Friday Night Sew In Report and some thank-yous

I love Friday Night Sew In (hosted by Heidi and Bobbi).  It happens just often enough to make me feel like I actually make some progress on my projects and not so often that I end up having to miss it all the time.  I don’t work on Fridays, so it usually works well for me to sew at some point during the day.  This is what I worked on last night.

Firstly, I put together this backing

for this quilt,

which my friend Linda P. and I are making for friends who are getting married.  These are SO not my colours but I really like the quilt.  This is the Bow Tie pattern but when made in this style it is called True Lover’s Knot. 

I received two little packages with big gifts in them this week.  I received my “welcome” hexie from Jane for the Inchy Hexagon Swap.  I’ve been in this swap since the beginning but it’s nice to get a welcome no matter when it comes.  She also sent me another package of hexie papers from Joanne who sells them at her store.  She contributed a sample pack for everyone in the swap.  So generous.

And then I also won a package of hexie papers from Joanne – she is having some giveaways to celebrate her new blog. 

So I am set for a while for hexie papers, although I use them up quickly   Thank you to Joanne and Jane for the lovely gifts!

At the end of the evening I started working on thank-you hexies…

When I make the hexies I put a lot of preparation work into them.  First is picking the fabric, then cutting the pieces from the fabric.  Then cutting out the papers (when I don’t have some precut on hand).  Then I iron the fabric around the fabric.  I know most people don’t do this step but I find it just makes it easier to baste them and have the edges turn out sharp.  I do back basting, just catching the corners with a couple of stitches.  Some people baste right through the fabric and papers but then the stitching needs to be removed later.  With back basting that isn’t necessary.  Then after a last iron the hexies are ready to sew together into flowers.

I am off today to meet with Linda P. and get that quilt ready for quilting.  The wedding is in two weeks.  Eek!

Janet