Scrappy Hexies by Halves and other Quilt Progress this Weekend

This was past weekend was pretty productive quilt-wise around here.  My parents came to town along with my Nana.  My mom participated in the Hexies by Halves Quilt-Along, but life got busy and she didn't finish...until a few weeks ago.  She brought the finished quilt up, so we could take some photos.

The weather cooperated and gave us a nice sunny afternoon.  (Man! I'm looking forward to the coming spring days.  I didn't realize how much I was missing the sun.)

Purple and Black Hexies by Halves Quilt Plus NEW Scattered Hexies Backing

I've got several quilt finishes waiting to show you, but first up is my Purple Hexies by Halves Quilt made from my Hexies by Halves Pattern.  Also, the finished Purple and Black Hexies quilt if available for purchase in my shop.

This is one I made to participate in my own Hexies by Halves Quilt along that started in July.

I did pretty well keeping up with the quilt-along schedule until it came to the backing.  When the purple came that I ordered, I realized it wasn't quite the right shade, and I had to wait until I could get to the fabric store myself to choose a better match.  Then since I was already behind, it sat for quite a while waiting for it's backing.  Never one to be able to leave a pattern alone (even when it's my own apparently) I decided to mix things up a bit on the back.

This time instead of doing a line of hexies, I scattered them.  I love how it turned out and I think this could make a fun quilt top all on it's own.  (And I have to thank my friend Anya from Rainy Day Threads because the quilt she was working on at the PNW MQG Meet-up is what have me the inspiration.)

Good Day for Fabric

Today has been a good fabric day...Anson was my little shadow...as in he followed from my sewing machine to the iron while I worked...but he let me work!

It started out when this appeared in my mailbox from Sisters and Quilters.  I just love the richness of the reds and golds.  I ordered it for making a Christmas quilt.  I like holiday quilts that use regular fabric.  (You might remember this quilt I made last Christmas for donation.)  Of course I couldn't stick with a ready made bundle and had them put together a custom bundle for me.  (Sisters and Quilters is awesome about that.) 

 But since the kids have decided to be Harry Potter characters for Halloween, this has got me thinking of Gryffindor colors.  We'll have to see what it turns into.

And you all know how much I love black and white prints.  This one just jumped into my cart...and I needed a tad more of the Dr. Seuss spots to finish off the rest of my Dr. Seuss fabric.

But before I can start quilts with any of that fabric, I decided I really need to get going on some of my quilts in progress.  I currently had 3 quilt tops ready that needed backs.  Basting is my least favorite part of the quilt making process, so I decided I want to get ready to have a basting day and get several quilts all basted at once.

Since I never can seem to leave a pattern alone...even when it's my own pattern, I did a new variation on hexies for the back of my purple quilt.  (An update to my Hexies by Halves PDF pattern will be coming when I get a chance to get the pictures edited and this quilt finished, but if you order my pattern now, I'll send you the updated version when I have it ready.)

Here's my purple hexies quilt top to go with it, made using my Hexies by Halves Pattern.  This is my fourth Hexies quilt and they all go together so quickly.

And you may remember my Rocket Boys Triangles Quilt that I sewed up at the Pacific Northwest Modern Quilt Guild Meet-up...

Hexies by Halves PDF Pattern and Quilt-Along Highlights

That's right!  The Hexies by Halves PDF Pattern is finally done and up for sale in my shop.  I've gone through the whole pattern, added some additional photos, and clarified some things.  I'm very happy with it, and I think everyone who participated in the quilt along would agree that the instructions are very detailed and even a beginning quilter can successfully complete this quilt if they already possess basic sewing skills.  Besides this specific pattern, it contains sections on choosing fabrics, basting and preparing your quilt for quilting, simple machine quilting, and binding.

One of the most fun things about hosting this quilt-along has been seeing the pictures of your finished projects come in.  I know there are going to be more pictures coming.  Each participant took the same pattern and really made it her own!

Marianne from Adventurous Quilter made this beautiful quilt with different browns she had in her stash.  I love how it turned out and the way she photographed it really shows off those quilting lines.  She's a great quilt photographer and took some other beautiful pictures you can see here

Linnae made this lovely pink and blue quilt.  She had extra hexies and made it larger.  Since it wasn't quite large enough for a twin bed, she added a border.  I love her arrangement with the large pink flowers on a blue background.

