Hexie Weekend 6/20/14

I've been prepping hexie stars as I watch the World Cup.  It hasn't been as productive as I envisioned because so many of the games have been outstanding and surprising.  But what did I expect when the best players of the game have gathered together to go for the Golden Ball.  It has been exhilarating to see them play so well and for 95% of them so sportsmanlike - a far difference from 1998 when I watch my first one and 2010 when the refereeing was awful.  But enough of that - back to hexies. I did manage to prep seven more stars and finish sewing the one I had started.

I was going to mainly use 30s fabrics for these stars but my stash has a mind of its own and its turning out brighter than the first ones.  I did find that the centers I chose are of more contrast to the petals. Not wanting the stitches to show I decided to try invisible thread to sew them together.

I used Superior Invisible Thread in the smoke color and worked over a piece of white paper.  The hardest part was tying the knot at the needle to keep the thread from slipping out of the hole.  I also learned I needed to work with shorter lengths of thread - about 12-14" instead of the 18" I'm use to - to keep from wrapping the thread around a side of the hexagon and not noticing it because of the invisibility of the thread - lol.  What do you think?

I'm linking to Richard's Link a Finish Friday because I did finish one star and also to Can I get a Whoop, Whoop for trying a new technique.  I'd love to see your eye candy - hexie or otherwise; photo link or blog post will do.  Linky below. Remember it can be old eye candy - if it's new to me, it qualifies.

An InLinkz Link-up

Applique Tuesday 6/17/14

Two of the games tomorrow will mark the last of the 32 teams playing their first 2014 World Cup game.  There are a lot of great teams out there!  And Mexico will be playing Brazil! So I'd better post now.  I have been trying to do a little hand work as I watch, but it's hard because I take my eyes off the screen for a couple of seconds to take a stitch and someone makes a goal or something - so actual sewing is out. But I've prepped about six hexie flowers, so that's good - and I was able to do a tiny bit of applique. Today I'd like to walk you through how I'm doing my Anna's Garden blocks.

Make a copy of the pattern.

Number the various pieces in the order needed to be laid down (ie leaves that go under the branch) Then cut out the pieces leaving as intact a silhouette as possible - it was easy with this one. Cut on the center of the black lines.

Now make your freezer paper templates by turning over your cut pieces so the writing( and those dark lines around the edges) are not showing and trace on freezer paper. I put the number and the color of the fabric the piece must be on the freezer paper dull side.  Now iron the freezer paper (shiny side to back) to your fabric back and cut out 3/16th from edges.  Turn the edges over using the starch method. Once well dried, take the freezer paper out.  

Assemble a unit using the cutout pattern as your guide. 

Use small dots of glue on the part that overlaps on top and press together.

I then made the other bird.

Now ready to place these on the block.  Place the cutout pattern over the square (I forgot to take a photo of this stage). I lined it up with the branch I had already done. Add a bit of glue around the figures and set in place.  Let dry.

Here is the block ready for hand appliqueing.

Once I've done that here are the bits that are left to do.

Would love to see what you are doing.  Leave me a comment and I'll come visit.  Blessings to you all.
PS: I'm linking to Esther's WOW, Connie's Linking Tuesday Party, and Judy's design wall Monday.

Hexie Weekend a Bit Early

Hi, there are three World Cup Games tomorrow, so thought I'd post early as I will be watching!  Even have my España shirt ready.  Was a very busy week so not much done as the previous one.

 A fourth done with my EPP circle . See about it here.

Half done with the next hexie flower. Hopefully I can do prep work as I watch the games.

No linky party this week.  I'll be too busy to monitor, but would love to see what you're up to, so leave me a comment.  I'm linking to Richard's Link a Finish Friday.  Hop on by.