Do you have a hexie or Grandmother’s Flower Garden quilt in your UFO (unfinished object) pile because you didn’t know how to finish the edges of the quilt? I have a few ideas for you!
I am so happy to read the comments from people like me who are slowly sewing hexagon quilt tops. I have just stitched half a queen sized and although it will continue to be a project I pick up and put down I am now beginning to think about how to finish the edges.
It is nice to know others are working steadily through their 5 year projects too. I like to have a long term project that I work on as the mood strikes me. Happy stitching !
Thank you for the ideas. I am working on my first project without a sewing machine as a birthday gift for a dear friend. Now I have confidence to finish the project
I’m just starting a hexagon quilt using only hand sewing...no glue. If I live long enough to finish this (I’m 67🙏🏼) I will definitely refer back to your video to finish it. All the scraps I have left over from sewing hundreds of face masks are going to finally get used. I’m so happy!!! Thanks for all your help😘
That’s a perfect use for the random face mask scraps. I think many of us have those “I hope I finish It before I die” projects. Mine is a 60 degree diamonds EPP turned into stars.
I certainly didn’t finish mine! I have now decided to machine sew the hexie rows to fabric/batting. Then I will use the time I saved LOL to quilt it to a backing. It sat untouched for almost a year😞
I just re-watched this video. I don’t know yet how I’ll finish my grandmother’s flower garden but now I have ideas. The facing seems to be the nicest, but the most work. But I think I might go with the straight border. Thanks for the video!
We put so much time and energy into our hexie projects that we want to finish them off nicely but at the same time we just want to be done. It’s nice to have a variety of techniques so we can choose what works best for each project and our willingness to spend many more hours hand stitching. I’m looking forward to seeing your progress as you work on your Christmas hexies.
I loved the idea of the facing. I have a grandmother's flower garden that I never finished because I didn't like the idea of trimming off parts of the hand sewn hexagons. You rock, Robin. Thanks so much. So, hopefully soon, I will pull out that 14 year old UFO and finally get it finished. :)
Wonderful Carol! Pull out that long long term project and finish it up so you can enjoy It! When we put so much time into each little hexie It just seems wrong to chop them off. I have a long term EPP Star project that I need to pull back out and take apart the Stars. My skill, patience and knowledge weren’t ready for the project at the time but now I know how to get It done properly. Thanks!
Thank you so much for this information 👍🏻 I received a grandmother flower garden quilt top only over the weekend and started googling and found your spot on CZcams. Excellent ideas ❤
I'm so glad you popped up on my search. I made a big one for my table for January, thinking ahead, but never considered how to finish!! Thanks for all your clear cut ideas!!
A dear friend's mother gave me a hexi quilt that was not finished. She'd done a huge amount but it had been sitting for years. I have been working on straightening it up and whilst almost there I was then confused about how the edges should look. If it wasn't for your video I wouldn't have figured it out. It would never have occurred to me that the sides and the ends would be different but they are! The design is GFG flowers but there's no background color to highlight them - one is sewn to the other and each flower is in a different colored fabric with the center peice different to the petals. Thank you for making this video. If I had not seen this I'm pretty sure I would have been stuck and unable to finish it.
This has helped me so much. Trying to finish a round table topper and preserve the pattern. Will border my pink patchwork with a final white row. Then, I will line my quilt with white and use white hexagons to face it. You have eased my troubled mind!!!
My understanding is that hexagon quilts were among the first type of patchwork ever to become popularized in the craft, way back around the Civil War. Back then they were called "mosaic" quilts, and usually the colors were kept randomized rather than in patterns. Then patterns of stripes of similar-fabric hexies became popular. Then the GFG. All along, the purpose of making these quilts was always acknowledged as not being "because the family needs a warm blanket". Blankets were much easier to come by than this! No, this was done as a form of entertainment, and a chance to show off one's creativity and craftsmanship. So to me, folks who want to take shortcuts to machine sew these treasures are missing the point. Speeding up production would only shorten the time spent enjoying the sewing. These are not projects meant for people who don't like to sew. I always love when I see a hand-sewn quilt, especially a hexie one, because I know I've met a kindred spirit who chose to do things the long way for the love of it, creating a family treasure, rather than a capitalist focused on cranking out a great number of quilts in a short time.
Marialla very well put. I’ve never started a hexie quilt with the goal of actually finishing it. It’s always about the process. Taking the time to slow down and be aware of each stitch as I stitch It. To hear the thread pulling through the fabric. I do enjoy cranking a quick quilt for friends and family but a hand pieced quilt will always be for me. Thanks for the history lesson on hexies and hand piecing.
Marella thank you for this information. I am definitely enjoying making this quilt. I plan on keeping it. Lol its challenging as I am getting near the ends. Thankfully for this video I know how to finish the edges. This pattern is so addictive that I keep staying up late working on it (3am last night). I was also thinking about making flower petals going from center to each corner of the hexy and then putting french knots in the center of that. Haven't figured out how I want to quilt the flower petal hexy or my leaf hexy.
Marialla, great background, but the hexagon is reputed to be older than that having migrated to the US from England. So your example is correct for the US. However, an example frequently cited as the earliest found in the UK dates back to the early 1700's. An incomplete top was found with the paper used for the templates still in, and some of the papers had dates on them placing it from around 1701 - 1704.
Robin cause of you I made all hand sewing hexy new blanket. Grandmother 👵🏻 or gardening nanny I’m not sure but I made it due to your inspiration and encouragement. Thank you. It’s only taken me since February 😬🥴
Thank you I have been trying to work out how to finish my Grandmas Garden quilt and was going to border it but now I think I might face it I love that idea.
You won't believe this but I just this week bought my first package of hexi cut out shapes to teach myself how to do this at night to have something to do at night in front of the tube. Guess I'll go back and watch your video from last year! Perfect timing! Love yours by the way! Stay safe this weekend.
Robin, thank you so much for this video. It's much easier to see than read and understand. At this point I think I will use a border (the blue that you show) because I have some matching material. Who knows, by the time I finish all the flowers I may change my mind. Have a good day.
I’m so glad this helped Pat! Short explanations are okay to read but this was way too much information to convey in an email. Much easier in a video. I like the idea of a border to frame the quilt. It all comes down to your vision for your project. Have fun!!
