Rasberry Ripple

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….with swirling vines of luscious berries in between irresistible rows of addictive hexagons this quilt cannot be resisted.

I have to thank Vickie Collier for being so inspired and naming her for me…

I really really enjoyed making this quilt – every aspect of it – the designing, the can’t put down hexies, the glue stick appliqué, the embroidery and even the quilting! Whilst it may look quite difficult its not really that hard…

I needed to design something to test a new product that has evolved over this year from many of your comments and requests and some fantastic chats and brainstorms whilst at market in May. It wasn't something I’d planned long term or even considered until many of my students asked for it and I could see, yes this would be great! I’d been using, teaching and talking up the product for several years so it made perfect sense.

So included in this new pattern are:

six sheets of our new Hugs ‘n Kisses appliqué paper – as used in my gluestick appliqué technique

– AND

enough precut hexies to make the quilt – now these hexies are not cut from card, or paper or acrylic or template plastic or any other product on the market. NO, they are cut from my appliqué paper…. so simple, why didn't I think of it earlier?

you just iron/fuse them to the back of your fabric, cut out roughly – you don't even need to be accurate – you can freehand cut them with your rotary cutter or just with scissors whilst watching the TV at night.

Then you just fold over the seam allowances and glue on the template with the mighty Sewline Glue pen… Then just sew together as you normally would but here’s the catch – you don't have to pull out those papers.. Just make up your project (in this case by appliquéing the hexie strips to the background). They stay lovely and stable whilst piecing and quilting and then you just wash the quilt – and its gone! yes it just dissolves into soft fibres which stay in the quilt and you wont even know it was there…

I’m no expert on hexies as much as I love stitching them but this was so simple and accurate…I’m sure you are going to love them. Of course if you like to reuse your papers then this isn't for you – stick with the papers or your own method.

So Rasberry Ripple will be sold as a Pattern Kit – it includes of course extensive instructions and diagrams on all the techniques and methods used, full sized design sheets, fabric and colour guides, quilting ideas, hanging sleeve and binding instructions, embroidery stitches AND

Appliqué paper for needleturn appliqué

Pre-cut Hexagons from appliqué paper

Enough to make one quilt..

I think you are going to love this… well I certainly hope you do

and if you follow me on Facebook you would have seen me playing with Papa hexies and baby hexies also – the next project in the works!!!

so anymore requests? ask and you just may receive :)

hugs for today

Helen

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