from the front and actually gives your piece a little bit more stability. |
Originally Posted by Mo_Chride
I was looking for a fully by hand quilt to work on while waiting for my kids during classes and things and someone on here posted a youtube english paper piecing tutorial for a GFG quilt. It seemed simple enough so I got decided on and got together the fabrics together, got it all prepped and then got card stock and printed out and then cut a bunch of hexes.
I now have one flower fully complete with its pathway, another flower started and almost enough hexes basted to end up with seven flowers complete with pathway. Tara, Quilt Patis by Pati Shambaugh 911 City Park ave. Columbus Ohio 43206 .I am working on 1" hexagons Grandmother flower garden using the quilt patis reusable plastic shapes. Pati has adorable samples to inspire you. Check out http://www.jaybirdquilt.com (hand sewing hexagons) This is a great project carry in small ziploc bag ready to sew.. do a search( hand sewing hexagons) you tube tutorial available Good luck. Traditional My problem? I am having a hard time with the basting. I find it hard to push/pull the needle through four layers of fabric and two layers of card stock. That's my right hand. My left fingers get "tired" from pinching the fabric and card to baste it. Any suggestions from anyone or does it just get better with doing it more? Any accessories that I should have? I do have an open endish type thimble but have a hard time with it. Maybe using it would just give me the practice with it to get used to it. I also have what I have always heard called finger condoms that I was told to purchase for some class but I don't remember which one and therefore what their use was. Tara |
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One of my favorite quilts to hand piece is a GFG, but I do not paper piece them. I have made several and I find that the hexagons are easy to sew together. I would not take the extra time to do the paper piecing on that one. That is just my opinion, though. Seems like most people do the paper piecing when they make them.
Here is a pic of a throw I did recently....no paper used. [ATTACH=CONFIG]204469[/ATTACH] |
SIMPLY GORGEOUS....I may be contacting you when(or if) I ever do one of these.
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Originally Posted by kimg
One of my favorite quilts to hand piece is a GFG, but I do not paper piece them. I have made several and I find that the hexagons are easy to sew together. I would not take the extra time to do the paper piecing on that one. That is just my opinion, though. Seems like most people do the paper piecing when they make them.
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I have a template to cut hexagons from a 2 1/2 strip. I also have a template that has lines to cut them from many sizes of strips. The throw I made used the 2 1/2 inch strips to cut the hexagons.
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