Tag: Hexagon template

Today we introduce to you a brand new blog series, Tutorial Reboot! We’ve invited some of the amazing quilting bloggers out there to try out some of Jenny’s tutorials! With a new tutorial every week, it might be difficult to keep track of all the best ones, so we’ve asked these bloggers to pick one of their favorites and revisit it! Let’s dive in! Here is Kelly Bowser, aka Kelby Sews, with the first Tutorial Reboot: the Simple Hexagon Quilt!

My name is Kelly—though I’m often called Kelby since my “sewing name” is Kelbysews — it’s ok, I understand the confusion and respond to both names!  I always loved painting/crafting growing up and even through college, but it often took a back seat to academics.  After becoming a stay at home mom of 2 boys, I felt it was time for my artsy side to get some attention!  I taught myself to sew and quilt 5 years ago as a creative and intellectual challenge since I was watching dust gather on my law degree.  I jumped into sewing headfirst and was soon happily drowning in fabric!

Jenny’s Hexagon Quilt tutorial using the 5” half-hexie ruler is amazingly easy to follow!  This is a perfect quilt for an experienced beginner who has already made a simple square patchwork quilt and wants to step it up!

The video tutorial clearly shows you how to cut and piece the hexagons so there is no confusion!  I love that you don’t even have to unfold the jellyroll strips!  You can simply cut two half-hexie pieces at once with the jelly roll strip folded!   These half-hexies make adorable placemats, table toppers, and quilts!  You could even use leftover jellyroll strips/charm squares/scraps in your stash to make half-hexie mug rugs (large coasters) for your friends this holiday!

The hardest part about making a quilt using this method is that you have to layout the entire quilt before begin piecing since each row depends on the one before it.  After I decided on a final layout, I took several pictures just in case my pieces got mixed up later.  I tend to take lots of pictures of my quilts in progress because they help me see the quilt from a new perspective and help me find boo-boos!  Then I simply stacked the pieces in rows and chain pieced like a maniac!  Raise your hand if you love chain piecing!!!  (You can’t see me through your computer screen, but I have both hands in the air waving around)

I decided to make the largest quilt I could, armed with just ONE Hello Darling Jelly Roll by Thimble Blossoms for Moda and the MSQC 5″ Small Half Hexagon Template!  I also used 1/2 yard for the binding.  I could not be happier with the results!  The finished quilt is about 46”x55” and makes the perfect lap quilt or picnic-for-two quilt!  If you want to have a picnic that includes your kids, you may want to use 2 jellyrolls so everyone can fit on the quilt!

Thank you to Kelly Bowser for this wonderful guest blog post! If you want to check out the other amazing things she’s doing, you can find her here:

Blog: Kelbysews www.kelbysews.blogspot.com

Etsy:  Kelbysews  https://www.etsy.com/shop/kelbysews

Craftsy: Hearts & Bees Patterns https://www.craftsy.com/user/4391285/pattern-store