I taught a workshop on Saturday for the Cornerstone Quilt Guild in Charlton, MA. Oooh Hexie Baby was the focus on sewing Baby blocks using Hex-a-ma-jig, Jr. or Mini, strip piecing and putting it all together with no “Y” seams. We had students using all three sizes of Hex-a-ma-jig. Plus they all had their own ideas of how big they wanted to finish their project. Very fun for me to see them take my tools and pattern and make it work for them!

Cutting and sewing strip pieced units. The solids we 2 1/2″ strips for use with Hex-a-ma-jig Jr. The second photo is the blocks being arranged! Her pins look like buttons on the fabric. <smile>

Cutting these 2 1/2″ baby blocks was easier using a rotating cutting mat! Borrowed fabric gave this student more practice (the pinks are not intended to go with the yellow/orange/purple)

Making MANY 2 1/2″ baby blocks are going to be made into a lap quilt. The gray background was a nice way to set off the solid fabrics.

Below are the projects made with Hex-a-ma-jig included solids with a beautiful green leaf background.

All stripes gave an added excitement and movement to these blocks/quilt!

The simplicity of these solids and modeled fabrics have a wonderful focus on the stacked baby blocks!

Another student’s solids using Hex are going to make a wonderful larger quilt of the 3D look of her baby blocks.

This student used browns/tans that has a variety of scrappy fabrics from her stash. A chair was a makeshift design surface before deciding on her final arrangement. She added strips of background instead of cutting half hexies and edge pieces. Less sewing but trimming will need to be done later.

And last but not least is this Hex-a-Mini batik. Those are tiny 2″ strips (It is arranged on a cutting mat, so you can see these tiny beauties!) It will be a table runner!

I missed getting a student’s Christmas/snow fabric baby blocks and another that started with yellows. I’m looking forward to seeing all these sewn into quilts!

Looking at what you have seen in the workshop photos we have many tips…. 1- strip piecing can be done to make baby blocks! 2 – All sizes of Hex-a-ma-jig can be useed to make baby blocks! 3 – A rotating mat is a helpful tool when cutting around a template. Turning the rotating mat saves walking around the end of a table to always cut away from your body! 4 – Several students added True Grips to the back of their tool to help the tool stay put on the fabric. 5 – One student decided “two tips” should mean two glasses of wine after sewing all day…HA! Love it.

in quilting,

Debbie