glamping half-hexie quilt tutorial

I am finally posting about my half-hexie quilt, well, because I actually finally finished my half-hexie quilt! I don't know what my deal was and why I took so long. I love it, but I just couldn't motivate myself to actually quilt it. I cut, pieced, and basted the quilt in just a few days...AND then it just sat there, and sat there, just staring at me. Then it started to get in the way while I worked on other projects. So finally I decided I was just going to quilt for about an hour. One hour turned into 2. Then 2 more hours the next night. Then guess what? I spent 2 more hours attaching the binding the next day (machine bind of course) and then it was finished! I then thought, what the heck was I waiting for?!? This quilt is awesome! Mr Relish's first question was, "Are you giving that one away or keeping it?" My response, "Ummmm, I'm keeping it!" Unless I start the quilt knowing it already belongs to someone else, I doubt it will ever leave my house. HAHA!



I decided to make this a quilt tutorial, too, just because why not? I used Lori Holt's half hexie templates, but have also drafted my own printable version for your use (link below fabric requirements). I recommend using the actual acrylic ones just because they are more accurate, but I also understand that spending $20 on a template might not be in the quilting budget. For the main fabric, I used the Glamping by Mary Jane for Moda. I am in love with these colors right now. They make me swoon every time I see them.

Fabric Requirements:
10 inch layer cake by Moda (or 42-10 inch fabric squares)
Border 1 - Need 1/2 yard of fabric (I used flax seed linen by Robert Kaufman). Cut 5 - 3.5 inch x wof strips**.
Border 2* - Need 1 1/2 yards of fabric. Cut 3-8.5 inch x wof strips** (side pieces) and 3-6.5 inch x wof strips** (top and bottom pieces)
Binding* - 1/2 yard for both "regular" and bias binding using 2.5 inch binding
Backing* - 4 yards with 2 inch overage included

*I used fabrics I found at Hobby Lobby for Border 2, binding and back. I like to get these fabrics at Hobby Lobby or JoAnn's (especially the back) to save money and use coupons.
** Assuming the fabric is 43-44 inches wide (wof = width of fabric)

Half-Hexie Template - Download - do NOT print to size- use the 1 inch test square to make sure you are not printing too big or too small -

So here we go...

1. Cut all the half-hexagon pieces. Fold your layer cake in half and line up long end with the raw sides. Cut along the other three sides. Do this for all the pieces. You will have 84 half-hexies.



2. Arrange all the pieces on the floor or table and get them in the arrangement you would like. Take a picture. Then sew from there or pick them up in an organized fashion (I suck at this part hence the picture...haha). I did this during nap time so I just left them there and sewed away.



Start sewing. Start by making your vertical rows (or columns is the correct term I guess) first. Once you made all your columns, then piece all the columns together.



3. Once you have your large hexie square, square up by trimming the top and bottom. I forgot to take a picture of this part.


*If you notice the hexie middle is not square, but a rectangle, with the longer sides on the top and bottom. In order to make the quilt square, the second border will need to be wider on the top and bottom than on the sides. This will make the quilt a square when completed. Keep that in mind. Carry on.

4. Add your first border.


5. Add your second border. Add the wider strips to the tops and bottoms first, then add the skinnier strips to the sides. You now have a square quilt (66 x 66 inches).


6. Baste and quilt as you like, then add your binding.


I literally got one good picture before the mini relishes came in and took over. I love how the moment big relish sees a quilt her first instinct is to start snuggling it.








--Quilted double horizontal lines around the hexagons then stitched in the ditch on the vertical lines. I then did a meandering stitch along the large outside border--

Finished size - 66 inches x 66 inches (pre-washing)

Please let me know if I am missing anything.

Thanks!!

Melissa