Nannycraft4u

Make your handmade dreams a reality - Just ask Nanny!

Home » SEWING/QUILTING

Make a Hexagon Storage Pouch

by 4 Comments

Do you wonder how to store your hexagon templates?  Let me show you how to make a hexagon storage pouch. This is a simple, hand stitched project but it could be stitched on machine if you so desired.

Hexagon storage pouch
Hexagon storage pouch

Nanny note:  I made this to fit my hexagon template set of 8 templates ranging from 1.5″ to 5″ (width) or  3/4″ to 2.5″ (side measurement)

What you need:

Pattern – you can get it here  Templates for my Hexagon Storage Pouch

Fabric scraps – I used 5′ charm squares for the triangles but you will see by the size of the pattern pieces that you can use much smaller scraps

7″ x 7.5″ rectangle for larger hexagon

6″ x 5.5″ rectangle for smaller hexagon

Medium weight fusible wadding – I used Vilene H640

What you do:

  1. Print off pattern
  2. Cut 1 of each of the large and small hexagon shapes from your fabric rectangles
  3. Using the small triangle shape and scrap fabrics, cut 6.  I used 5″charm squares and cut them all at the same time with a rotary cutter.

I was able to cut both size triangles from one charm. (and made more scraps 😉    )

4.  Press medium weight fusible wadding onto the back of each small triangle.

5.  Decide how you want to mix the large and small triangles

6.  Baste them, wrong side together, with a large stitch and trim each corner off to 1/2″

7.  Fold the edge of the large triangle into the edge of the small triangle and then fold over again

8.  Stitch along the edges taking care at the corners.

9.  Do the same thing with your hexagon shapes – you can check the method here

10.  Place the triangles to form a hexagon and stitch 4 together and the other 2 together – I used a ladder stitch.

11.  Stitch them to the hexagon shape to form the pouch and add a little ribbon to tie closed.

12.  Add your hexagon templates and relax, knowing that they will be protected and easy to find.

I hope you will enjoy making my Hexagon storage pouch.  I would love to see it so please tell me and share a photo.

Until next time

Nanny xx

 

 

 

Make a Chevron Quilt Block from Charm Squares.

by 3 Comments

Today we are going to use our Charm Squares to make a Chevron Quilt Block.  This is a very popular design and you will see, that it  too, is easily made from charm squares and the 9 patch layout.

WHAT YOU NEED:

DARK: 5 x 5″ squares

LIGHT:  5 x 5″ squares

 

LET’S SEW!

  1.   Pair the DARK and LIGHT squares and make into HST’s

NANNY TIP:  use chain piecing

2.  Cut the HST’s

3.   Press

4.  Put one square aside and then trim the other 9 squares to 4.5″

5.  Organise your squares:

6.  Sew your 9 Patch

NANNY TIP: To match your seams and to get nice points, you will need to nest your seams AND sew just to the raw edge side of the seam line.  Take a look at the photo:  The needle  is pointing to the point where the HST seam met the seam joining it to another pair.  I am sewing toward that point but will sew just to the right of that point – about a needle width.  This will mean that when I press the seam, I will retain the nice points!

Before:

After:

 

7.  Press and admire your Chevron Block!

That leaves us five more blocks to go!

Until next time

Nanny xx

 

Make a Churn Dash Block from Charm Squares

by 1 Comment

Today we are going to make a Churn Dash block from our charm squares.  The Churn Dash is a popular block and you will see many variations of it.

WHAT YOU NEED:

DARK: 4 x 5″ squares

LIGHT:  5 x 5″ squares

LET”S SEW:

1.  Trim 1 x Light  to 4.5″ square

2.  Take 2 light and 2 dark squares :

  •   Take the light squares and fold in half and finger press or draw a line down the centre.
  •   Place the light square and a dark square, right sides together and sew a scant 1/4″ either side of the centre line. (better too scant than not enough)
  •   Cut along the line between the two rows of stitching.

NANNY TIP:  If you are using a Directional fabric, you will need to join one pair of squares in one direction and the other pair in the other direction

3.  Take 2 x light and 2 Dark squares and make HSTs (Half Square Triangles)

NANNY TIP:  If using a directional fabric, fold the squares along the diagonal to check that you have the right direction before you mark and sew

  • diagonal line
  • scant 1/4″ either side of line
  • cut between the lines

4.  Trim all squares to 4.5″

5.  Organise your squares:

6.  Sew your 9 patch and press.

 

That completes our Churn Dash – Block number 8 of our 9 Patch Sampler.  We are now half way through and I am loving seeing your finished blocks so thanks for sharing!

Until next time

Nanny xx

Make a Friendship Star from Charm Squares

by 1 Comment

Today we are going to use the same combination of squares and HSTs as we did for the Shoo Fly block, to make a Friendship Star from charm squares.

WHAT YOU NEED:

Dark:  3 x 5″ squares

Light:  6 x 5″ squares

LET’S SEW:

  1. Trim 1 Dark and 4 Lights to 4.5″ squares

2.  Take the remaining 2 Dark and 2 Light and make HSTs

  • diagonal line
  • scant 1/4″ either side of line
  • cut between the lines
  • trim and press OR press and trim

3.  Organise your squares

 

4.  Sew and press your 9 patch  Friendship Star.

You are a STAR,  friend!

Let’s take a look at our blocks so far:

(I had to use 2 Friendship Stars to fill the space!)

 

Next week we will move on to more combinations of squares, strips and HSTs.  I hope you are enjoying the blocks.

Until next time

Nanny xx

Make a Shoo Fly Block from Charm Squares

by 2 Comments

Today we are going to make a Shoo Fly Block from charm squares.  Shoo Fly is a common block used in quilting.

WHAT YOU NEED:

Dark:  3 x 5″ squares

Light:  6 x 5″ squares

Nanny Note:  You will notice that I have used a directional fabric here, but because it is a busy print, I wasn’t concerned that it would spoil the effect of the block.  

LET’S SEW:

  1.   Trim 4 Light and 1 Dark  to 4.5″ squares
  2.   Take the remaining 2 Dark and 2 Light and make Half Square Triangles
  • diagonal line
  • scant 1/4″ either side of line
  • cut between the lines
  • trim and press OR press and trim

3.  Press toward the Dark

4.  Organise your squares

Nanny Note: I could have turned the 4.5″ squares to make it all directional but did it this way to demonstrate the difference.  If it offends you aesthetically, make sure you have them all facing the same direction!

5.  Sew and press your 9 Patch

Shoo Fly

Now, as that was so easy, I am going to post another block  this week using the same recipe!

Until next time

Nanny xx

 

© Nannycraft4u

All content and images belong to Nannycraft4u unless otherwise indicated. You are welcome to link back to my blog, but you may not copy whole posts, tutorials or photos without my permission. Please give credit for my work and link back to the original post at Nannycraft4u.com If you use one of my ideas, I would love to know about it. Designs and tutorials are for personal use only.