300th Post Giveaway and Hexagon Tutorial

On January 2, 2011 I decided to start blogging to make sure that I spent some time being creative. If you have been following along with this little blog of mine you may already know that the whole reason I started blogging/quilting again was to me find my creative self. Not even 2 years later I have found the time to post about my creative side 300 times. I am so happy that I choose to start a blog, because I really do think that I have accomplished so much more than I would have if I hadn't stared quilting. Just knowing that I am sharing my sometimes creative life with others has made all the difference and I am so happy that many of you have decided to follow along with me.

So to celebrate this momentous occasion (at least it is to me) I am hosting a giveaway. It took me along time to think of something to giveaway, but then it came to me.

A hexagon starter pack. 

This pack has some very fun things that can get you started on making some English Paper Pieced hexagons. If you are the lucky winner you will get one mini marmalade charm pack (Moda candy-2 1/2 inch squares), a pack of needles that work great for stitching the square around the hexagon and a pack of 100 1" hexagon squares.

Now because I think it important for everyone to feel like the get something for following along with my sometimes creative life I have put together a quick tutorial on how to make 1 inch hexagons using 2 1/2 inch squares. Before you start the tutorial please excuse the un-manicured nails, if you look close enough you can see that I may have hit my thumb just a few times with the needle. So for safety sake be careful when you push the needle through the fabric (unlike me).

When I first say the Moda candies I was super excited because I had already used a similar method to the one I am going to show you to make the hexagons. However, the method I used you took a charm pack and cut it into 4th to make the 2 1/2 inch squares, but with these mini packs that step is already done for you. It is important to note that you could cut any fabric into 2 1/2 inch squares and use this method.

To make your hexagon you start by centering one paper hexagon piece on to one 2 1/2 inch square.

Then fold the fabric along the side and the straight top. I always keep a straight side along the top when I start, it just helps you hold on to the hexagon and keep everything lined up.. Finger press as you fold the fabric. Take two stitches in the corner to secure your first corner. Be careful not to go through the paper, you can but then you have to cut the basting strings to get the paper out and sometimes that makes your hexagons messy.

Next turn your hexagon. Finger Press the fabric over the next side and take an single stitch catching both pieces of fabric on the corner.

Keep going until you make it all the way around. In the last corner, the one before the first one you started at, take a double stitch again to secure. I know in mine it kind of looks like I went back to the beginning, however, my nail just happens to be the holding down tail for the first double stitch.

Finally, cut your string and you will have one finished hexagon. Once you have a whole bunch stitched up, you can attach them by using a whip stitch into the pattern you want.

Now for the giveaway:

Enter by using the Rafflecopter widget below. I added a bonus entry for those of you who follow me, new or current followers. I also added a double bonus entry if you are following my through google friends connect, if I get over 300 on that counter I will host another giveaway :). Also if you tweet or if you share about this giveaway you will get another entry, of course you could do both and then you would get two entries.

I will announce and email the winner sometime on November 19, 2012 and the winner will have 72 hours to respond or I will have to pick someone else. Have fun and good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway