Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Hexie Queen Blog Hop

Welcome to my little stop on the Hexie Queen Blog Hop!
I was really humbled when Madame Samm contacted me asking if this rainbow hexie quilt was actually mine.  It was. :)
TNT Quilt ~ From Colorado to Japan


A friend had sent her a picture from Pinterest, and she wasn't sure how to get to the original blog post and quilter. She found me, though! :)  She told me all about the Hexie Queen Blog Hop, and it sounded like SUCH  fun blog hop that I jumped in feet first! :)

So one Saturday, when I was supposed to be working on a million other things, including potty-training Little Bird, I decided to start my hexie quilt instead. She helped. ;)  A couple of years ago, I participated in 5 rounds of the Hexie Swap on Flickr, and one round was all solids, so I had about 50 pre-cut hexagons, just waiting for a project! They were cut with the Accuquilt Go cutter, and they're perfect for a quick project like this!

Once Little Bird and I had decided on the colors we wanted to use, I set her free with her own stack of hexagons so she could make "her own" quilt. She didn't really do much with hers, but it gave me the chance to get mine all laid out. :)
Symmetry Quilt
Once I had the layout I liked, I adhered the hexies to the top of the 44" square of Kona White. I used the same method I used when I did my first hexie quilt. I sprayed the back with spray baste, and pressed it down with my hand. If I needed to adjust it, I could.
Symmetry Quilt
The next step was to heat set the hexies in place with a hot iron. I used a random scrap of fabric to protect my iron from any overspray of glue.
Symmetry Quilt
The beauty of heat-setting them this way is that when I inevitably had to put the quilt away, I could go away trusting that the hexagons wouldn't move a millimeter. And little hands couldn't move them, either. Security is a good thing when you've got curious little helpers around the house! :)

A couple of hours later, I was able to come back to the quilt. I raw-edge appliqued each hexagon in place with a straight stitch 1/4" in from the edge. I didn't want to stitch over any other stitches, so I stopped where I started, and tied a knot on the underside of the quilt top.

Symmetry Quilt

When the quilt top was finished, I just felt like singing! It felt soooooo good to put the must-do list aside and just follow the inspiration for once!
Symmetry Quilt

And then it came time to quilt it. I had a hundred ideas (and two more after I started, ain't that always the way!), but I went with a straight line between opposite hexagons, and then a spiral throughout the whole quilt.
Symmetry Quilt
Spiral quilting takes foreeeevvvvvvvvvvver! :) And this is a small quilt! I can't imagine doing it on a larger quilt. Sheesh!
Symmetry Quilt

Here's Little Bird claiming "her quilt" once again. :) I've never made a quilt just for the fun of it, so I've never had the chance to have one of my children claim it as their own. I'm not sure if she really thinks this is for her, but, other than it being a bit small for a 3 year old, there isn't any reason I can't give it to her! :) Plus, then I would get to enjoy it, too! ;)
Symmetry Quilt

Do you know this trick when you're attaching your binding to your quilt? I either wrap my binding around a pencil or an old thread spool, and then stick it on the extra thread stand on my sewing machine. It really helps keep the binding straight and orderly while I'm attaching it. Sure beats the pile of binding I used to have on the floor!
Binding trick
Here she is again! This time she is tracing the quilting lines with a play-doh cutter. :) Maybe she's just as attracted to rainbow quilts as I am... ;)
Symmetry Quilt ~ finished
Uh oh! Buzz is making his move! Move over, sista! This one's MINE! ;)
Symmetry Quilt ~ finished
It's hard to tell in this picture, but I backed it with a random yellow-and-white polka dot fabric I had. I'm happy to use something that I already had on hand. Going to the fabric shop with 3 little ones is NOT fun! For anyone! :)
Symmetry Quilt ~ finished
You can see the quilting a little better here, I think. I realize it looks a bit like a spider web, but c'est la vie. I like it. And I have an even greater respect for spiders now! This web was TOUGH to weave!
Symmetry Quilt ~ finished
I hope you enjoyed learning about my little hexagon quilt. Where else have you been on this Hexie Queen Blog Hop? Here is a list of the others that are posting today. If you haven't already been, you should go visit their blog! I am confident inspiration awaits. :)










Thanks for stopping by today! I hope you enjoyed my little hexie project! :)

98 comments:

  1. I've never tried any spiral quilting, but it sure is pretty. I think if I ever do try it, it will be with a much smaller quilt. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Nice project and ideas. Thanks for sharing. I just love your pictures.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Incredible quilt! Since I am a strict hand piecer and quilter, I am always in awe of people that have tamed the machine! I loved seeing your little helper busy with her own lay-out. How fun is that! Great work.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Absolutely beautiful, both the first one I saw on Madame Samm's and your new one, for all of the little ones to crawl over, I would much rather sew than potty train any day :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh, your quilt is amazing. I love it , the hale, the color settings of the hexies and your awesome quilting.
    Thanks for sharing and being part of this blog hop

    ReplyDelete
  6. Fabulous - I love your quilt!
    Thank you for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Your quilt is just beautiful. I love seeing the different ways people are using hexies, not just the grandmother's way. I'll come back to learn more about your quilt when this hop is finished.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Beautiful quilt, and I love the quilting.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Both quilts are just beautiful! I love the way you have set them together. I love, love the "spider web" quilting. It just pulls the whole quilt together. Thanks for the binding tip--I'll be using that on my next quilt! Thanks for joining our hop!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love your rainbow quilt. It is beautiful. You quilt in your header is awesome too. Wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Your quilt is gorgeous - I love the quilting. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Great quilt and quilting! I love the spider web look. Thanks for sharing and thanks for the binding tip!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Gorgeous quilt! Congrats on being in the top 2, it's very well-deserved!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Welllllll my sweet, you moved me again.....and your wee tot is adorable..
    You will have to check welllll you know

    ReplyDelete
  15. It is a beauty. I love it.
    Thanks for sharing

    ReplyDelete
  16. It is a beauty. I love it.
    Thanks for sharing

    ReplyDelete
  17. Very pretty and so is the lovely little person on it....thanks for sharing the tip.

    ReplyDelete
  18. What a pretty colorful quilt!!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. Absolutely gorgeous! I like your blog header too! Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  20. rainbow+hexies - you couldn't choose a better combination, Melissa. I love it, thank you for sharing how you made it.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Your rainbow spider web is so beautiful...love it! I'm so glad you hopped with us and showed how you created this lovely hexie quilt.

    ReplyDelete
  22. So very beautiful - and I love the quilting! I didn't know the trick about the binding so thank you for including it. blessings, marlene

    ReplyDelete
  23. gorgeous quilt - I love the spiderweb pattern!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Thank you for sharing your applique method with us! Looks great!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Beautiful quilt and the little one is most darling!! Thanks for the applique tip too!

    ReplyDelete
  26. lovely job...what kid wouldn't love this quilt... very well done

    ReplyDelete
  27. What a beautiful quilt! Yes, the little fledglings might have to fight over it!

    ReplyDelete
  28. I love it! What a great idea to use Spray Baste!

    ReplyDelete
  29. So fresh and beautiful looking! I love the colors and quilting.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Beautiful quilt! Thanks for the spray baste tip!

    ReplyDelete
  31. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Thank you for sharing your inspiration and design process! Especially liked the helpful basting tip, not that I have any curious hand but I occasionally have to move things to accommodate others. Very nice job quilting!

    Beth

    ReplyDelete
  33. What a beautiful quilt and great tip with the spray baste!

    ReplyDelete
  34. It is fantastic...I love it! Great tips and techniques!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Both your quilts are wonderful. I remember seeing the first one and loved it

    ReplyDelete
  36. Simply gorgeous!!! I love rainbow quilts and yours is super fun with all those lovely hexies!!!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Stunning quilt. Thanks for sharing how you did it.

