A student inquiry got me thinking about hexie flowers with rounded petals. She wanted to know how to draw such a flower in EQ7 and you can find that tutorial in my previous blog post. One question leads to another, and we were left wondering how to sew this pretty little flower!
If you drew the flower in EQ7, you can print the templates for the one inch-sided hexagon and curved petal. If not, you can use this diagram and size it accordingly.
You may be familiar with English paper piecing techniques, and you may also be aware that I now use light-weight fusible interfacing instead of paper since it does not need to be removed. I recommend either Apliquick interfacing or Wash-Away Applique Sheets.
The first step is to trace one hexagon and six petals onto the interfacing and cut them out. One inch-sided hexagons are available precut from fusible interfacing, as are two-inch clamshells. These two precut shapes could easily be combined to make the curved petal shape.
Iron the interfacing templates onto the wrong side of the fabric and cut out, leaving a quarter-inch seam allowance. Apply water-soluble glue to the seam allowance and turn under using Apliquick rods.
Once all the shapes have been prepared, they can be whip-stitched together by hand or zigzag-stitched together by machine. To sew them by machine, butt two straight edges together under the presser foot and stitch them so that the left zigzag catches one edge and the right zigzag catches the other.
For the second petal, sew two petal sides together then pivot to sew the petal base to the hexagon.
Continue adding petals in the same way. For the sixth petal, pivot two times to sew the final three edges together.
To add leaves, use two-inch precut interfacing orange peels or trace and cut your own from Apliquick interfacing. Prepare the leaves in the same way as the hexagon and petals. Make six. Insert the leaves under the flower and attach with the same zigzag stitch.
The hexie flower can now be appliquéd onto a background fabric with the same zigzag stitch or with a blind-hem stitch.
kkwylie says
Good questions! You can use either fine cotton thread in a matching color or invisible thread works too. I don’t usually back stitch because the zigzag stitches are tight enough and don’t tend to unravel.
Masa says
New to machine assembly so thesr questions: 1. What thread to use (weight… cotton… invisible)? 2. Back stitch at beginning and ending of the zigzag? Thanks!