Thursday, March 28, 2019

A Stretched Hexies Quilt ~ English Paper Pieced

A Stretched Hexies Quilt - English Paper Piecing | © Red Pepper Quilts 2019

I did not intend to take such a long break from blogging and sharing my sewing adventures! But I have enjoyed taking the "work" out of what has been my normal for the last 10 years; instead simply enjoying the making, and enjoying every decision that comes with that, from leisurely choosing fabric, to design, and every single (slow) stitch. No deadlines, no pressure to document. 

A Stretched Hexies Quilt - English Paper Piecing | © Red Pepper Quilts 2019
A Stretched Hexies Quilt - English Paper Piecing | © Red Pepper Quilts 2019
A Stretched Hexies Quilt - English Paper Piecing | © Red Pepper Quilts 2019

And I have been sewing! I have been working on this Stretched Hexies Quilt top for the last few weeks. This quilt top has been English Paper pieced (EPP). I continue to enjoy this slow sewing process, and have spent many a long and warm Summer days quietly stitching. I really like this traditional coffin shape, but it was pointed out to me that calling this quilt my Coffin Quilt was a little morbid, and as such Stretched Hexies Quilt it is.

A Stretched Hexies Quilt - English Paper Piecing | © Red Pepper Quilts 2019

The fabrics chosen for this project were predominantly from my "low volume" fabric stash, with a splash of more vibrant color here and there. A low volume fabric to me is a print/design on a white/light background and as you can see my version of low volume is in fact quite colorful (and busy!). All fabrics are printed quilting cottons and range in design from simple basics (dots, stripes, gingham) to floral and text fabrics, and larger scale graphic designs.

A Stretched Hexies Quilt - English Paper Piecing | © Red Pepper Quilts 2019
A Stretched Hexies Quilt - English Paper Piecing | © Red Pepper Quilts 2019
A Stretched Hexies Quilt - English Paper Piecing | © Red Pepper Quilts 2019

Most fabrics have been repeated four times, some have been repeated more often to create a somewhat cohesive look. Many of the fabrics have been fussy cut to feature a fabric design element. All fabrics were cut by using a rotary cutter and a coffin shape acrylic template (with 3/8" seam allowance).

A Stretched Hexies Quilt - English Paper Piecing | © Red Pepper Quilts 2019
A Stretched Hexies Quilt - English Paper Piecing | © Red Pepper Quilts 2019

QUILT DETAILS
Stetched Hexies Quilt
Quilt top measures approximately 50 inches x 60 inches.
English Paper Pieced.
710 Stretched Hexagons (Coffin Shapes)
Stretched Hexagon measurements:
Short Sides: 1 inch.
Long Sides: 1½ inches.
Started: February 2019.

Fabrics Used:
Quilting Cotton

A Stretched Hexies Quilt - English Paper Piecing | © Red Pepper Quilts 2019

TOOLS AND NOTIONS
710 Coffin Shape Paper pieces.
Coffin Shape Acrylic Template with 3/8" seam allowance.
Water Soluble Basting Glue - Sewline.
Straw Needles - Size 11.
The Bottom Line 60wt thread by Superior Threads
in cream (655).

Stretched Hexies (Coffin Shape) Block for English Paper Piecing

I found that the easiest way to sew these shapes together and manage the progress of the quilt top was to piece the coffin shapes together into blocks as pictured above. I pieced 35 such blocks with fabrics chosen at random. Once the blocks were all completed I arranged and re-arranged them until I was happy with the overall layout, and then I pieced the blocks together: first in long vertical rows, and then I joined the long vertical rows together to complete the finished quilt top. Papers were removed as the quilt top progressed.

A Stretched Hexies Quilt - English Paper Piecing | © Red Pepper Quilts 2019

I now have two finished EPP quilt tops that need quilting (here is the other quilt top) and I have firm plans to finish both within the next few weeks. Let's hope I can commit to doing so without further distraction.

As always, thank you for stopping by!
Rita

A Stretched Hexies Quilt - English Paper Piecing | © Red Pepper Quilts 2019

RELEVANT LINKS:
More RPQ English Paper Piecing Projects:
B is for Blues - A Hexagon Quilt (December 2018)
A Scrappy Grandmother's Flower Garden Quilt (September 2018)
Liberty of London Hexagon Quilt (September 2018)
Liberty Stars Quilt (January 2018)

More RPQ Low Volume Quilts:
Modern Half Square Triangle Quilt and Quilt Pattern (May 2016)
One Patch Quilt :: Diamonds (July 2018)
Bright Hopes Quilt (November 2017)
A Low Volume Herringbone Quilt (November 2017)

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COPYRIGHT: Do not copy or use any content or photos from my blog without my written permission. This is original content from www.redpepperquilts.com.

19 comments:

  1. Smashing as usual. Nice to read that your are sewing for enjoyment without deadlines!

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  2. c'est absolument magnifique, et vos tissus à faible volume sont de petits trésors!
    bravo aussi pour cette rapidité de couture!

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  3. Fabulous. I love the fussy cutting that I can see, it works really well with the wording. I really enjoy making my EPP but then loathe the quilting part but can't afford to get someone else to do it. It will be lovely to se it finished and how you have quilted it. x

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  4. I'm not into EPP but love yours... The coffin quilt is a great name. very pretty fussy cutting I like it as a I spy quilt

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  5. Stretched Hexies is a stunning quilt! It was worth waiting for!

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  6. Rita, I have missed your posts! Your quilts are such a breath of fresh air! Love, love your work and your palette.

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  7. Love the quilt, and very happy to see a post from you!

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  8. Happy you're alive and quilting!

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  9. Love this quilt, I am not finding the sames coffin shape on Imprezzio, did you special order? Thanks for all your fun quilts, I so enjoy your posts

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  10. yIPPIE Rita, So glad you are updating your blog. I did search you out on instagram.
    No this is not a "coffin" shape. this is a stretched Hexie. A coffin shape is a completely different shape and only appropriate for Halloween fabric hahahaha
    Happy Fall to you.

    We are having nice temperate Spring days, and It is good to get out for fresh air without freezing our butts off.

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  11. How wonderful to see you and to enjoy your wonderous coffin quilt!
    - Jean ❤

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  12. Spring is on the way here (at least they tell us that) and this looks so spring like although I know you're headed into fall.
    Thanks for the tip on assembling the pieces. When it comes to EPP, usually everyone describes creating the shape. but for me finding a way to sew them together with the paper inside is much trickier.

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  13. So happy to see you posting! Love this quilt, your color choices are always amazing. You are truly an inspiration and thanks so much for sharing!

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  14. Maybe it's the time of year but those pastel shapes remind me of a field of Easter eggs. Beautiful quilt.

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  15. I was very happy to see your post! The quilt is tremendous, as always. You have such a way with color. Thanks for all your tips and inspiration!

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  16. Such a gorgeous quilt top, Rita. And I can relate to what you wrote - it's really lovely to take some time out and then actively choose to come back to writing a blog - it made me realise I do really enjoy that process, but sometimes I just need to stand back and assess which bits feel like duty and which bits are what I actually want to be doing.

    Either way, it felt like an old friend had reappeared to find your blog popping up in my feed :)

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  17. Beautifully done, and a real inspiration to try a new EPP shape. You have quite the collection of LVfabrics, and it's fun to see them in a quilt like this. Thank you for a lovely post.

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