If you would like to take a rest from the sewing machine and concentrate on some hand work, here is something to keep your fingers busy while watching TV or having a chat.
Regular readers might remember the very first block we made for the Quilt of Memories project using that lovely hexagon shape that made the “grandmother’s flower garden” quilt block. However, this time it is much bigger, a little more modern and we will finish it with straight line quilting and some binding to keep it simple.
When completed, you will have a mini-quilt that will act as a dust cover for your sewing machine. However, the pattern can also be easily adapted to cover other objects in the home, eg your PC.
NOTE: Different colour thread may be used in photographs/video for clarity.
Requirements
• Assorted scraps of fabric, 63 in total, measuring at least 5” by 4½” (this project is suitable for a charm pack that contains 42.5” by 5” squares. You can add the rest from your fabric stash).• Backing fabric 29” by 19”.• Two strips of fabric 2½” by W.O.F. (width of fabric = 44” wide) for binding.• One strip of fabric 1½” by W.O.F. for ties.• Batting 29” by 19”.• Embroidery floss. • Thread.• Masking tape.• Iron.Directions
Cut out 63 hexagon shapes from fabric using Template A.
Cut out 63 hexagon shapes from paper using Template B.
Lay one paper shape on the wrong side of a selected fabric piece and pin in place. Turn raw edges over and stitching through paper and fabric, secure with a tacking stitch all the way around the shape, keeping corners sharp. Press. Repeat until all hexagons are made (Figure 1).
Place two shapes right sides facing and using good quality thread, whipstitch the pieces together, as shown in Figure 2. Take another shape and again using whipstitch, add this to the first two, as shown in Figure 3. Continue adding hexagons until you have a total of nine (Figure 4). Press. Make six more rows. You might like to consider making one row of plain fabrics, either all different colours or one colour, to make a design feature on your dust cover.
Attach rows together, bending papers as you go, keeping stitches small and even. If you are using a row of plain fabrics, make this the second row. As you add each row, press with your steam iron to keep work flat and neat. When finished you will have a total of seven rows with nine hexagons in each row. Steam press. Remove all tacking stitches and take out papers.
To make ties take 1½” strip and fold in half lengthways. Press. Open out. Bring top and bottom edges to centre fold mark and press (Figure 6). Fold in half again. Top stitch folded edges together. Cut into four even lengths.Layer, quilt and bind
Layer: Lay backing fabric on a flat surface (table) right side down. Tape this to the table, around the edge of the backing, using masking tape and keeping fabric taut. Next, place the batting on top, smoothing out any wrinkles or bumps and removing stray threads, etc. Finally, lay the dust cover on top of the batting right side up, again smoothing out towards the edge, removing any wrinkles or pleats as you go (Figure 5). Starting in the centre and moving out towards the edges baste all three layers together taking a large tacking stitch.
Quilt: You can quilt your dust cover by hand or use your machine. Try both. Use your machine to do straight line quilting all down along the length of your quilt spacing the lines about ¾” apart, but before you do that, hand quilt the row of plain coloured fabrics at the top and bottom using brightly coloured embroidery floss and large stitches. It gives a nice contrast to the rest of the quilting. Trim your mini-quilt dust cover back to 25½” by 16”. Attach ties to the back of the quilt at the sides, 6½” up from the bottom edge and 6½” down from the top.
Bind: Attach two binding strips together. Fold in half lengthways and press. Lay binding on quilt back with raw edges aligned and attach all the way around taking a ¼” seam. Turn binding over to the front and stitch down all around the edge, making sure to keep ties out of the way.
If you would like to take a rest from the sewing machine and concentrate on some hand work, here is something to keep your fingers busy while watching TV or having a chat.
Regular readers might remember the very first block we made for the Quilt of Memories project using that lovely hexagon shape that made the “grandmother’s flower garden” quilt block. However, this time it is much bigger, a little more modern and we will finish it with straight line quilting and some binding to keep it simple.
When completed, you will have a mini-quilt that will act as a dust cover for your sewing machine. However, the pattern can also be easily adapted to cover other objects in the home, eg your PC.
NOTE: Different colour thread may be used in photographs/video for clarity.
Requirements
• Assorted scraps of fabric, 63 in total, measuring at least 5” by 4½” (this project is suitable for a charm pack that contains 42.5” by 5” squares. You can add the rest from your fabric stash).• Backing fabric 29” by 19”.• Two strips of fabric 2½” by W.O.F. (width of fabric = 44” wide) for binding.• One strip of fabric 1½” by W.O.F. for ties.• Batting 29” by 19”.• Embroidery floss. • Thread.• Masking tape.• Iron.Directions
Cut out 63 hexagon shapes from fabric using Template A.
Cut out 63 hexagon shapes from paper using Template B.
Lay one paper shape on the wrong side of a selected fabric piece and pin in place. Turn raw edges over and stitching through paper and fabric, secure with a tacking stitch all the way around the shape, keeping corners sharp. Press. Repeat until all hexagons are made (Figure 1).
Place two shapes right sides facing and using good quality thread, whipstitch the pieces together, as shown in Figure 2. Take another shape and again using whipstitch, add this to the first two, as shown in Figure 3. Continue adding hexagons until you have a total of nine (Figure 4). Press. Make six more rows. You might like to consider making one row of plain fabrics, either all different colours or one colour, to make a design feature on your dust cover.
Attach rows together, bending papers as you go, keeping stitches small and even. If you are using a row of plain fabrics, make this the second row. As you add each row, press with your steam iron to keep work flat and neat. When finished you will have a total of seven rows with nine hexagons in each row. Steam press. Remove all tacking stitches and take out papers.
To make ties take 1½” strip and fold in half lengthways. Press. Open out. Bring top and bottom edges to centre fold mark and press (Figure 6). Fold in half again. Top stitch folded edges together. Cut into four even lengths.Layer, quilt and bind
Layer: Lay backing fabric on a flat surface (table) right side down. Tape this to the table, around the edge of the backing, using masking tape and keeping fabric taut. Next, place the batting on top, smoothing out any wrinkles or bumps and removing stray threads, etc. Finally, lay the dust cover on top of the batting right side up, again smoothing out towards the edge, removing any wrinkles or pleats as you go (Figure 5). Starting in the centre and moving out towards the edges baste all three layers together taking a large tacking stitch.
Quilt: You can quilt your dust cover by hand or use your machine. Try both. Use your machine to do straight line quilting all down along the length of your quilt spacing the lines about ¾” apart, but before you do that, hand quilt the row of plain coloured fabrics at the top and bottom using brightly coloured embroidery floss and large stitches. It gives a nice contrast to the rest of the quilting. Trim your mini-quilt dust cover back to 25½” by 16”. Attach ties to the back of the quilt at the sides, 6½” up from the bottom edge and 6½” down from the top.
Bind: Attach two binding strips together. Fold in half lengthways and press. Lay binding on quilt back with raw edges aligned and attach all the way around taking a ¼” seam. Turn binding over to the front and stitch down all around the edge, making sure to keep ties out of the way.
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