craftybear

video to watch how to cut your templates from food boxes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vB2krboL-FU

craftybear

this is the link to show you a tutorial on grandmothers flower garden with those plastic templates

http://www.hesowsshesews.com/2009/10...-tutorial.html

granniebj

Wow Thanks ladies! I'm gonna check out all the sites and then just go for it! Loved the advice! I made a plastic template of the whole hexagon...used that to draw on freezer paper and then use the freezer paper to cut out the material. A lady told me that that way all hers came out the same size....so I wanted to check out other ways too! I bought card stock for the middle of the hexagon, but not sure if I'll be happy with that...so anyway....Thanks for all the advice!
~Bj~

sbeddingfield

cut and paste this to see hexagons already cut - I have bought from this lady and she is very good. I used her already-cut-out hexagon paper for my avitar table runner.
Good luck,

http://cgi.ebay.com/500-Die-Cut-Hexa...item20b08cccf0

Holice

depends on whether you are doing English Paper Piecing or the old fashioned way the grandmothers did - cut the hexagons, mark the sewing lines and hand stitch. Paper templates is not the only way.

ann clare

I use the wrapping paper of photocopier paper ie A4 size x 500 sheets. You can iron on the shiny side and reuse it many times. Tip. Do not use the glue part as it will stick to your iron.

humbird

If you ask 30 different people for advise, you will get 30 different answers, and they would all be correct. I will tell you how I do it. I am working on my 2nd GFG as we speak. I do english paper piecing, 1 inch hex's. I print them from a site on the internet. I cut them out myself. I'm sure the precut would be wonderful, but I'm cheap! I use scrap paper from junk mail a lot. That seems to be pretty good paper. Print on the back sides. I guess in the "olden" days, they even used letters, newspapers, catalog pages etc. I would be afraid of newsprint. I believe I have cut probably at least 5000 hex's in the past couple years!!! (maybe more. I didn't count!) The papers need to be accurate. I don't worry to much about the fabric being cut that accurately. I cut 2 1-2 inch strips then into squares. Pin the papers to the fab. and clip the corners. I fold the allowence over and catch at the corners, and also take one stitch on each stright side. Seems to stableize the fab. Whip stitch the hex's together. I remove the papers after I have completely sorounded the middle hex. I use the papers over when I can. Sometimes they will tear a bit when removes, so don't use them of course. I believe there is a site that gives very good instructions. sunshinecreations.com or something like that. I'll see if I can find it and post. Good luck with your GFG. Be warned, it is addicting!!! Have fun. http://sunshinescreations.vintagethr...r-piecing.html This is the right sight. I do mine just like hers, only add the one stitch on each stright side. That is easly removed by cliping the stitch from the front. I leave all the threads.

lots2do

I bought a heavy duty lucite template with a little pattern, traced my sewing lines, cut out with 1/4 allowance and sewed them together that way.
I guess that might be the old fashioned way...:)

justwannaquilt

I guess I will add my own two cents. lol

I print all my (3/4inch) hexagons on 24lb "heavy weight" printer paper. It is a little thicker than normal printing paper but not as thick as card stock. I then cut them out with an X-acto knife. Then I punch a hole in the center and use an Elmers glue stick to glue it to the center of a 2" square of fabric, for some reason I can't use pins to hold the paper in place while I am basting them. I make a BUNCH of these up at one time stick them in a zip lock bag with a pair of snipps, thread and needles. Then I am ready to go and its fast to grab as I am heading out the door or whatever!

I put the hole in the center so it is easier to pull the paper out once you are done sewing everything together. All you have to do is stick a toothpick in the whole and flip it out of there!

Good luck with whatever way you decide to do it.

aussiequilter

I have also just started a Grandmother's Garden Quilt. I am using 1" hexagons. Couldn't get the templates, but I do have EQ5 so I printed my own, and will continue to do that.

I also printed the hexagon with the seam allowance (I used a touch more than a quarter inch), and made a master template using plastic so I could fussy cut easily.
When I cut I run the pencil around the inside of the template as well, which gives me the position of the hexagon when I place it on the fabric.

I used index dividers, which will go through my printer; then marked the middle of the each hexagon and punched a hole in the middle of each hex.

My concern also was that the hexagons would get rough round the edges and become inaccurate if I re-used them. I have so far made six "flowers". Some of the hexs have been used at least twice with no problem so far. When they start to get a bit tatty I will simply get rid of them and print some more.

I also have left the outside ring (the background in my case) in, so I lose 19 with each flower.

So far so good. Hope this helps.