I like your idea of hand quilting it with the red thread maybe something with a little sheen. I think that I am going to try using the boarder idea. My mother handed down flowers to me to put together. My Mom and my sister, her daughter and my two daughters and myself covered the hexagons for the flowers. I'm 67 so I got to get it done soon. I will give it to my Daughter Kimberly.
What a wonderful gift. May I suggest adding everyone’s names somewhere? Either on the label or quilted into the borders. The label can tell the story of the quilt. Have fun!
I watched this video when you first posted it but had to watch again because I am doing some placemats for the grandkids and was not sure how I was going to finish them. I am waffling between facing and border. Thank you again for a great video. Wish I could give it more than 1 like.
Thank you Marilyn. Can I vote? For a placemat I think I would use a border. Probably a solid and if possible the favorite color of the person that will be using It. If your grandkids are little and they help you put out the placemats then they would know which one is theirs based on the border color. While they’re eating you can also help them practice their colors. If they’re young. Just a thought. No matter how you finish them I’m sure they will be awesome and well loved. Have fun
I just found your video and this was so helpful for me! I’m finding a lot of instruction on how to make hexagons, but no videos on what to do after or how to finish it. Thank you for such great ideas. I’m a new subscriber ❤
Thanks so much! You gave me a new option. I inherited a grandmother’s flower garden quilt and have quilted it all, but hesitating on the finishing. Marci Baker from alicias attic also has another facing idea, you might like. Watch her video. Thanks for the new option!
I usually just fold the edge over onto the back and tack it down so that the edges are straight and then I don’t have to cut the hexagons all the way around to put a border on.
Robin, this was very timely for me. I started making hexis last year after watching your tutorial, with the intention of making a throw size quilt. I’m using various shades and prints of fall colors (orange, brown, beige, green) and its completely random - no pattern, such as a flower. I’m getting close to finishing all the hexis but had no idea how to finish it. So, this was super helpful. I like the border idea. Thanks so much!
LindaMB Wonderful timing! It’s also perfect timing for your color scheme as fall is right around the corner. I do like the idea of the border framing the quilt. I’m glad this video is helping so many EPP stitchers. Thanks for hanging out with me!
Great tutorial! Thanks for covering a topic that’s been ignored by other instructors. My hexie quilt top is growing a little bit each year, and it’s finally a throw size. I’m trying to stick with it until I have a twin. We’ll see. But now I have good ideas for finishing!!!
Thank you so much. We put so much time and energy into our hexie quilts that It would be a shame to rush the last bit or not finish It at all. I enjoy having a long term project. Happy stitching!
Thanks for sharing this I’m just about to tie a kingsize grandmother flower garden quilt, the edges were what was worrying me this is great adding a border thanks robin I like the facing idea
@@rsislandcrafts I started it in 2015 it was a swap group on fb and I’ve got beautiful flowers from all over world, and every state in usa is covered lol thought it was time to finish it but wasn’t sure what to do as couldn’t afford to send to long armer and couldn’t get a kingsize under my machine so decided to tie it and was wondering how to finish it when someone suggested looking at your video
Thank you so much for the technique. I made a hexi quilt years ago and trimmed off the points. (ouch). Now I know better and will try the border technique.
Very pretty! I don't have one of these in my UFOs yet. But when you do get to the point of possibly hand quilting it - that'd be a video I'd be interested in seeing too! I think if it were mine, I'd possibly be doing the technique with the facing, but either way it's beautiful! Great to see you! Happy crafting!
Thank you! I made a hexie quilt with 18 inch hexagons - started for my daughter's wedding but now finishing 7 years later for my first grandchild ;) it's just 7 pieces so I don't want to cut it or add bits to square it off. I'm trying the flip method, pray for me 🤣
You’ve got this. If you can stitch those 18” hexie then you can stitch and flip and get It finished. You’ll feel so good when you put that last stitch in. Happy stitching.
Thanks for the great video. So helpful. I am working on my first “soon to be” completed projects. I have been making flowers for a few years now. Focusing on completing a full sized top and originally planned to do an added border and appliqué. But I think I might like the facing better. Another few months to the project so I will see what it tells me when I am done. I loved this video but would have preferred you waited until you had a facing outline done. And I would like to have seen a completed project. But what you did has inspired me and I thank you for that. I am a visual learner and this helped a lot.
I’m glad my video helped. Congratulations on your almost finish. Unfortunately if I had waited until I made the facing this video wouldn’t exist. This project still looks the same today. 🤷♀️
Thanks for the video. If I ever get around to making an EPP top, I will probably use a facing to finish the edges and keep the wonderful edge shape. ❤️
That’s my first choice to but It does change based on the project. It may sound weird but for a large quilt I would use facing. For a small project like a mug rug I would use a squares off edge.
I love the facing idea for a stand alone project, but I'm thinking of adding some hexies to a sampler quilt, so the border idea will help that work in to it.
Years ago I made a hexi quilt using Christmas fabrics. I bordered it by hand-sewing. Then I added a few more borders just because. It was my first and last hexi quilt but only because I can no longer hand-sew. I love the facing method though. PS: Stay safe. I hope Dorien comes nowhere near you.
Thanks Susan! I’ve been watching all the alerts. I’m hoping It hits a high somewhere and beers away from Florida. 🤞🤞 Hand sewing is getting harder on my eyes. I might need to get one of those stands with a light and huge magnifier lense.
That would make It very difficult if you can’t hold a needle. You make some amazing paper pieces projects though. I have a hard time when the pieces are so small.
I think I'm going to do a large neutral border to match the neutral between my flowers, then I may decide to applique some of my leftover hexis and flowers on the border. Might do some leaves and vines, too. So many beautiful borders on Pinterest.
I love the idea of the hexagon border with the facing ... but I’m only 25 small flowers into my grandmothers quilt, lol ... I may change my mind. I’m thinking of lots of white hexagons on the bottom/right corner so I can appliqué some green vines, leaves in the one corner ... but again, still I. Early stages of quilt
Hi Robin, I have become fascinated with hexies. I am not a quilter, but am a cross stitcher and love hand stitching, hence the appeal of hexies. I’ve been enjoying making the hexies and would like to put together a small table runner with them, but not sure of the process of adding the backing fabric and batting. I doubt that you can easily answer my question in a comment, but could you possibly direct me to one of your other videos that may explain the basic process to a novice? I really like your ability to explain and demonstrate so well and had hoped you might have another video that would help me. Thanks so much.
