Tuesday, August 14, 2012

it's winterkist time!

winterkist coaster

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.

winterkist coaster

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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94 comments:

  1. So cute!! Love the green and blue :)

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  2. Paper piecing is one of my favourite techniques - I find that hand work with nice fabric is a very relaxing experience!

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  3. I Love this tutorial! Thank you. I just recently tried my first hexie project using templates, and now I'm excited to try the EPP version. Coasters are a great way to have a feeling of accomplishment, quickly.

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  4. You just might have encouraged me to try EPP. A small project like this is a great way to try something new!! Cute little coaster btw.

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  5. the photo with your cat is so sweet.
    what a great idea. and great tutorial.
    thanks for a chance to win some fabrics.

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  6. I'll be honest - the cute kitty photo is way distracting from the awesome project! I <3 orange kitties!

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  7. Great tutorial! I have never tried epp but this looks like an awesome project to start with. ksanderson@hotmail.ca

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  8. I've wanted to make some quilty Christmas coasters and like your tutorial. The Winterkist fabrics work up so cute in your project. Unfortunately I am receiving errors from Goggle docs that do not have the security to access the pdf...though my signon is correct (per Google). Any tips on how to download your coaster hex doc? Thanks for the tutorial and the giveaway.

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  9. EPP is just my favourite thing in the world right now. So far in the last few weeks I have made 2 large craft bags with hexagons, a couple of hexagon pincushions, 2 tiny dresden pincushions, a samll dresden quilt, and a dresden bag. Yes, I even do all my dresdens with EPP. This project looks just up my street. Thank you for the turorial.
    ks(dot)eyles(at)yahoo(dot)co(dot)uk

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  10. I love so much about this! The unique shape, the great colors, the hand stitching and your really clear instructions! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  11. Oh yes! An EPP pattern. SWEET! And I'd love to do it in Winterkist too.. YUMMY!

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  12. What a cool idea, I'd never get a quilt made with EPP but a coaster seems manageable. i have been EPPing this eve while watching a movie and slowly it is becoming a cushion top!

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  13. Brilliant! I love it! Also thank you very much for the tutorial, it was very kind of you! :)

    Jerra xx

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  14. Cute coasters! I love that big stitch quilting. Thanks for the tutorial and for the chance to win some Winterkist. :)

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  15. OH so cute...love them! I've actually need some coasters for my family room...hmmm. :) And you made my day by saying that you liked my placemats...you're the sweetest!

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  16. Thanks for the chance! Love your coasters.

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  17. This is sew cute - thanks for sharing.

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  18. great tute! also read your tute on the link, thank you for that. am doing my first epp project and like your basting better than the one i'm doing. isn't that winterfest great! love that green, blue, grey colorway.

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  19. Cool coasters, love the colours. Actually I love the colours in the whole line lol

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  20. Loooove the coasters, so pretty! I really like EPP so I might give these a shot! Very nice!

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  21. Very cute!! I love epp projects that are achievable, I know myself well enough to realise that as much as I really love them I would never ever finish one of those quilts with umpteen thousand tiny little hexagons :)

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  22. That is so cute! I've been looking for a new epp project. . .

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  23. What a fantastic tutorial! I love paper piecing but am lazy/easily distracted... and this project is just small enough that I could (probably!) get myself to actually finish it, LOL! Will definitely be bookmarking it for future reference. :) Thanks for the chance to win!

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  24. Thanks for sharing a great idea and tutorial - this is different from anything I've ever seen!!

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  25. Super cute! Love these fabrics with your coasters!

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  26. Love your mug rug, and the hand quilting is just perfect for it!! I love hexies, so this is going to go into my "gotta do" pile :-P thanks for the great idea!!

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  27. Wow, Love the project. I'm also in love with EPP at the moment, so I have to try your pattern. Thanks for the idea!

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  28. Love your piecing! I love Winterkist and want to make a quilt out of those little gnomes!

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  30. Really neat coasters -- and love them in these colors. Thanks

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  31. These are gorgeous. Thanks for sharing. I will definitely be adding these to my get these made (eventually) List.

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  32. I am really enjoying seeing all th different ways to use Winterkist. I love the coasters. I'll have to try my hand at hand piecing sometime.

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  33. I've just discovered EPP this summer and love it. Your coasters are a great idea! Thanks for the tute.

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  34. Very cool project. Thanks for sharing.

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  35. I haven't tried the paper piecing yet, but these look so cute....might have to give it a try!

