What am I missing (or am I really that dumb)?
04-07-2011, 04:40 AM
#42
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Cheshire, Massachusetts
Posts: 838
When you sew a half hexagon together you end up with a piece that has two parallel edges and two edges at an angle. If you lay one of them down with the longest edge facing you, you can think of it as an "M" shape. If you turn it half way around you can think of it as a "W" shape.
You sew a row of alternating M's and W's into a long strip.
Lay it out so you can place the matching half hexagons in the right order next to it, so now it looks like a strip of full hexagons.
M W M W M W
W M W M W M
Pin and sew the second strip of half hexagons alternating W's and M's as you did the first strip.
You'll now have two long strips with long parallel edges that you can join together along the long edge, and hopefully your hexagon halves will be aligned in the right order so you end up with a full row of hexagons.
You sew a row of alternating M's and W's into a long strip.
Lay it out so you can place the matching half hexagons in the right order next to it, so now it looks like a strip of full hexagons.
M W M W M W
W M W M W M
Pin and sew the second strip of half hexagons alternating W's and M's as you did the first strip.
You'll now have two long strips with long parallel edges that you can join together along the long edge, and hopefully your hexagon halves will be aligned in the right order so you end up with a full row of hexagons.
04-07-2011, 05:41 AM
#43
Super Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 6,764
Originally Posted by amma
You sew half hexagons, 3 pieces together. Lay them out as a whole block on a design wall, bed, floor, etc...
Sew 2 more halves together and place them next to the first one. You need to place the second one upside down to get the sides to match up.
Keep going until all of the blocks are sewn and switch the blocks around til you are happy with how they look.
Once you are happy with the layout, then you will sew the halves into strips vertically, and then all of the strips together :D:D:D
Sew 2 more halves together and place them next to the first one. You need to place the second one upside down to get the sides to match up.
Keep going until all of the blocks are sewn and switch the blocks around til you are happy with how they look.
Once you are happy with the layout, then you will sew the halves into strips vertically, and then all of the strips together :D:D:D
I am so glad the question was asked!! ANd thanks for this explanation. I finally GET it.!!
04-07-2011, 06:20 AM
#44
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 2,774
Thanks, Kathy, that I can visualize. Up until your post, I was having a hard time. Can I remember that when I make my first one? Probably not, so I will be back looking all thru the posts again. ♥
04-07-2011, 06:54 AM
#46
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 119
OK, so I don't have the book. I have looked and read every thing posted about OBWs. I can't even look at fabric and see the "repeats" or whatever to make the hex design. Suzi, I don't have a dog kennel - mine is go to the garden - but I've already been out there this morning, so am going to go try the 3-D pinwheels. My brain doesn't comprehend complications. And OBW is definitely complicated.
04-07-2011, 07:06 AM
#47
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 1,150
Suzi, I've had my hexagons on my design wall for MONTHS--too scared to start and thinking I'll figure it out the more I look at it. I think I've got it but I've decided to ask one of my quilt guild friends to come over and just walk me through it. She's wonderful that way and I don't want to have to rip anything out. I think it's one of the more difficult concepts to grasp (and I graduated with honors as well). A lot of good that does us when putting together a OBW! I have a quilt retreat in a few weeks and my intent is to have it together by then for "show and tell".
04-07-2011, 07:13 AM
#48
Super Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Pleasant Hill MO
Posts: 1,669
Love this fabric, but you need to only sew half the hex together first. Can you purchase a book or borrow one from a friend? Better plan on some frog stitches. Can I ask where you got the fabric and would you put up a pic of the original fabric. It is drop dead gorgeous
04-07-2011, 07:30 AM
#50
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Texas
Posts: 607
Just sew the two halves and pin them together in the middle. Then arrange on the design board and when you have the blocks the way you want. sew the two parts together on the angle starting at the top where it will be small and then coming on down. It just doesn't work if you sew the whole block together at first.
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