Four in a Row Block

Wow, we're onto block 5 of our #scrapbagsampler sew along, officially the half way point. I'm loving everyone's blocks on Instagram, such a variety of colours.  How are you finding it ?? 
This block is by our second Sue AKA Cotefleurie. I thoroughly enjoyed this block and it was part of my Saturday night crafting, sitting and gluing tiny hexagons and then hand appliquing them on. I did cheat and used my sizzix die cutter to cut the paper hexagons and then used the size bigger for my fabric hexi's, a mini 2.5" charm pack is perfect for this block.  A fab block and I probably do need to make more for my bag.

Here's today's tutorial, handing over to Sue :-

Dip your toes into fussy cutting and EPP with this hexagon block.

Materials:

7 x 3 inch background fabric
Assorted scraps for hexagons
Template plastic
Water based glue stick

Make a plastic template of the ¾ inch hexagon shape. Note that the template does not include seam allowances. Free hexagon templates are available to download from www.moxyideas.com or one is included here

Choose your fabric for the hexagons. If you wish to fussy cut your fabric, choose the motif or pattern you wish to highlight and place the template accordingly on the WS of the fabric. Draw round the template and then cut out the hexagon, being careful to add ¼ inch seam allowance all the way around.

Cut out 4 paper templates using the plastic hexagon template. No seam allowance needs to be added to these paper templates.

Glue baste the hexagons. Place the paper templates on the wrong side of the fabric hexagons making sure they are centred. Put a thin line of glue on one outside edge of the paper hexagon and fold the fabric seam over to glue in place. Continue around the hexagon shape until all the edges of the hexagon have been folded over and glued. Leave to dry. If preferred the hexagons can be thread basted.

Decide on the layout of your hexagons and join them into a row of four. I use flat back stitch as shown by Karen at www.thediyaddict.com but whipstitch can be used if preferred. Try not to sew through the papers as this will make it more difficult to remove them.

Press the row of hexagons. Using tweezers, gently pull back the glued seam allowances and remove the papers. Fold the seam allowances back in place and press again on the back and the front, checking that the hexagons have not been distorted.

Centre the row of hexagons on your background fabric and pin in place. Using thread to match the hexagons, hand appliqué in place using fell stitch/appliqué stitch: bring your needle up through the hexagon fabric very close to the folded edge, then back down into the background fabric right next to the folded edge, making a tiny stitch. Bring the needle up again through the hexagon fabric approx. ⅛ inch further along. Repeat until the hexagons are stitched in place, making sure that the points of the hexagons are secured and that any excess fabric from the seam allowances is tucked under before stitching in place.

If preferred the hexagons can be appliquéd in place by machine.

Press the finished block and trim to 6½ x 2½ inches.

Thanks Sue for a lovely calming block, aren't her colours truly magical, reminds me of summer and waves on a beach.  My block is a bit darker but has touches of silver sparkle on some of the fabrics.

Don't forget to share your block with us #scrapbagsampler and next week it's my turn so finger's crossed my tutorial is clear enough for everyone to follow along #scared