    ReplyDelete
  38. It looks so gorgeous, Melissa! I love the "spider web" quilting. I also am loving the tip about using spray baste for appliqué. So much easier than fusing everything and I bet it's softer, too!

    ReplyDelete
  39. You are a very talented lady, handling three children and a quilt at the same time, I'm impressed! I too am always attracted to the rainbow quilts, and I really like how yours turned out. Thank you for sharing with us!
    ~Brandy
    brandizzle7133 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  40. Love it, especially using the free motion applique method. Now that's a hexie I could do!

    ReplyDelete
  41. I love your little quilt. and the wee ones are adorable!
    xo jan

    ReplyDelete
  42. Great job on your quilt. It is always fun to have help! Thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Love your quilt! Saw the other one on Pinterest and repinned it and love it! Great job on both!

    ReplyDelete
  44. Such a pretty quilt...thanks for the hint on adhering the hexies. Need to try raw edge applique too. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  45. AMAZING!!!!! I don't think I would tackle the quilting - yet - but I do love that quilt. You did a great job. Thanks so much for sharing.
    bevwalks at aol com

    ReplyDelete
  46. Very pretty. I love the quilting too.

    ReplyDelete
  47. Beautiful! You have done a wonderful job and used an array of colors! Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Such a pretty quilt! I haven't found anywhere that shopping is fun with little ones. I have a 2.5 year old and an 8 month old and any time daddy is willing to watch them while I shop is a great day in my books.

    ReplyDelete
  49. Beautiful quilt. I love the rainbow colors. I didn't know that the spray adhesive would heat set so it would stay better. I am always finding out something new on these hops. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Love Love the quilts. And what a great toy for her to use with the tracing of the quilt lines.

    so cute and you totally need to keep it for your family.

    ReplyDelete
  51. Love it Melissa! But I loved your previous hexagon quilt too! Do you have the Accuquilt Hex cutter? What size is it? I wonder if it will work in my Big Shot machine.... I am glad to see you blog again!

    ReplyDelete
  52. What a fantastic quilt! The hexies, layout and quilting are all so fun!

    ReplyDelete
  53. What a sweet little quilt, I can see why your little one loved it so much. I loved the quilting on it to.

    ReplyDelete
  54. Your quilt is beautiful...and I see you are blessed with two adorable little ones to sew for.

    ReplyDelete
  55. Stupendous! Your quilts are excellent. Thanks for the tip, I will try that with my binding next time too!

    ReplyDelete
  56. Great job! You've got a happy kiddo on your hands with this beautiful and happy quilt. I'm still debating between the spirals and the radiating straight lines. Your comment about spiral quilting has me voting for the lines! My quilt is 56" square.

    p.s. gotta try that tip about the binding!

    ReplyDelete
  57. That quilt is BEAUTIFUL! What a wonderful story to go with it.

    ReplyDelete
  58. What a lovely, lovely quilt! And having your little girl help you, I'm sure, gave you that extra boost of creativity. Your quilting is awesome! I understand how tedious it can be to do all that straight line sewing, but the results are gorgeous. Thanks for sharing today.

    ReplyDelete
  59. I love both your hexie projects, good luck refereeing the ownership fight ;o)

    ReplyDelete
  60. I love both quilts, but the first one posing in the tree takes my breath away! Ideas ideas ideas!!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  61. Love the quilt! It is just like a Hexie rainbow. So cheery.
    well done,
    cheers
    maggie

    maggiemine42@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  62. What a cheery rainbow quilt! I had never heard of spray basting and then ironing the fabric patches down. How clever! It looks like you used a walking foot to stitch the patches down. And all that tying of the thread on the back side - but it is impeccable. Great job! Your quilting just enhances the quilt. I love yellow and I'm sure it is perfect for the quilt. I'm glad to see you are encouraging your little ones to interact with the quilts. I'm afraid I'd be so anal about them messing them up - at least until they were totally finished. Thank you for participating and sharing your great techniques and wonderful project(s). I hope to see you in more hops soon.

