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toolgranny

October Kaleidoscope class - Lesson 2

toolgranny
16 years ago

LESSON 2 Cutting and creating the hexigons

Cut across fabric at a same repeat you see, starting at the end, to make 6 pieces. You donÂt have to be too exact as weÂll trim it more carefully when aligned.

Lay your six matching pieces on top of each other and line up a figure at each corner as closely as you can. A vertical pin through one point will hold them in line while you carefully slide a pin through the six layers (figure 3).

figure 3

Once you get them all in position, put a few pins in here and there to keep those matches aligned. Remember you will be cutting across the 6 layers with your rotary cutter so be very aware of your pins. Lay your stacked group across your cutting mat and line it up using the mat lines as a guide.

Holding your ruler firmly, cut one edge off to even it up. DonÂt waste any more fabric than you have to to do this. Then, cut 4" strips across from selvedge to selvedge till youÂve used up your stack. Keep these strips pinned here and there so they donÂt come apart.

figure 4

Lay one 4" strip along a horizontal line of the cutting mat. Using your 60 degree line on a ruler, place 60 degree ruler line across a vertical line of the mat so the angled of the ruler is close to one end and start cutting triangles. This should give you a 60 degree angle to cut on the side of your strip. Reverse the ruler and do the same, moving down the strip until you have made it all into stacks of 6 matching triangles. (see figures 5 & 6) Cut so the triangle points are at the very edge of the strip and all are the same size. Stack your piles of six offsetting from the next and you can take the whole bunch to the sewing machine for assembly.

figure 5

figure 6

Take one group of six triangles and lay them out with matching figures going the same way. Each group has three possible choices (2 shown in the halves in figure 7).

Audition the triangles in each of the three directions until you get an arrangement you like and start sewing them together with quarter inch seams. You will sew three for one side and the matching three for the other but not the middle seam.

figure 7

Press the seams open as you work (figure 8) and pin the two halves together at the middle.

figure 8

You need the center seam open to assemble the finished product. Set each aside and do the rest the same way.

For help at the design wall later, you can sort the hexigons into color stacks of lights and darks or like groups of colors. I have better luck designing with "pinwheel" shapes than "bullseyes". A large blank center of a hexigon doesnÂt always blend well with its neighbors.

WeÂll talk about designing with these hexigons in lesson 3 posted after the weekend.

Linda

Comments (11)

  • idahoqltr
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Question:
    I was thinking that we would cut the fabric in half - selvedge to selvedge - first, so as not to have 45" widths to cut into 4" strips. Folded wouldn't work and 45" is awkward to work with.

  • toolgranny
    Original Author
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Of course you could. I think you mean lengthwise, don't you?

    You can do anything that gets you six matching piles. For a small project I've also used three repeats and mixed triangles of three and three with similar patterns, alternating triangles, to save fabric and try something different.

    Take a look at this picture.

    The two on left are from 6 triangles and the two on the right are from three of one and three of another but chosen to look similar. You really can't tell once you do it this way. So, you can see there are lots of options to work with. Do whatever works best for you. We're just trying to define the procedure itself so you can "create".

    Linda

  • toolgranny
    Original Author
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Bumping this to be above lesson 1.

  • bozogardener
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Linda, and the other teachers on this forum-
    Thank you so much for your time and effort on creating lessons for others on this forum. I think it is so cool that this community will do such generous things to assist others in learning how to quilt!

    Tamie

  • geezerfolks_SharonG_FL
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Linda, I couldn't believe how quickly these came together! I cut my fabric this morning and started sewing the triangles together and before I knew it, they were all done!!! Now I see I'm going to have to do a little frog dance as some of them need to be halves. Oh well, it was fun!

    SharonG/FL

  • toolgranny
    Original Author
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Good for you. I'll post lesson 3 on Monday.
    Linda

  • nana24
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Linda,
    I'm a little slow on this although I've know I want to try from the first. I've never cut fabric in this fashion and I tend to use every little scrap. I looked through my stash for a while but could not find anything I thought would do. I bought a piece yesterday that is very colorful with kites on it. It may have a lot of background which you warned against but it will be a learning process. I have it in the washer now and will cut it later this evening.

    Wish me luck.

    Sharon, reading your post encouraged me.

    I'm going out of town this week but I'll be working on this and hoping to catch up before long.

    Sally

  • toolgranny
    Original Author
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Good for you Sally. You can just print the lessons off and work on it later. I'd love to see what your kites make. Sometimes the most obscure sort of print turns out beautiful kaleidoscopes.
    Linda

  • nana24
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Yea, I have my triangles sewn together ( 3 & 3 of each piece). Ready for the next lesson.

    I really like them but don't see the color change you have. I see how another fabric would have gotten a different look. I'm not unhappy with it and look forward to see what the whole will be.

    Thanks for your work in presenting the class.

    Sally

  • geezerfolks_SharonG_FL
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Sally, I didn't get a lot of color change either, but I didn't expect to as I'm using fabric that isn't vibrant. My DH likes them but the next time, I want to use something with a larger pattern and more colorful....I have fabric in my stash that would have been excellent, but there are only 5 repeats in the yardage...tropical foliage and birds!

    SharonG/FL

  • lyndawn
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Mine doesn't have the kind of designs as the ones shown, but I do like how it turned out. I used a simple butterfly pattern. I love the how the butterflies repeat in the circle.

    I want to try another one. I saw the perfect fabric in my mom's stash, but she only have 1/2 yd. I'm going to look for something similar.

    Lynette

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