Hi Robin. I want to apologize for asking in my earlier comment if you had other videos for a novice crafter trying to make an item out of hexies. I should have done my own research through your older videos to learn what I was looking for. It was lazy of me to ask you to do it for me. I did just that and have been watching your videos and am learning lots. Since this video was made in August, I’m wondering if you have finished this red, white, and blue wall hanging yet? I haven’t seen a video about the final result, unless I’ve just missed it. I’ll keep looking. 😊 Thanks again for making such user-friendly demonstrations for the crafting community. 🙋♀️
I want to put a 5 “ border on my hexie quilt.I want to machine stitch around in a blanket stitch. Should I spray starch and remove the paper on the outside before I pin to attach the binding.? It is all pressed but I didn’t use starch. Thinking want to try hand quilting maybe or maybe not so should I secure the outside of the binding on the underneath edge in with the quilting top or should I do a stitch around to anchor it. I am doing Kates hexie quilt for her granddaughter and she hasn’t gotten to that part and I remembered you had this video. It has helped immensely. Thank you.
Let me make sure I’m following your train of thought. You have your hexie quilt top finished. You want to add a 5” border. You plan on doing the version where you appliqué the hexie edges to the border. You plan on using the blanket stitch to attach the border. I would leave the papers in the outer round of hexies. Starch the edge of those outer hexies. You would need to remove the papers before you appliqué the hexies to your border. Otherwise you won’t be able to remove all of the paper from the blanket stitch area. If you’re careful the starch should hold the edges of your hexies in their shape. If the seams of the hexies pop out then they would be easy to fold back Into place. Then you could pin your hexies to your border and sew your blanket stitch. I’ve also come to appreciate school glue. A few small dots of glue along the hexie edge. Then iron It to your border fabric. The heat of the iron will set the glue and temporarily hold everything together. For a large quilt I might still want a few pins here and there just in case. I think I would use quilting safety pins. I tend to stab myself with regular pins. The binding is the last part after you’ve quilted your quilt. By then all of the papers should have been removed. I hope that helps. If not please ask again and I’ll try again. Your quilt is going to be beautiful and treasured.
Love your quilt Robin! This just reminded me that I have a mini hexagon quilt to finish that I put together using flowers that my mum started when my little sister was about 7....she is now 42! I started to try to complete it 7 years ago but it was difficult as she did not leave the template in after basting and the fabric went out of shape so the hexagons do not fit together well plus I burnt part of one whilst pressing.! It was such a tedious job and the last of that fabric so it will have to be replaced with one that doesn't match and will be a talking point. I must get it out again as I feel that it's a bit of history that deserves to be finished. I did use up many of the random patterned hexagons making a doll quilt for my neice that year... 2012 and finished it with binding the usual way as I machine quilted it. I think that a hand appliquéd border with a machine binding on that would be nice to keep the wavy edge. I would use the fabric glue pen method if I want to make any further English Paper Pieced Hexagons and not baste at all no sense hand stitching more than I need to!
@@rsislandcrafts Yes it would be nice to finish it in mum's life time. Thank Robin for your kind reply and your great videos. It means a lot to us that you selflessly still make them despite very difficult times. God bless you and your family.
I enjoy hexies but I already made a few large hexie projects so I’m ready to try something different. I do have a long term EPP project that I’ve neglected for years. Only 2 more days. Then you can go back and binge watch the craziness 😂. It won’t take long 😉. I need to sit down and decide what I want to work on in September. I think we need a Fall or Halloween project.
@@rsislandcrafts lol I have to agree. Its my first grandma's flower garden. I am using my late grandma's fabric stash cut from wonky 5" squares. Its also my first hand pieced quilt (using her method of piercing). Lol so well out of my comfort zone. The funny thing my grandma only made 1 grandma's flower garden for her friend the seamstress that always gave her all the scrap materials she used for her quilts. Mom said grandma always wanted to make another. So this is a labor of love and rememberance for me.
I’ve been doing the simple straight seam on the corners but that’s because I haven’t tried to mitre a corner yet. While they’re both perfectly fine, visually I prefer the look of a mitered corner. I guess It really comes down to your fabric and how you plan to quilt It. A striped or patterned border would look nicer if you match up the pattern and mitre the corners. If you heavily quilt the borders then the straight seams may not even be noticed.
Enjoy other people's EPPs but I am intimidated by all that hand work. I like the thought of a facing and think that would work best for a table topper because of the pseudo lace appearance, but I would probably applique it to a border for a wall hanging. Seems like it would hang better with a little structure and added weight. Hope you and your family stay safe and warm through the upcoming storms.
An entire EPP quilt is a bit intimidating but if you just want to dabble a little you could just make one flowers and applique it onto a small bag. That way you'll know if you enjoy the process enough to spend a few years on a project or it was just something fun to try and you'll leave that up to the other quilters ;)
I love grandmas flower garden quilts. But I do not have the patience for hand stitching or doing Y seams on the machine. I have enormous respect for quilters who are able to do authentic grandma gardens. I bought the half hex templates so I could cheat. Which while it will look nice, wont have that same effect as all those hexies stitched together.
English Paper Piecing (EPP) is definitely a commitment and not for everyone. Just like paper piecing designs. All those tiny pieces are just not for me. I love how detailed the designs look but It stresses me out 😅
@@rsislandcrafts I havent tried EPP yet. I just have to many projects already! Lol! I do some paper piecing. But only easy designs. I like that you can do odd shapes w scraps w the paper piecing. But until I watched Crafty Gemini do it, I wouldnt even try bc it didnt make sense. Definately a visual learner and trying to follow the written instructions...... well lets say, nope!
I thought I was able to learn by reading things but I've learned that I'm more of a visual learner too. It just makes everything so much easier to absorb.
@@rsislandcrafts exactly! You can tell me something 20times, and I will hopefully get it. But show me? Usually I get it the 1st time. Somethings the 2nd time. One of the things I like about youtube, is being able to pause the video, and take each step w you or who ever I am learning from that moment. I was wondering, when life calms a little for you, if you would be willing to do some instructional videos on knitting? I can not read a knitting pattern to save my life! I know how to cast on, knit, purl, and cast off. I kinda get slip stitches, but they dont always work out right for me. I actually do knit quite a bit with the knowledge I have. Everything I knit is either a pattern I have been taught, or that I made up using the stitches I know. But I would love to do some fancier shawls. I dont mean doing whole patterns, just doing short videos on how to do differrent kinds of stitches, or stitch combos to get different effects.
Hi Robin, I am new to this so can I just confirm I will need to put my wedding on and quilt before I do the edges. Another question I have is when do you remove the tracking stitches around the hexyshexy. Thank you Karen
Hi Karen. The way I baste my hexies I do not have to remove any of the stitches. I baste only on the back and not through the entire piece. My stitches are never seen. The edges can be like the borders on a standard quilt. For example, the edge where you either cut the hexies or lay the edge down on a piece of border fabric. For those you sew that part before sandwiching you’re quilt. If your doing the hexie shaped facing then yes you will add the backing, batting, and quilt your project before you add the facing strips of hexies. I hope that makes sense. I have a hexie playlist if you would like to see how I baste my hexies. m.czcams.com/play/PLKGSJJEEjRBWORXjKQWN96kHP2YXdoT_J.html
I think It depends on the type of paper you’ve used. If it’s a thin paper then you can just pull the paper from the facing hexies before you’ve stitched each one down. Some people like to use a thicker paper or a plastic insert. For those I think they may need to be removed before you flip the facing to the back of your quilt. If you starch and press your hexies then the seams will stay folded over. Sometimes it’s hard to visualize the process but once you start stitching then you’ll see When to remove the papers. I hope that helped.
Do you mean use your old bed sheet as the fabric for the hexies? Sure! You can use any fabric available with a few considerations. Cotton type fabrics works best for bed quilts but wall hangings can use most any fabric since they aren’t washed that often. It’s best to keep with the same type of fabric throughout. Flannel sheets are great too since they’ve already been washed several times and have now been preshrunk. They could be a bit thicker than a cotton sheet so you might want to think about that if mixing with a standard cotton sheet. For bed quilts due to the wearability and possible shrinkage of different types of fabric it’s not always advisable to mix fabrics. Bedsheets are a great source of fabric and ones previously used and loved are already soft. Keep an eye out for any tears or thin spots. You’ll want to avoid those. After all of the time and work you put into your quilt you don’t want any one hexie to wear out ahead of the others due to a preexisting weakness. Have fun!
Do you have a hexie or Grandmother’s Flower Garden quilt in your UFO (unfinished object) pile because you didn’t know how to finish the edges of the quilt? I have a few ideas for you!
Was sitting around trying to figure out how to do half-hexies to finish out the edges…. Never even thought of doing it like this! Smart! Thank you!
Glad I could help!
I am so happy to read the comments from people like me who are slowly sewing hexagon quilt tops. I have just stitched half a queen sized and although it will continue to be a project I pick up and put down I am now beginning to think about how to finish the edges.
It is nice to know others are working steadily through their 5 year projects too. I like to have a long term project that I work on as the mood strikes me. Happy stitching !
Thank you for the ideas. I am working on my first project without a sewing machine as a birthday gift for a dear friend. Now I have confidence to finish the project
I’m so happy I could help. What a wonderful gift for your friend.
Thanks so much! I've been looking high and low for how to add a border on a quilt top with an uneven edge and this video provided the answer!!
You’re very welcome.
I’m just starting a hexagon quilt using only hand sewing...no glue. If I live long enough to finish this (I’m 67🙏🏼) I will definitely refer back to your video to finish it. All the scraps I have left over from sewing hundreds of face masks are going to finally get used. I’m so happy!!! Thanks for all your help😘
That’s a perfect use for the random face mask scraps. I think many of us have those “I hope I finish It before I die” projects. Mine is a 60 degree diamonds EPP turned into stars.
did you finish ?
I certainly didn’t finish mine! I have now decided to machine sew the hexie rows to fabric/batting. Then I will use the time I saved LOL to quilt it to a backing. It sat untouched for almost a year😞
I just re-watched this video. I don’t know yet how I’ll finish my grandmother’s flower garden but now I have ideas. The facing seems to be the nicest, but the most work. But I think I might go with the straight border. Thanks for the video!
We put so much time and energy into our hexie projects that we want to finish them off nicely but at the same time we just want to be done. It’s nice to have a variety of techniques so we can choose what works best for each project and our willingness to spend many more hours hand stitching. I’m looking forward to seeing your progress as you work on your Christmas hexies.
I loved the idea of the facing. I have a grandmother's flower garden that I never finished because I didn't like the idea of trimming off parts of the hand sewn hexagons. You rock, Robin. Thanks so much. So, hopefully soon, I will pull out that 14 year old UFO and finally get it finished. :)
Wonderful Carol! Pull out that long long term project and finish it up so you can enjoy It! When we put so much time into each little hexie It just seems wrong to chop them off. I have a long term EPP Star project that I need to pull back out and take apart the Stars. My skill, patience and knowledge weren’t ready for the project at the time but now I know how to get It done properly. Thanks!
That was my issue to not wanting to cut off them and not wanting to make the half hexy
Thank you so much for this information 👍🏻 I received a grandmother flower garden quilt top only over the weekend and started googling and found your spot on CZcams. Excellent ideas ❤
You are so welcome!
I'm so glad you popped up on my search. I made a big one for my table for January, thinking ahead, but never considered how to finish!! Thanks for all your clear cut ideas!!
You’re very welcome. When I started my first hexie project I was excited to work on It. Then I realized at some point I’d have to finish It. Yikes.
You are so right. I love making them and hand sewing them instead of the glue. I want all of it done by hand.
Exactly. It’s a special quilt. I don’t mind putting the time in.
A dear friend's mother gave me a hexi quilt that was not finished. She'd done a huge amount but it had been sitting for years. I have been working on straightening it up and whilst almost there I was then confused about how the edges should look. If it wasn't for your video I wouldn't have figured it out. It would never have occurred to me that the sides and the ends would be different but they are! The design is GFG flowers but there's no background color to highlight them - one is sewn to the other and each flower is in a different colored fabric with the center peice different to the petals. Thank you for making this video. If I had not seen this I'm pretty sure I would have been stuck and unable to finish it.
This has helped me so much. Trying to finish a round table topper and preserve the pattern. Will border my pink patchwork with a final white row. Then, I will line my quilt with white and use white hexagons to face it. You have eased my troubled mind!!!
I’m so happy you found my video and It helped. Your topper sounds beautiful. The white will balance and pop your pink hexies. Happy sewing!
I love the idea of facing! Thank you I had never thought of doing it that way! Love when the light goes on! LOL
Thank you! I love light bulb moments too 💡
I had wondered if that was how you did it. Just didnt know how.
My understanding is that hexagon quilts were among the first type of patchwork ever to become popularized in the craft, way back around the Civil War. Back then they were called "mosaic" quilts, and usually the colors were kept randomized rather than in patterns. Then patterns of stripes of similar-fabric hexies became popular. Then the GFG. All along, the purpose of making these quilts was always acknowledged as not being "because the family needs a warm blanket". Blankets were much easier to come by than this! No, this was done as a form of entertainment, and a chance to show off one's creativity and craftsmanship.
So to me, folks who want to take shortcuts to machine sew these treasures are missing the point. Speeding up production would only shorten the time spent enjoying the sewing. These are not projects meant for people who don't like to sew. I always love when I see a hand-sewn quilt, especially a hexie one, because I know I've met a kindred spirit who chose to do things the long way for the love of it, creating a family treasure, rather than a capitalist focused on cranking out a great number of quilts in a short time.
Marialla very well put. I’ve never started a hexie quilt with the goal of actually finishing it. It’s always about the process. Taking the time to slow down and be aware of each stitch as I stitch It. To hear the thread pulling through the fabric. I do enjoy cranking a quick quilt for friends and family but a hand pieced quilt will always be for me. Thanks for the history lesson on hexies and hand piecing.
Marialla I’m currently making my very first totally hand sewn epp quilt and am thoroughly enjoying the sewing experience 😍 😘👏🏻
Marella thank you for this information. I am definitely enjoying making this quilt. I plan on keeping it. Lol its challenging as I am getting near the ends. Thankfully for this video I know how to finish the edges.
This pattern is so addictive that I keep staying up late working on it (3am last night). I was also thinking about making flower petals going from center to each corner of the hexy and then putting french knots in the center of that. Haven't figured out how I want to quilt the flower petal hexy or my leaf hexy.
Marialla, great background, but the hexagon is reputed to be older than that having migrated to the US from England. So your example is correct for the US. However, an example frequently cited as the earliest found in the UK dates back to the early 1700's. An incomplete top was found with the paper used for the templates still in, and some of the papers had dates on them placing it from around 1701 - 1704.
@@lorrainewilliams7896 I had not known that! Great information!
Robin cause of you I made all hand sewing hexy new blanket. Grandmother 👵🏻 or gardening nanny I’m not sure but I made it due to your inspiration and encouragement. Thank you.
It’s only taken me since February 😬🥴
Lynn that’s wonderful. You did It quick too. Hand sewing always relaxes and centers me. It calms my soul. Congratulations.
I’m currently hand stitching my first quilt (ever). It’s graduated sized hexagons and this video was very helpful, thank you.
That sounds like a fun quilt. Happy stitching.
Thank you I have been trying to work out how to finish my Grandmas Garden quilt and was going to border it but now I think I might face it I love that idea.
It just doesn’t seem right to cut the edge of the hexies after all of the time we’ve spent hand stitching those hexies together.
You won't believe this but I just this week bought my first package of hexi cut out shapes to teach myself how to do this at night to have something to do at night in front of the tube. Guess I'll go back and watch your video from last year! Perfect timing! Love yours by the way! Stay safe this weekend.
Sally Noel Thanks Sally! Like It was meant to be 😉
I recently got into making these but count find how to finish them. Thankfully, you. Are along and rescued me. Thank you sooooooo much!
I’m so glad my video could help. It frustrating to spend all that time hand sewing your hexies only to get stuck at how to finish your quilt.
Robin, thank you so much for this video. It's much easier to see than read and understand. At this point I think I will use a border (the blue that you show) because I have some matching material. Who knows, by the time I finish all the flowers I may change my mind. Have a good day.
I’m so glad this helped Pat! Short explanations are okay to read but this was way too much information to convey in an email. Much easier in a video. I like the idea of a border to frame the quilt. It all comes down to your vision for your project. Have fun!!
I’m so happy I found this video. Now I know how I want to finish mine. Thanks
Wonderful! Happy stitching.
Awesome thank you so much for sharing, I have a grandmothers flower garden quilt I need to finish. Now I know how.
I like your idea of hand quilting it with the red thread maybe something with a little sheen. I think that I am going to try using the boarder idea. My mother handed down flowers to me to put together. My Mom and my sister, her daughter and my two daughters and myself covered the hexagons for the flowers. I'm 67 so I got to get it done soon. I will give it to my Daughter Kimberly.
What a wonderful gift. May I suggest adding everyone’s names somewhere? Either on the label or quilted into the borders. The label can tell the story of the quilt. Have fun!
I watched this video when you first posted it but had to watch again because I am doing some placemats for the grandkids and was not sure how I was going to finish them. I am waffling between facing and border. Thank you again for a great video. Wish I could give it more than 1 like.
Thank you Marilyn. Can I vote? For a placemat I think I would use a border. Probably a solid and if possible the favorite color of the person that will be using It. If your grandkids are little and they help you put out the placemats then they would know which one is theirs based on the border color. While they’re eating you can also help them practice their colors. If they’re young. Just a thought. No matter how you finish them I’m sure they will be awesome and well loved. Have fun
Decisions, decisions!!! Hopefully, I'll have an idea once I get close to finishing!!! This has been a fun morning for me. Thanks so much!
I’m glad you had fun watching this series. I love hexies.
Beautiful quilt. My mother used to quilt. I never learned. Thanks for showing your techniques.
I just found your video and this was so helpful for me! I’m finding a lot of instruction on how to make hexagons, but no videos on what to do after or how to finish it. Thank you for such great ideas. I’m a new subscriber ❤
Welcome to our little community. I’m so happy you found us. Thank you. I’m glad you found my video useful.
Thanks so much! You gave me a new option. I inherited a grandmother’s flower garden quilt and have quilted it all, but hesitating on the finishing. Marci Baker from alicias attic also has another facing idea, you might like. Watch her video. Thanks for the new option!
Thank you. I’ll go check out her video.
I don't have the patience to do hand sticking anymore 😅, I admire those who do. Great video.
I enjoy hand Stitching. Mostly hand embroidery. I like how It slows me down physically and mentally.
I usually just fold the edge over onto the back and tack it down so that the edges are straight and then I don’t have to cut the hexagons all the way around to put a border on.
Great tip. Thanks! I feel like I make my hexies different every time because I don’t make them regularly.
Thank you - I love this technique! 👏🥰
Robin, I love this quilt and your ideas for the border. I hope you stay safe this holiday weekend and the weather misses you.
Thank you! So far it looks we will be safe on the gulf coast and fingers crossed the east coast will be okay too.
Robin, this was very timely for me. I started making hexis last year after watching your tutorial, with the intention of making a throw size quilt. I’m using various shades and prints of fall colors (orange, brown, beige, green) and its completely random - no pattern, such as a flower. I’m getting close to finishing all the hexis but had no idea how to finish it. So, this was super helpful. I like the border idea. Thanks so much!
LindaMB Wonderful timing! It’s also perfect timing for your color scheme as fall is right around the corner. I do like the idea of the border framing the quilt.
I’m glad this video is helping so many EPP stitchers. Thanks for hanging out with me!
Great tutorial! Thanks for covering a topic that’s been ignored by other instructors. My hexie quilt top is growing a little bit each year, and it’s finally a throw size. I’m trying to stick with it until I have a twin. We’ll see. But now I have good ideas for finishing!!!
Thank you so much. We put so much time and energy into our hexie quilts that It would be a shame to rush the last bit or not finish It at all. I enjoy having a long term project. Happy stitching!
Wunderschön
Thank you
Thanks for sharing this I’m just about to tie a kingsize grandmother flower garden quilt, the edges were what was worrying me this is great adding a border thanks robin I like the facing idea
Hi Sylvia. You’ve been very busy. I’m sure it’s stunning.
@@rsislandcrafts I started it in 2015 it was a swap group on fb and I’ve got beautiful flowers from all over world, and every state in usa is covered lol thought it was time to finish it but wasn’t sure what to do as couldn’t afford to send to long armer and couldn’t get a kingsize under my machine so decided to tie it and was wondering how to finish it when someone suggested looking at your video
Very useful video. Thank you for showing a variety of options.
💜
Thank you so much for the technique. I made a hexi quilt years ago and trimmed off the points. (ouch). Now I know better and will try the border technique.
Ouch! I've made hexie table toppers and chopped off the points too. I really like those points ;)
You need to add this one to your Hexie playlist!
Thanks! I thought It was there. Oops.
Excellent video ! Now I can finish ! Thank you !
Thank you for so many. Suggestions in this video and the one on strings. Love your videos.💕
Thank you so much 💜
Thank you ! Thank you! Have spent 2 hours trying to find way to finish and quilt my hexie quilt when I am ready. You have given so many options
Awesome! I’m so glad you found my video. These are special quilts and should be finished in a way that matches all of your hard work.
Very pretty! I don't have one of these in my UFOs yet. But when you do get to the point of possibly hand quilting it - that'd be a video I'd be interested in seeing too! I think if it were mine, I'd possibly be doing the technique with the facing, but either way it's beautiful! Great to see you! Happy crafting!
I can show how I hand quilt but keep in mind that I'm a newbie and just winging it like I tend to do lol.
I have not made a flower garden quilt, but this is so inspiring I may have to try one.
I find them very relaxing.
I think the facing is a great idea! Thank you for sharing! I do like the border idea, too!
You are so welcome! It’s nice to have options.
Thank you! I made a hexie quilt with 18 inch hexagons - started for my daughter's wedding but now finishing 7 years later for my first grandchild ;) it's just 7 pieces so I don't want to cut it or add bits to square it off.
I'm trying the flip method, pray for me 🤣
You’ve got this. If you can stitch those 18” hexie then you can stitch and flip and get It finished. You’ll feel so good when you put that last stitch in. Happy stitching.
@@rsislandcrafts thank you! It turned out so well! ❤️
@@NutmegRose That’s awesome. Congratulations on finishing your 7 year old work in progress.
Thanks for the great video. So helpful. I am working on my first “soon to be” completed projects. I have been making flowers for a few years now. Focusing on completing a full sized top and originally planned to do an added border and appliqué. But I think I might like the facing better. Another few months to the project so I will see what it tells me when I am done. I loved this video but would have preferred you waited until you had a facing outline done. And I would like to have seen a completed project. But what you did has inspired me and I thank you for that. I am a visual learner and this helped a lot.
I’m glad my video helped. Congratulations on your almost finish. Unfortunately if I had waited until I made the facing this video wouldn’t exist. This project still looks the same today. 🤷♀️
Thanks for the video. If I ever get around to making an EPP top, I will probably use a facing to finish the edges and keep the wonderful edge shape. ❤️
That’s my first choice to but It does change based on the project. It may sound weird but for a large quilt I would use facing. For a small project like a mug rug I would use a squares off edge.
I love the facing idea for a stand alone project, but I'm thinking of adding some hexies to a sampler quilt, so the border idea will help that work in to it.
That sounds like a fun quilt. It can be fun to have a wide border and sprinkle hexies or flowers around the border. Happy Sewing!!
Obrigada por compartilhar, exatamente o que eu procurava.
Facing for mine. Thanks for all the tips.
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I like your red white and blue GFG patten
Thank you
Thank you 🦩
Very nice Henie runner , love the colors ,!!!!
Love your ideas Robin.
Thank you!
Thank you so much.😊
You're welcome 😊
Years ago I made a hexi quilt using Christmas fabrics. I bordered it by hand-sewing. Then I added a few more borders just because. It was my first and last hexi quilt but only because I can no longer hand-sew. I love the facing method though. PS: Stay safe. I hope Dorien comes nowhere near you.
Thanks Susan! I’ve been watching all the alerts. I’m hoping It hits a high somewhere and beers away from Florida. 🤞🤞 Hand sewing is getting harder on my eyes. I might need to get one of those stands with a light and huge magnifier lense.
