WHW RS Sampler Quilt Class: Block 12: Hexies (English Paper Piecing)

This is the last block for our quilt class!  Yay!  After this, we'll talk about assembling all the blocks into a quilt top, then quilting and binding it.  :)

For our last technique, I wanted to cover English Paper Piecing, or EPP.  This is where you use paper shapes as your templates and your wrap the fabric around the paper to get it into the shape you want, then you hand sew the shapes together.  By far the most popular type of EPP is the hexagon:

The Zen of Making

Gone Aussie Quilting

Lieblingsdecke

Mommy by Day Crafter by Night

And here are a few quick examples of EPP quilts made with shapes other than the hexie:

Dee's Doodles

Three Owls Handmade

Kamie Murdock

These hexies aren't sewn together by hand, but this technique is super fun and creates amazing texture:

Modern Handcraft

NOW.  Let's talk about how this is EPP thing is done.  I found this set of tutorials here and it is pretty awesome and very well done - this is exactly what we will be doing in our class:
The Zen of Making: EPP Hexies Part 1
The Zen of Making: EPP Hexies Part 2




Alright.  Here is the pattern:  WHW RS Sampler Quilt Class:  Block 12:  EPP

Here are is an awesome (FREE) link for creating your own Hexagon templates in pretty much any size:
Geta Grama Quilting Studio: Tips for Cutting Hexagon Templates
We'll be using the 2" Hexies for the 12" block, and the 1.5" Hexies for the 9" block

And here is a link to the alternate block we're making:  Sew Mama Sew: Star Hexies Tutorial
It uses the exact same technique, just with different shapes.  My tip for this block - DON'T clip the little dog ears that stick out from the corners.  :)  
I resized the pattern so that it will fit better with our block sizes.  The bigger one is for the 12" block and the smaller one is for the 9" block.  Don't forget to print it at 100%, or "actual size" - Diamond Star Hexie Pattern.

A New Pillow for Valentines Day

Every year in February I get the itch to make a pillow or two.  I don't really have any Valentines decor, so this year I finally sat down and made something!  I've also been wanting to try hexies for awhile too.  They are actually surprisingly fast and easy (and stitching from the couch is a nice change)!  And since there are no hearts on this pillow, maybe I can use it for more than just Valentines Day?


I was inspired by THIS mini from Modern Handcraft for my pillow top.  I used a mix of low volume prints for the background and I love how it turned out!

The texture on this pillow is pretty awesome.   I love this quilting design. 

Once the quilting was done, I decided I wasn't quite finished so I added a few ghost hexies in the "negative space".  Can you spot them?

Since I originally planned four columns of hexies for the top and ended up liking the look of three better, I had a few hexies left over.  I decided to try my hand at actually hand piecing them together the traditional way.  Then I appliqued them to this gray solid, which I was happy to find in my stash.  Now the pillow is double sided!  And of course an envelope enclosure for me!

I didn't take the time to look up a tutorial or anything, just tried to stitch these together from memory based on that one time we had an EPP class at Quilt Guild...  I hope I did it right!

And I couldn't help but share the rest of my Valentines decor with the new pillow.  Mostly because I love these monthly themed blocks so much!  The sun pattern is from April May Designs HERE (I made the whole set for my sister and another set for myself - check out my post HERE).  The Subway art printable is from Just Another Hangup HERE.

Now... what to make for March??