    ReplyDelete
  63. Wow! We love the rainbow quilt - it looks so great and the spiral quilting is very coolio!

    ReplyDelete
  64. Awesome, awesome, awesome quilt and quilting! Just beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  65. Congrats on being one of the choosen. What a stunning quilt. You have wonderful vision.

    ReplyDelete
  66. I hadn't checked on the top finishers for the day when I visited your blog. Congrats on the being a top 2 finisher for the day - well deserved. Also, I learned lots from these hops - I noticed this time that you put your binding on a pencil or an old spool. I put mine on a toilet paper roll and put it in my lap - that helps to keep it rolling smoothly, too. I make mostly large quilts so maybe that's the reason I opt for a toilet paper roll or a paper towel roll - I know some people have an aversion to toilet paper rolls - I usually spray mine with Lysol. Hep - I'm like that. Of course, I'm a cancer survivor, so I am a little more cautious about germs but try not to be overly so. Again, congrats on a top 2 finish. I do hope to see you in more hops.

    ReplyDelete
  67. With three little ones, and two of those in diapers, I am surprised that you get any sewing done! Cute little helpers they are though. Love the simplicity of the design, and the rainbow of colours. Congrats on being chosen.

    ReplyDelete
  68. Fabulous! Simply Fabulous! Congrats on top 2! Well deserved. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  69. What a pretty project and such a sweet helper.

    ReplyDelete
  70. Darling quilt and really darling helpers.

    ReplyDelete
  71. I loved hearing about your project and how Mdm. Samm got connected. I hope you will consider joining in a future hop. Wonderful quilt and what sweeties you have to help you. Good plan letting her play with her own design so you could sew, baste yours. Smart, smart mama!

    ReplyDelete
  72. Wonderful hexie quilts! Your children are adorable. Thanks for sharing your technique and all the tips and tricks ... :)

    ReplyDelete
  73. Lovely quilt. Wonderful use of the hexies.

    ReplyDelete
  74. Love your hexi rainbow and I am in awe that you did that spiral quilting - that would have taken me days.

    ReplyDelete
  75. Oh this is so lovely - very eye catching.

    ReplyDelete
  76. I love your hexagon rainbow quilt. Thank you for sharing tips on how to keep appliqué pieces in place. I have a feline quilt assistant that rearranges my appliqué pieces on my blocks when I step away.

    ReplyDelete
  77. I love both of your quilt. Simply irresistable.

    ReplyDelete
  78. L O V E!!! I think I need to make one! THank you for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  79. I love this quilt. Thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  80. Hiya Melissa!!! What a beauty! I also love rainbow quilts, so yours is an inspiration. Thanks for sharing. Blessed be, hugs!!! Pam

    pamspretties57 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  81. I have yet to try a raw edge quilt, let alone one with hexies. I really like yours so I need to add this to my bucket list sooner rather than later.

    ReplyDelete
  82. adorable and you had great help. Thanks for the fun

    ReplyDelete
  83. Both of your quilts are gorgeous. Thank you so much for explaining how you assembled the second one. I, too, am so fond of rainbow quilts. You are certainly expert when it comes to choosing what quilt stitching you use and the actual stitching, too. I've added your blog to my list in Feedly; I'm excited!!

    ReplyDelete
  84. Your quilt is wonderful!! I love it. It is so cool to make things for fun. I love how you tacked them down with spray bast. What a great idea.

    ReplyDelete
  85. Beautiful rainbow quilt, absoutely fantastic!
    Lovely pictures, thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  86. Great choice in quilting, I would love to try this, I have a bag of Hexies..

    ReplyDelete
  87. What size Hexi's are the ones you used in this quilt? I love it and I would love to do something kinks like it for my little girl bc I know she would LOVE IT!
    Thanks*Jessica
    juceyj03@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  88. Wow - your quilting is fab! I love how the design turned out like a spiders web :o)

    ReplyDelete

What are you sewing?