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.

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

You are not suppose to go through the card stock. Only the fabric.

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.

you only baste the fabric through the cardstock one time, when you sew 2 pieces together you do not sew through the paper, once you get them sewn together you remove the big baste stitch and take out the template, if you sewed the papers together you're going to taer it up trying to remove the paper
OR... did i misunderstand what you said? :oops:

Are you talking about when you sew the individual hexes together in topairs, and then the pairs to form the flower?

Because you don't sew through the fabric or card stock.

You just whip-stitch the edges together, grabbing a bit of the fabric of the both hexagons.

I'll bet you were having a tough time. Yikes.

You'll see how easily (and quickly) it will go together now.

(I can't find an appropriate link - figures, huh? - but they're out there for sure.)

I cut my GFG hexagons out of freezer paper and iron it onto the back of my fabric. There's no problem getting the needle through it. I trim the fabric to within 1/4" of the paper, fold over the edges, and baste around it. The paper won't slip because it's adhered to the fabric. Once I've stitched my hexagons together and removed the basting thread, it's no problem to pull out the paper on the back.

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

Is there a reason why you are using two layers of card stock? That would be very thick to sew thru. I just used templates made with regular photocopy paper. Once you get the basting to go easier on your hands, I think you'll really enjoy this project! Best of luck to you!

I might not have a full picture of what you are doing but I think you are supposed to just whip stitch the corners together then remove the card stock before you sew them togther into the patch. This is a wonderful take along project so don't give up on it! Your work so far looks great. Boy are you gonna have a good laugh about this when you do it the easy way! :D :D

I wouldn't remove the papers until the hexagon is whip stitched to other hexagons on all sides. The paper is what is holding the shape and gives you stability while doing the whip stitch.

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

why are you pushing your needle through the card stock???
only catch the folded edge of the fabrics---
it is going to be quite difficult to remove your templates if they are all stitched in.
visit paperpieces.com for some free tutorials and help sheets.

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.

http://sunshinescreations.vintagethr...r-piecing.html

This might be somewhat helpful.

LOL!

So it's pretty much split 50-50 on understanding your problem.
I'm in the 50% that initially got it wrong.;-)

I'm still not understanding the 4 layers of fabric - but is that just because it's folded over on itself?

I clip those corners off (snowball style) so I don't even have to deal with the excess fabric in the basting process. And I don't want it adding bulk to the quilt top either. 'Cause you can't really trim them later. Well, you could, but THAT would really be a hassle.

Your completed flower is charming. I love the B&W (Jan Mullen?) outer border.

I baste the same way you do, yes in the end it will be a little bit more work to remove all the basting stitches but for me it works better and I get a tighter baste than just working on the back! I would keep up the work your doing, however, only use one layer of card stock at a time. I have printed all my hexies on "paper" that is the same weight as business cards. I use one hexie for each fabric square! I also use a quilting needle which is thinner to baste and stitch the hexies together. If you can't or won't wear a thimble try a bandaid on the finger to help push the needle through. As far as your left hand hurting try stretching it before you start stitching. Once you do it for a while your hand should get use to being in that position. Just like any exercise, that part of your body has to get use to it! Good luck. Your flowers are going to be beautiful!

I don't think you need to baste thru the card stock. The basting should only be on the backside. (It's a good thing you aren't using the plastic hexies that are available). I used the brown freezer paper because it was a little heavier than the white freezer paper so when sewing the hexies together, there was more of an edge to sew against.

What does GFG stand for?

Grandmother's Flower Garden

You don't have to paper piece a GFG. I cut out the hexagons and simply hand-pieced the hexagons together, right sides together, eyeballed 1/4" seam. Works great, eliminates the need for basting, and (to my eye at least) looks better than whipstitching.

You could use the cardstock that you have already cut out to trace a sewing line with pencil on the hexagons (or just mark the corners and eyeball the line in-between).

This was just posted - shows a pretty hassle free process:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-126043-1.htm

my sister and I always said we would get to one of these. someday. I like how yours is coming along. and I like all the tips and advice from those who've gone down that path before.

