My quilting life: framed hexies and bunnies

Quilting is one of the most versatile hobbies! The choices of thread, fabric and designs are endless. I have tried many different projects in my short quilting life and one of my favorites is definitely hexies. This month, I tried framed hexies and created a bunny table runner for Easter.  This idea came from my mentor, Heather. She’s had a rough winter with a fall that dislocated her shoulder. Did that keep her down? No way! She made an amazing quilting comeback with her own framed hexie table runner. Her resilience and spirit have inspired me to try many different projects, starting with zipper pouches and continually adding to both my skills and repertoire. This will be my lucky 13^th post for QUILTsocial!!

Using the hexie rulers I borrowed from my quilting mentor, I cut many hexies out of a variety of spring fabrics. I started with no real plan and just matched fronts to backs randomly as I cut. I did some fussy cutting to ensure that the bunnies were prominent on the hexies.

This project marked my first experience using topstitching thread, Gütermann Dekor Rayon thread.

The Gütermann Dekor Rayon thread has what seems to be an endless color selection and I was thrilled to be able to match these perfectly with my hexie fabric!

I ironed and clipped the large hexie to the batting and the smaller hexie. The only trick is to match the wrong side of the large hexie against the batting. I used the large hexie to center the small hexie and the batting, then pinned in place and folded the edging twice and clipped. It was important to iron after each fold.

Once the hexies were ironed and clipped, I machine stitched using the Gütermann Dekor Rayon thread, sewing the border to the inside hexie with a ⅛” seam.

I completed a pile of hexies and then arranged them to make my table runner. The Gütermann Dekor Rayon thread made a huge difference. It matched perfectly and brought out the colors in the hexies.

I handstitched the hexies together to make the table runner.

This table runner is amazing on both sides!

I couldn’t stop myself from using this beautiful thread to match more fabrics to create more hexies. You can use them for coasters, table runners, even a small quilt. It’s inspiring and beautiful when thread matches the fabric perfectly and brings out the colors in the fabrics. It ‘binds’ everything together.

With one project complete, I’ve really fallen in love with framed hexies and I plan to make a couple more table runners to give away this spring.

Stay tuned for my new adventure. I’ll be working on my version of the Spectrum QAL 2020

right here on QUILTsocial, sharing my experience with each block starting next month. I’m so excited to dig into my fabric selection, Riley Blake Designs Delightful.

I continue to practice gratitude every day. I have so many things to be thankful for, my quilting group and the opportunities and inspiration it has provided me with – and most importantly, the friendships are definitely at the top of my gratitude list.