As you would now be aware, I co-ordinate fabric swaps for Australian residents through my Facebook page ‘Nannyswapz’.  

When planning a swap with hexies, I try to find a project by spinning the pins so that participants have a purpose in mind before the swap proceeds. On my Hexies board I found a hexie bag that used 16 hexagons and so built our swap around that.  We  swapped Rainbow Batik hexies and I am going to use them to make  my hexie bag.  So here is my Spin the Pins – Make a Hexie Bag!

I decided that rather than sewing the bag and then lining it, I would hand stitch each hexie and then join them.  I also decided to make my own version re the shape and so made another 4 hexies to give me a total of 20.

What you need:

20 x 2.5″ (side) hexagons  ( Hexie Bag Templates)

20 x 2.5″ (side) hexagons of Vilene

20 x   hexagons      (Hexie Bag Templates

Matching thread

Finished size:  Approx 15″ x 13″ at the centre and 9″ at the sides plus handle

Let’s Sew!

1.  Iron the vilene to the back of the hexies

2.  I then machined around the outer edges

3. Centre that hexie , wrong side to wrong side on one of the larger hexies.  I used a large needle through the centre to hold them together.

4.  Fold the edge of the large hexie into the edge of the smaller hexie and finger press.

5.  Fold over again and pin

6.  Take a threaded needle and knot the end.  Concealing the knot, start stitching about 1″ from the corner (or from my finger in the photo) and stitch to about where the stitching line will be on the next side.

7.  Fold the next side the same way, making sure that the corner forms nicely.

8. Continue in this way until you are all the way around.  Finish off and slip the needle through the border to finish.

9.  Complete all 20 hexies in the same manner.

10.  Play around with the hexies  until you are happy with the setting out of  2 flower shapes (the front and back of the bag)

11.  Take the centre hexie and one other.

12.  With right sides together, stitch along one edge. (I used a whip stitch)

13.  Take the next hexie (yellow) and join the edge to the centre hexie (aqua)

14.  Continue joining all of the hexies to the centre and then join along the adjoining sides to complete the ‘flower

15.  Repeat with the other ‘flower’

16.  Now from the other 6 hexies, choose two to go on the end of the flowers:

Here

and here

17.  Take the 4 and stitch the pairs together

and then join them to the ‘flowers’

Like this:

and this:

18.  Now join the two ‘flowers’

and the complete the ‘circle’ by joining here

19.  Now you get to make a choice – how do you want your bag to be finished?

With the handle coming from the centre? (from the yellow)  If so, you will add the other two hexagons as shown.

On the other hand, you may prefer your bag handles to come from the sides like this.  If so you will add the extra two hexagons as shown.

I am making my bag for a specific reason ie to hang on the arm rest in the motorhome to hold my knitting, (It really is time for that shopping bag to go), and so

I have decided to have my handle come from the centre of the bag. This will ensure that it hangs ‘flat’ and not protrude into the walkway.

One side

and the other

20.  To make your handle, you will cut a strip 3″” x  twice the length you want it to be plus 0.5″.  I measured mine and will make it 16″. This will also be a good length to hang over my arm when taking it outside to crafting sessions.

21.  Cut a piece of vilene 2.5″ x the length of your handle and iron it onto the wrong side

22.  With right sides together, sew around the edges leaving a space to turn it through. Clip corners.

23.  Turn to right side, roll seams between your fingers and thumbs and press.  Stitch around the edge 1/4″ from the edge and then some rows of stitching the length of the handle.

24.  Join handle to the bag. I’m using whip stitch again.  You could, of course, stitch it to the top hexie using your machine if you prefer.

Now to load it up with my knitting needle roll,  a pair of snips, a needle size gauge and a darning needle and my current project – all that I need, exactly where I need it!

Perfect!!  Start the engines PJ – Nanny is ready to hit the road.

Until next time

Nanny xx