Help sewing while traveling
 

I’m going on a 4 month cruise (yes I have someone to carry my bags but thanks for asking), my partner won’t let me take my machine so I’ve decided to paper piece 1 1/4 inch hex is to make a
king size quilt. I took every batik I have and cut it up on squares so lots of colors. My question is, design wise how do I sew them together. I am open to any and all suggestions.

Thanks, sylvia

I'm doing a hexi quilt but I didn't have any special pattern. Just sewed them randomly. Now, though, I wish I hadn't. Maybe something like Grandmother's flower garden or something like that?
Mine will be random and it looks good but it's very scrappy and no pattern. I would do the next one differently.

Why can't you bring your machine? That's a long time!

Pintrest is your friend. Just do a search and I can guarantee you will have trouble settling on just one pattern.

I usually bring a hand work project with me when I travel. I do all the preparation before I go. Have your fabrics ready to use. Yes, have your definite pattern. I'm not a fan of the English paper piecing where they sew the outside together. I would rather just sew along the seams, basic hand piecing. Your speed will pick up as you work on it. Set yourself up with a little kit with threads, scissors and fabrics.

You can print out hexagon paper

https://www.incompetech.com/graphpaper/hexagonal/

and do some coloring/designing of layouts before you start sewing them together.

I love that incompetech site and have it bookmarked.

Recently I shared it with a few people. Just last week one of the ladies in my Tuesday group wanted a hex and so we printed out the size she wanted.

We also found in helping our friend that Electric Quilt has hexes. I've never played with that part of the program so can't really help but it's an option for design.

One can do a lot more with them than make Grandmother's Flower Garden layouts.

"I'm not a fan of the English paper piecing where they sew the outside together. "
I don't understand what this means. Would you please elaborate? Tx

Maybe the way the pieces are sewn together in this ?

https://www.leilagardunia.com/blog/2...on-flower.html

I've just begun a paper piecing project, nothing planned really, just 6 pointed stars with scraps, and have tried different techniques for sewing together. The method I've settled on is this. Watch it to the end and she explains why the stitches are invisible.

Using milliners 11 needles with Bottom Line thread (not sure if this was recommended in this tute or another) I now have 'perfect' piecing. So good in fact that I have gone back and unpicked all that I did with other methods.

You could do a Trip Around The World Layout, too.

Sorry, I have to ask: Why is it up to your partner whether or not you can bring your machine?

I found a glue pen to be very useful in EPP and tiny hexies. So stock up before leaving.

Hexies in a diamond pattern look very nice. They seem as portable as flower garden blocks.

I have done a number of hand pieced quilts. Of course my GMFG is my favorite (you can tell by my avatar). I am new to EPP and am not sure of myself in that process. Stitching by hand seam to seam from the underside it how I have done all my had piecing to date, but I am prepared to start a EPP in the near future. Square are a great way to start stitching by hand. Believe me when I say smaller pieces are better to start with than larger pieces. It is easy to stretch pieces when they are larger. I would not use anything larger than a 2 1/2" square. You will have great control there for a beginner. Have a relaxing cruise. BTW check with your cruise activity director. They may have a sewing machine there you can use.

It’s really not up to him, we are flying internationally and my machine is so heavy, I really don’t want to take it. I just use him as my fall guy. Anyway I’m kind of fascinated with paper piecing.

Call the cruise line and see if they have sewing machines for you to use. A small feather weight might work, packed really well in your luggage. Not sure of their weight, but someone here can tell you. I have carried one on in a well padded bag....but I wasn't going to be gone for a month! Wow! that is so wonderful you are able to make this trip.
Oh, instead of hexies, why not Yo Yo's? You can make, vests, pillow covers, quilts etc. out of these. Use an accuquilt machine with a circle die and punch out hundreds....easy to make while traveling.

Good info, thank you, Bobbinalong!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]615942[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]615943[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]615944[/ATTACH]These first two were designs by Katja at Katja's quilt shop in Kamloops, BC, you can purchase all the patterns from her online, and any directions as well - these are all hand sewn quilts. She is the author of a few hexagon books, with great instructions and paper piecing pieces - already packaged. Please call her and talk to her about your hexagon and cruise, I know she would love to hear from you. https://www.katjasquiltshoppe.com/

batiks would make a marvelous colorwash hexie, flowing from one color to another.

I've never had pleasant experience hand sewing batiks, test drive different needles and threads before you leave.

Hexie pattern
 

You might want to consider grouping colors light to dark and arranging them diagonally.

Chart it out on a bit of hexi graph paper, coloured in the way you want before leaving. Make 2-3 copies & stow in different suitcases in case you misplace a graph ( or it blows overboard,lol).

Google and Pinterest are your best bets for ideas.

Thanks so much for showing this. I haven’t tried English Paper Piecing but if I ever do this is the method I will use.

I am doing EPP on a large quilt. I use the method taught by Katja Marek. I glue along the edges on the back sides and then hand stitch them together. I have machine quilted for years but this is a new challenge!

amen to the Bottom Line thread!