Here is a great site/tute to help. Pictures and everything!!! This is the way I am doing it and it is so very easy. Except I am going to local grade school and using their die cut machine to cut the freezer paper.

http://sewmanyways.blogspot.com/2009...r-piecing.html

Agree it is MUCH easier to baste on the back only by whipstitching the corners. Once I've got a flower done, I press it and then add the connectors and press again.

I haven't taken out any of my papers yet because I want to keep the shape steady as long as I can.

I am just using regular printer paper to print out a bunch of hex's and then I handcut them.....

If you sew through your papers (other than the large basting stitches if you choose to do it that way), it will be harder to get them out in the end AND might possibly tear your seam.

Okay, now that I am back from getting my van fixed, maybe a better explanation on the basting.

I push the needle tip through a layer of fabric, hex, layer of fabric, all from the "bottom" and then through the fabric, hex, fabric from the "top" to the bottom all in one motion and then pull on the needle to pull the thread all the way through. I am only using one layer of card hex but because of the "U" motion the thread and needle end up going through four layers of fabric and two layers of hex. I just took pictures of how the needle goes and then I pull the needle through.

Now, when I whip stich the hexes together I am not catching any of the card. The only time I am needling through the card is while I am doing the initial basting.

Also, thank you for the compliments on my one flower. The flowers are going to be in pink, blue, green and yellow with black in the centre and pathway. They are all paler versions in the six hex lines and darker, more vivid I guess on the twelve hex line.

This is my first hand pieced quilt.

Tara

I would think that would bend the paper/card hex out of shape the way you are doing both in one U motion. Check out the link a few posts up that shows just basting/whipstitching from the backside. It will also save you time in the end because you won't have to unbaste!

I am by no means an expert, but I don' t think you are supposed to go through the index card at all. You are supposed to just catch the fabric and move on to the next corner. Once you have basted all the corners, the card will stay in the shape easily and be removed easily.

Even when you are doing the initial baste to hold the fabric around the hex you don't go through the card stock. I will try to find the site (maybe Missouri Star quilt Co.) that shows you how.

Now I understand what your doing. I go through the cardstock however I fold my edges over, like you do and stick the needle through and pull it through the front then stick it back through and pull it to the back. I don't do it all in one stitch. does that make sense? I stitch it as if I was putting a button on.

If you always start on the front and end on the front it makes it much easier to remove your basting stitch!

I fully understand that you are "SUPPOSED" to baste on the back only but thats now how I do it. I find it MUCH easier to do it MY way.

To the OP if you choose to switch up your method and decide not to go through the card stock there are several tutes online showing that method! :)

I am showing a picture of mine also...I basted closer to edge and trimmed extra fabric as I went...makes quilting easier later. I didn't go through cardstock at two spots at same time, like you...just in and out. Your progress looks great!!

Don't go thru the card stock at all. There is a tut here showing you how to just stitch each corner then you don't have to take the basting out either.

I do the English/Japanese method of quilt as you go by making little hexagons of wadding/batting instead of card stock. I fully enclose each hexagon as a mini - quilt by itself. After I have enough small little enclosed units, I top stitch them together by hand and my quilt is finished.

I am sorry for you, never mind experience make a fool wise. I am sure it will end up beautifully.

You don't have to pierce the paper, if you don't pierce you don't have to take out your basting.
That said, I do pierce the paper, but I just print mine on regular paper if I am doing a lot fo them. If you don't pierce the paper you can re-use your templates several times.

I poke through paper & still reuse several times. I have to throw it away cause it gets to soft from bending to sew pieces together. In fact, after multiple uses the hexis are easier to sew threw cause the holes are already there... My next one though, I bought the glue stick :-)

Very pretty! It's nice to have a project for 'sitting around time.' Will you post a picture when you are finished with it, or at least when you have more work done on it?

:D :thumbup:

I saw this stamp advertised and have been thinking about buying it. I looked at the video and it made sense to me. Do you machine or hand sew your hexes together?
Kathy

Good morning jitkaau. This method sounds interesting. Do you know of a tute? Or could you explain the process? Would like to see a photo. Thanks in advance.