Linnae made this lovely pink and blue quilt.  She had extra hexies and made it larger.  Since it wasn't quite large enough for a twin bed, she added a border.  I love how she made a patterned arrangement with the large pink flowers on a blue background.

Hexies by Halves Quilt-Along - Lesson 6 - Binding Your Quilt

Hexies by Halves Quilt-Along - Lesson 5 - Simple Machine Quilting

From this point on in our quilt-along, many of you may be as experienced as I am and you're free to go ahead and finish your quilt on your own.  There any many different ways to finish a quilt ranging from tying, hand-quilting, home machine quilting (straight lines or free-motion), or you may have it professionally long-arm quilted.  Because there's no way I could do justice to all of these methods, I'm going to focus on my current favorite method...home-machine quilting.  I prefer home-machine quilting because it doesn't require any special equipment or a lot of space and is inexpensive.  I'm learning to do free-motion quilting and LOVE it, but I've chosen to straight line quilt all of my hexie quilts (so far) because I feel like it complements the overall quilt design well.

Thanks for your interest in the Hexies by Halves Quilt-Along.  Our quilt-along ran from July 8th through August 30th, 2013.  You can now find the full Hexies by Halves PDF Quilt Pattern in my shop here.

If you'd like to see a sample of the quality of my instructions, I have left Lesson 6 - Binding Your Quilt available for free here.

Please show my sponsors some love...

This Way and That with Cat in the Hat Quilt KIT- From Sisters and Quilters

Hedwig Necklace from Pieces by Polly

Dr. Seuss Fat Quarter Bundle from Sisters and Quilters

Modern Black and Gold Hexies Baby Quilt from Pieces by Polly

Hexies by Halves Quilt Along - Lesson 4 - Preparing Your Back

This lesson will teach you how to make trim and make a pieced back to complement your Giant Hexies Quilt.

Thanks for your interest in the Hexies by Halves Quilt-Along.  Our quilt-along ran from July 8th through August 30th, 2013.  You can now find the full Hexies by Halves PDF Quilt Pattern in my shop here.

If you'd like to see a sample of the quality of my instructions, I have left Lesson 6 - Binding Your Quilt available for free here.

Hexies by Halves Quilt Along - Lesson 3 - Sewing your Hexies

Thanks for your interest in the Hexies by Halves Quilt-Along.

 Our quilt-along ran from July 8th through August 30th, 2013.  You can now find the full Hexies by Halves PDF Quilt Pattern in my shop here.

If you'd like to see a sample of the quality of my instructions, I have left Lesson 6 - Binding Your Quilt available for free here.

You can also see a sampling of quilts successfully made by others using the Hexies by Halves here.

Hexies by Halves Quilt-Along - Lesson 2 - Cutting Your Fabric

Thanks for your interest in the Hexies by Halves Quilt-Along.

 Our quilt-along ran from July 8th through August 30th, 2013.  You can now find the full Hexies by Halves PDF Quilt Pattern in my shop here.

If you'd like to see a sample of the quality of my instructions, I have left Lesson 6 - Binding Your Quilt available for free here.

You can also see a sampling of quilts successfully made by others using the Hexies by Halves here.

Please show my sponsors some love... This Way and That with Cat in the Hat Quilt KIT- From Sisters and Quilters Hedwig Necklace from Pieces by Polly Dr. Seuss Fat Quarter Bundle from Sisters and Quilters Modern Black and Gold Hexies Baby Quilt from Pieces by Polly

Hexies from Halves Quilt Along - Lesson 1 - Fabric and Supplies

This Hexies by Halves pattern is easy enough for a beginning quilter to sew, but will still be rewarding for more advanced quilters as well.  You need to have a general familiarity with your sewing machine and how it works, but if you have some sewing experience, you should be able to successfully sew this quilt, even if it's your first.

Thanks for your interest in the Hexies by Halves Quilt-Along.

Our quilt-along ran from July 8th through August 30th, 2013.  You can now find the full Hexies by Halves PDF Quilt Pattern in my shop here.

If you'd like to see a sample of the quality of my instructions, I have left Lesson 6 - Binding Your Quilt available for free here.

You can also see a sampling of quilts successfully made by others using the Hexies by Halves here.

Please show my sponsors some love... This Way and That with Cat in the Hat Quilt KIT- From Sisters and Quilters Dr. Seuss Fat Quarter Bundle from Sisters and Quilters Modern Black and Gold Hexies Baby Quilt from Pieces by Polly