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  36. What a great tutorial!!! Thx for sharing!!!!!

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  37. What a great project to use up some of my scraps! Thanks for sharing.

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  38. This is a great project to use up scraps, too. but it looks great in Winterkist!

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  39. So love the EPP! I may have to make some for Xmas presents!

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  40. These are incredibly cute, and an amazing idea to use a hexy EPP and cut it up to make the design.

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  41. What sweet coasters! I love this fabric.

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  42. Você é obcecada e eu viciada em...Que bela dupla formamos.Este nunca fiz,ficou lindo e pareceu mais fácil que as borboletas e flores da avó que faço,obrigada por jeito de fazer.tiacarminhapezzuto@gmail.com

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  43. This project is just the inspiration to get me started EPP. Soccer practice starts tomorrow...

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  44. Awww cute kitty! These would make excellent gifts. Thanks for sharing!

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  45. These would make a great gift. :) Very cool EEP too!

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  46. Haven't tried paperpiecing before, but I think I definitely think I should! Adorable kittens!

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  47. You make paper piecing look easy! I've been too scared to try it, and definitely not a hexagon. You said careful not to flip the little pieces...that's exactly what I'd do. :) My brain just works that way. I like to keep things rectangular so I have fewer chances to goof. Someday, though!
    Thanks for the tutorial. :)

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  48. Thanks for the tutorial on sewing together the hexies. I've made a bunch but have not sewn them together yet. This fabric looks good with this project, of course.

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  49. I am new at sewing so the hexies and the little pieces around them look daunting... Great job!
    andri_chama(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  50. Great photos! And, such a good tute!

    Deborah
    homemakerhoney @gmail .com

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  51. Great tutorial and such a cute kitty.

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  52. Gorgeous coasters, so cute! Great giveaway as well!

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  53. Paper piecing is my nemesis yet I'd try it again for these lovely Winterkist coasters! :)

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  54. I love Winterkist! The colors are so great! Can't wait for it to come out.

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  55. Your coasters look great! I think it's a bit too fiddly for me though! I don't have much coordination..

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  56. The coasters are so cute, yesterday I was loving the pink and orange, now you have me wanting the green and blue. Thanks.

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  57. Winterkist has the most fabulous colors - and what everyone has done with them is so inspiring!

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  58. EPP forever! And that's an interesting pattern.

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  59. Cute idea ! Love the hand quilting !

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  60. Cute coasters! this is sure a versatile line!

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  61. Gorgeous!
    Thanks for the pattern and the tutorial!

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  62. So cute. Love the blues and greens. Thanks!

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  63. Great tutorial, you make it look so easy :)

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  64. beautiful hand sewing! love this fabric

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  65. wow this is wonderful. thanks for such a great tutorial. your kitty is adorable.
    quilting dash lady at comcast dot net

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  66. I happen to have been wanting to make hexi coasters recently so now I can :)

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  67. Super cute idea! I really like the hand quilting. It adds a lot of texture to the finish. Thanks!

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  68. Cool! I loved EPP. Thanks for sharing!

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  69. Love them! I've been making hexi coasters out of charm packs for a while... but haven't tried piecing them that way...

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  70. Love these hexi coasters! I will be making some of these soon! Thanks for the giveaway too!

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  71. They're very cute coasters, and they're perfect summer sewing.

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  72. SO cute, Chelsea! I need a road trip project for a trip to Seattle, I think this is it!

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  73. Love hexagons! And your project is awesome!

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  74. So cute, thanks for the great idea and a really good tutorial.

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  75. I'm just doing my second paper piecing project now, this seems more complicated and I might have to try it next!

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  76. Looks so sweet and lovely. Great idea with the 1/4 hexies, too.

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  77. This project is really beautiful!!! Love the idea! I can't wait to get my hands on this fabric!

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  78. Well it is a lot of work for a coaster - but it sure is a pretty little gem! Love the tutorial, thank you!

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  79. Cute coaster. Thanks for the tutorial!

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  80. Love your coasters! I am hexy-obsessed at the moment, so this is right up my alley. Thanks for sharing!

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  81. the quilting finishes them off nicely.

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  82. Love the coasters! Thanks for the tutorial!

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  83. Thanks. Have started my project and was wandering about the half hexies.

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  84. I cannot find the pattern to download, how am I missing it? I loved your pattern and tutorial, thanks for sharing.
    Vicki

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    1. Found it, feeling kinda dumb right about now. LOL
      Thanks again,
      Vicki

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