Customer Review
So I have had the opportunity to review this awesome book called 'Happy Hexies' published by Search Press. I am a self-confessed English Paper Piecing addict and I have a LOT of hexie flowers to my name so this book was PERFECT! There are 12 projects in the book (including a purse, table topper, a placemat, a coaster, pillows, a mini tote, a mini quilt) and it really re-imagines new ways to use the hexagons. The photos are fabulous (and have totally made me swoon!) and the instructions are easy to follow whilst also opening your eyes to new ideas. This book is accessible to all no matter where you are on your EPP journey! There is one project in particular which has me running to my fabric stash to start making ASAP and I love it when a book does that!
What Saysie Makes
I think you know me well enough by now to know that I love hexies! So when my mum kindly gave me a copy of the new book Happy Hexies by Boutique Sha I knew it wouldnt be long before I made something from it!
To get back some time and feel like Ive achieved something I picked one of the smaller projects and went with the hexie coaster.
This project really suited my needs, not only did it come together quickly but its also completely hand sewn, so its perfect to sit and do of an evening while watching TV with the husband. There are elements that you could do on the machine if you wished, like the quilting and the binding, but I do love the charm of hand quilting and strangely I really enjoy hand sewing binding, although mitered corners and me are not the best of friends! I will say if you need to practice your corners this is definitely the project for you! I did unpick the binding and redo it as I was not completely happy but now its finished I am pleased with it, and will make some more! It would make a nice little gift for someone, especially as the pattern comes with a matching place mat.
Full review and images: https://saysie.wordpress.com/2017/07/03/happy-hexies-floral-coaster/
Popular Patchwork
I guess hexies are rather happy in the same way that circles are jolly and squares are a little, well, stern. But lets stay in our happy place and focus on this six-sided treasure ably explained by Boutique-Sha. The book focuses on sewing hexies by hand and outlines two main methods: English paper piecing and hand piecing. To get you started there are useful beginner instructions on how to make templates and cut your hexies out of fabric, and then step-by-step instructions on each piecing method. There are also useful finishing tips and a couple of pages dedicated to binding. The 12 projects that follow are all small-scale and include a tea cosy, table runner and placemats, but I guess the idea is that working through them allows you to incorporate new techniques; fussy cutting being one. More complex designs include the Free Spirit Hexie Purse and Pouch where youll need to create a lining and handle for
the bag and be comfortable sewing in zippers for the pouch. If quilts are what
youre after, this might not be the book for you as theres only one featured in
the form of the Flower Patch Mini Quilt. Its very pretty though and an excellent
gift idea for a baby shower. If youve never experimented with hexies before,
this book could be a very useful introduction. Its short and sweet at 80
pages and will give you all the basics.
Postcard Reviews
Hexies are taking the world by storm!
Driven by the popularity of English paper piecing, hexagons are fast becoming the go-to motif for quilters and patchworkers of all ages and abilities.
In this inspiring and informative book, you will learn how to construct these cheerful little fabric shapes using the full-size templates provided, and then use them to create unique patchwork projects. Step-by-step colour photographs illustrate various techniques, including English paper piecing, hand-pieced inset seams and special hexagon-specific quilting methods. Once these have been mastered, you can try your hand at the collection of 12 adorable patchwork projects, including a floral-inspired mini quilt, retro tea cosy and zippered pencil case.
These hexie-based paper piecing projects work up quickly and easily, making them ideal hand-sewing projects for weekend crafting and quilting on the go.
I absolutely adore hexies..
So I was rather pleased when I given the opportunity to review Happy Hexies and make the simple but beautiful projects.
Each project has a menu that tells you what you need, sizes and include tips and methods. There is even a section on what tools you need and a definition of two methods that you can try. It is quite educational, and even if you have been sewing for a while, it is a fabulous reminder of what English Paper Piecing is all about.
The instructions are easy to follow and they all come with picture illustrations so you really cant go wrong.
The projects are suitable for a novice sewist, and a more advance person. I think they can even be perfect for children to try.
From bags to purses and coasters to quilts, each project can be completed in just a few hours or over the weekend.
Sewing little hexies together is very addictive.. so be warned.
5*/5
Full review: https://tracyshephard.wordpress.com/2017/05/20/happy-hexies-boutique-sha/
Customer Review
This is a great book .it is so easy to understand and the instructions are so clear and precise and the items to make are lovely would recommend this book to beginners
Customer Review
This useful addition to any sewer's library gives instructions to 2 different ways of making hexies- English paper piecing and - new to me - hand piecing, which is apparently very popular in Japan so the instructions are a little more detailed than for EPP (this is a very good translation of a popular Japanese book). There a plenty of photos and coloured line drawings showing not only how to make the hexies themselves, but also how to quilt and bind the finished items. Full size templates are included, but beware, these do not include seam allowances - these need to be added on.
There are 12 projects to choose from, from simple mats and table toppers to a tea cosy and the more complex bag on the book. The mini quilt is delightful and given me an idea for using up some of the several hundred hexies I have already made.
Customer Review
After two years of hand piecing a quilt there are two ways to go 1) I never want to see another hexie again! or 2) What can I make now? Luckily I fall in the second camp & so when I saw this book advertised I thought it looked just the thing. It is an English version of a Japanese title but very well translated. It relies heavily on annotated diagrams, which seems to be the way Japanese craft books are written. It has very brief instructions on how to piece the hexagons so it may not be the best book for a complete beginner ( I used Quilting on the Go! by Jessica Alexandrakis when I was making my quilt)
There is a good selection of projects including bags & purses, mats, cushions & a mini quilt. All have full size templates included, although you do have to add seam allowances to them. At £9.99 for a dozen projects it is very good value & the projects are photographed made up in some lovely fabrics which really make you want to stitch them up. The question now isn't what can I make but what shall I make first?
Customer Review
12 patterns to have a go at. There are two ways to do hexes, one I know by Paper Piecing and the other is Hand Piecing, which is popular wth the Japanese it seems.This technique looks great to be able to take out with you on those long journeys when a sewing machine is not at your disposal.
Good clear instructions with pictures on binding a quilt, as well as finishing techniques. Many templates included to help with the patterns which features table mats, mini quilts, tea cozy and others.
A great book to your craft library.
Customer Review
Great book, full of lovely ideas to use up your scraps
Customer Review
I love hand sewing and particularly hexagon patterns as they are so easy to sew on the move on long train/plane journeys. Although experienced in English paper piecing I found the instructions on the Japanese method of sewing hexagons really interesting and will definitely try this in the future. Very good diagrams and some interesting patterns to add to my ever increasing list of projects - the Tea for Two cozy is a definite must-do as well as the Confetti coasters. The comprehensive tools list was also of interest - never heard of ring thimbles before so will have to investigate these further. Particularly suitable for intermediate knowledge of paper piecing.