@@rsislandcrafts My problem is neuropathy in my hands - can't hold a needle and hands cramp up a lot.
That would make It very difficult if you can’t hold a needle. You make some amazing paper pieces projects though. I have a hard time when the pieces are so small.
@@rsislandcrafts Me too!!!
I think I'm going to do a large neutral border to match the neutral between my flowers, then I may decide to applique some of my leftover hexis and flowers on the border. Might do some leaves and vines, too. So many beautiful borders on Pinterest.
Lori Esau I love quilts that have vines, leaves, and flowers appliquéd in the borders.
I love the idea of the hexagon border with the facing ... but I’m only 25 small flowers into my grandmothers quilt, lol ... I may change my mind.
I’m thinking of lots of white hexagons on the bottom/right corner so I can appliqué some green vines, leaves in the one corner ... but again, still I. Early stages of quilt
You have plenty of time to change your mind a few times 😉. I like the idea of appliquéd leaves and vines in the corner.
Hi Robin, I have become fascinated with hexies. I am not a quilter, but am a cross stitcher and love hand stitching, hence the appeal of hexies. I’ve been enjoying making the hexies and would like to put together a small table runner with them, but not sure of the process of adding the backing fabric and batting. I doubt that you can easily answer my question in a comment, but could you possibly direct me to one of your other videos that may explain the basic process to a novice? I really like your ability to explain and demonstrate so well and had hoped you might have another video that would help me. Thanks so much.
Hi Robin. I want to apologize for asking in my earlier comment if you had other videos for a novice crafter trying to make an item out of hexies. I should have done my own research through your older videos to learn what I was looking for. It was lazy of me to ask you to do it for me. I did just that and have been watching your videos and am learning lots. Since this video was made in August, I’m wondering if you have finished this red, white, and blue wall hanging yet? I haven’t seen a video about the final result, unless I’ve just missed it. I’ll keep looking. 😊 Thanks again for making such user-friendly demonstrations for the crafting community. 🙋♀️
I like the facing and the boarder idea. 😅😅 Hard choice. 😄
Yea It is. Maybe for a small wall hanging It might be fun to border three sides and leave the bottom jagged 🤷♀️
I want to put a 5 “ border on my hexie quilt.I want to machine stitch around in a blanket stitch. Should I spray starch and remove the paper on the outside before I pin to attach the binding.? It is all pressed but I didn’t use starch. Thinking want to try hand quilting maybe or maybe not so should I secure the outside of the binding on the underneath edge in with the quilting top or should I do a stitch around to anchor it. I am doing Kates hexie quilt for her granddaughter and she hasn’t gotten to that part and I remembered you had this video. It has helped immensely. Thank you.
Let me make sure I’m following your train of thought. You have your hexie quilt top finished. You want to add a 5” border. You plan on doing the version where you appliqué the hexie edges to the border. You plan on using the blanket stitch to attach the border.
I would leave the papers in the outer round of hexies. Starch the edge of those outer hexies. You would need to remove the papers before you appliqué the hexies to your border. Otherwise you won’t be able to remove all of the paper from the blanket stitch area. If you’re careful the starch should hold the edges of your hexies in their shape. If the seams of the hexies pop out then they would be easy to fold back Into place.
Then you could pin your hexies to your border and sew your blanket stitch. I’ve also come to appreciate school glue. A few small dots of glue along the hexie edge. Then iron It to your border fabric. The heat of the iron will set the glue and temporarily hold everything together. For a large quilt I might still want a few pins here and there just in case. I think I would use quilting safety pins. I tend to stab myself with regular pins.
The binding is the last part after you’ve quilted your quilt. By then all of the papers should have been removed.
I hope that helps. If not please ask again and I’ll try again. Your quilt is going to be beautiful and treasured.
@@rsislandcrafts thank you so much it reinforces how I was thinking and yes I learned elmers from Lisa Capen..I even use with my binding now.
@@connieking9873 Me too 🤣. Makes my binding so much nicer.
Love your quilt Robin! This just reminded me that I have a mini hexagon quilt to finish that I put together using flowers that my mum started when my little sister was about 7....she is now 42! I started to try to complete it 7 years ago but it was difficult as she did not leave the template in after basting and the fabric went out of shape so the hexagons do not fit together well plus I burnt part of one whilst pressing.! It was such a tedious job and the last of that fabric so it will have to be replaced with one that doesn't match and will be a talking point.
I must get it out again as I feel that it's a bit of history that deserves to be finished.
I did use up many of the random patterned hexagons making a doll quilt for my neice that year... 2012 and finished it with binding the usual way as I machine quilted it.
I think that a hand appliquéd border with a machine binding on that would be nice to keep the wavy edge. I would use the fabric glue pen method if I want to make any further English Paper Pieced Hexagons and not baste at all no sense hand stitching more than I need to!
What a treasure! It is a bit of history and it would be fun to bring out at family gatherings and tell some fun stories about your mother.
@@rsislandcrafts Yes it would be nice to finish it in mum's life time. Thank Robin for your kind reply and your great videos. It means a lot to us that you selflessly still make them despite very difficult times. God bless you and your family.
Mandy G Thank you Mandy, you’re very sweet. 💖
@@rsislandcrafts Likewise. I just wish that circumstances were better for you. You are a Warrior. Mx God bless you, my dear.
I never did get started with the hexie's, but I do like my sewing. 2 days to go :p
I enjoy hexies but I already made a few large hexie projects so I’m ready to try something different. I do have a long term EPP project that I’ve neglected for years. Only 2 more days. Then you can go back and binge watch the craziness 😂. It won’t take long 😉. I need to sit down and decide what I want to work on in September. I think we need a Fall or Halloween project.
Thank you for making this video. I was wracking my brain on how to finish my grandma's flower garden
You’re welcome. I’m glad It helped. I think figuring out the edges is the hardest part.
@@rsislandcrafts lol I have to agree. Its my first grandma's flower garden. I am using my late grandma's fabric stash cut from wonky 5" squares. Its also my first hand pieced quilt (using her method of piercing). Lol so well out of my comfort zone. The funny thing my grandma only made 1 grandma's flower garden for her friend the seamstress that always gave her all the scrap materials she used for her quilts. Mom said grandma always wanted to make another. So this is a labor of love and rememberance for me.
That’s awesome. All those memories. It’s even better since your hand piecing It so plenty of time for memories.
Robin stay high,dry and safe this week.
Thank you! Hopefully if it stays on course it will stay out in the Atlantic.
What do you do at each corner? A mitre or straight seam.
I’ve been doing the simple straight seam on the corners but that’s because I haven’t tried to mitre a corner yet. While they’re both perfectly fine, visually I prefer the look of a mitered corner. I guess It really comes down to your fabric and how you plan to quilt It. A striped or patterned border would look nicer if you match up the pattern and mitre the corners. If you heavily quilt the borders then the straight seams may not even be noticed.
I've been thinking to do a facing exactly how you described doing it.
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Enjoy other people's EPPs but I am intimidated by all that hand work. I like the thought of a facing and think that would work best for a table topper because of the pseudo lace appearance, but I would probably applique it to a border for a wall hanging. Seems like it would hang better with a little structure and added weight. Hope you and your family stay safe and warm through the upcoming storms.
An entire EPP quilt is a bit intimidating but if you just want to dabble a little you could just make one flowers and applique it onto a small bag. That way you'll know if you enjoy the process enough to spend a few years on a project or it was just something fun to try and you'll leave that up to the other quilters ;)
@@rsislandcrafts great idea- you have inspired me to try it. Always thought it would be a great project for hanging out in waiting rooms.
Is there a video that shows how to do that?
I’m sorry. I don’t have an actual video for each option. Mostly because It takes a bit of time to make each example.
I love grandmas flower garden quilts. But I do not have the patience for hand stitching or doing Y seams on the machine. I have enormous respect for quilters who are able to do authentic grandma gardens. I bought the half hex templates so I could cheat. Which while it will look nice, wont have that same effect as all those hexies stitched together.
English Paper Piecing (EPP) is definitely a commitment and not for everyone. Just like paper piecing designs. All those tiny pieces are just not for me. I love how detailed the designs look but It stresses me out 😅
@@rsislandcrafts I havent tried EPP yet. I just have to many projects already! Lol! I do some paper piecing. But only easy designs. I like that you can do odd shapes w scraps w the paper piecing. But until I watched Crafty Gemini do it, I wouldnt even try bc it didnt make sense. Definately a visual learner and trying to follow the written instructions...... well lets say, nope!
I thought I was able to learn by reading things but I've learned that I'm more of a visual learner too. It just makes everything so much easier to absorb.
@@rsislandcrafts exactly! You can tell me something 20times, and I will hopefully get it. But show me? Usually I get it the 1st time. Somethings the 2nd time. One of the things I like about youtube, is being able to pause the video, and take each step w you or who ever I am learning from that moment.
I was wondering, when life calms a little for you, if you would be willing to do some instructional videos on knitting? I can not read a knitting pattern to save my life! I know how to cast on, knit, purl, and cast off. I kinda get slip stitches, but they dont always work out right for me. I actually do knit quite a bit with the knowledge I have. Everything I knit is either a pattern I have been taught, or that I made up using the stitches I know. But I would love to do some fancier shawls. I dont mean doing whole patterns, just doing short videos on how to do differrent kinds of stitches, or stitch combos to get different effects.
If you hand quilt with embroidery thread, how many strands will you use?
Lenore Dunn If I use embroidery floss then I generally want It to pop a little so I would probably go with 2 strands.
Hi Robin, I am new to this so can I just confirm I will need to put my wedding on and quilt before I do the edges. Another question I have is when do you remove the tracking stitches around the hexyshexy. Thank you Karen
Hi Karen. The way I baste my hexies I do not have to remove any of the stitches. I baste only on the back and not through the entire piece. My stitches are never seen.
The edges can be like the borders on a standard quilt. For example, the edge where you either cut the hexies or lay the edge down on a piece of border fabric. For those you sew that part before sandwiching you’re quilt. If your doing the hexie shaped facing then yes you will add the backing, batting, and quilt your project before you add the facing strips of hexies.
I hope that makes sense. I have a hexie playlist if you would like to see how I baste my hexies.
m.czcams.com/play/PLKGSJJEEjRBWORXjKQWN96kHP2YXdoT_J.html
I would choose the facing no matter if it is more work.
Me too 😉
Thanks you so much for this. My first quilt has been sat waiting to be finished for ages. I just could not figure out how to keep the edges wiggly
Wonderful! Now you’ll be able to finish your quilt and snuggle up with It.
@@rsislandcrafts as soon as its finished I'll send it to my neice for her 1st birthday
That’ll be such a treasure.
Excellent video. I am new to EPP and was wondering how to finish it.
Thank you 🦩
Thanks for the video! I would love to tey the facing tecnique but when do you take those very outside papers out?
I think It depends on the type of paper you’ve used. If it’s a thin paper then you can just pull the paper from the facing hexies before you’ve stitched each one down. Some people like to use a thicker paper or a plastic insert. For those I think they may need to be removed before you flip the facing to the back of your quilt. If you starch and press your hexies then the seams will stay folded over. Sometimes it’s hard to visualize the process but once you start stitching then you’ll see When to remove the papers. I hope that helped.
@@rsislandcrafts this is so very helpful thank you for the inspiration I needed to finally finish this thing!
It’s going to feel amazing to have It finished.
Hi, can I use a old bed sheet for my EPP hexies? Thanks... I love all your videos!!
Do you mean use your old bed sheet as the fabric for the hexies? Sure! You can use any fabric available with a few considerations. Cotton type fabrics works best for bed quilts but wall hangings can use most any fabric since they aren’t washed that often. It’s best to keep with the same type of fabric throughout. Flannel sheets are great too since they’ve already been washed several times and have now been preshrunk. They could be a bit thicker than a cotton sheet so you might want to think about that if mixing with a standard cotton sheet. For bed quilts due to the wearability and possible shrinkage of different types of fabric it’s not always advisable to mix fabrics. Bedsheets are a great source of fabric and ones previously used and loved are already soft. Keep an eye out for any tears or thin spots. You’ll want to avoid those. After all of the time and work you put into your quilt you don’t want any one hexie to wear out ahead of the others due to a preexisting weakness. Have fun!
RsIslandCrafts - Robin thank you so much.