it's winterkist time!

So, how have you been liking the Winterkist Blog Hop so far?  Out of the projects to date I know I'll be making Bianca's placemats.  It sure helps that she made them out of my favourite ever colour scheme!

Since I love hand piecing in the summer I decided to make English paper pieced coasters using a great hexie block that I've been in love with lately.  Yes, I'm a little obsessed with English paper piecing!  Soon it'll be cold again and I'll be huddling next to my sewing machine for warmth, for now though it's all about the handwork.

This is a great pattern for using up scraps.  The biggest pieces you'll need are for the backs of the coasters, roughly a 5" square.



Start off by printing out the pattern.  If you prefer doing your EPP with a thicker paper, iron some freezer paper to the back of your pattern before cutting it out, if you're new to EPP this will really help.  Also if you're new to EPP, there's a great tutorial here.

Cut the pattern out just along the outside line first.  Cut a piece of scrap batting the same size as the pattern piece.  Cut out a piece of backing fabric, eyeballing ¼" seam allowances.

don't use your good fabric scissors to cut paper like I did!

Now cut out the individual pieces for the block.  I like to rearrange mine back into the block format when I'm done to keep everything straight, and to mark the little ¼ hexies so I know which ones will be which fabrics.  In my case the X pieces were a blue print and the blank pieces a white and blue print.  Make sure you don't flip those ¼ hexies!

Baste your fabric to the paper pieces.  With small pieces like this I like to use a little dab of glue stick rather than a pin to hold the paper to the fabric while I'm basting.  Baste the batting piece to the background fabric.

It's time to start sewing!  EPP isn't the fastest but it's great fun to do while enjoying other activities.  So bring it along to the kids' soccer game, stitch while chatting with friends, or get yourself into the holiday spirit while enjoying your favorite christmas special.  My suggestion is the True Blood holiday special (nsfw)!

Start by sewing the ¼ hexies together along their center seam, then sew all the side pieces to the central hexie.

Finally sew together the seams connecting the ½ hexies.  All your seams should be sewn using a whipstitch as shown.

Ta da!  A finished block!

Now we need to sew the backing to the front.  Place them right sides together and whipstitch, folding the backing over the batting as you go.  Leave one side unstitched for turning. Polishing your nails between sewing the front block and attaching the back is entirely optional.

Now flip that bad boy over ... um, the block, that is... clip your basting stitches and take out the papers.

Turn the coaster right side out and stitch the opening closed.

Remove all the stray basting stiches and add some quilting.  Done!

Don't forget to comment for you chance to win a fat quarter bundle of your choice from Fat Quarter Shop!  I'll also do a drawing Friday night and someone will win enough Winterkist in the blue/green/black colourway to complete their own 4 piece set of coasters.  And check out the remaining stops on the hop:


Aug 15  Rebecca at Sew Festive Handmade
Aug 16  Diane at from blank pages
Aug 17  Allegory at {sew} Allegorical

Aug 20  Kim at My Go-Go Life
Aug 21 Di at Random Thoughts...do or "di"
Aug 22 Jennifer at Ellison Lane Quilts
Aug 23 Jenelle at Echinops & Aster
Aug 24  Katie at There & Back

xox,
c

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