How to Make your own Hexagons for EPP and save $$$$
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- Опубликовано: 7 сен 2024
- I show you some money saving tips when cutting out your own hexagons for EPP.
My email is clancyscooter@gmail.com for any one who wants to write to me or send a paypal donation. Thanks.
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I was watching another RUclipsr recently who uses childrens’ story books from charity shops. She said she finds the pages are perfect thickness. Not too flimsy, not too thick. Hope this helps someone
Hi, Julie! Thanks so much for all these tips on cutting out hexis. I have been cutting them out from cardstock, which takes quite a while, as you can imagine. I have yet to do hexis that are less than an inch. Your quilts are beyond beautiful! I think your sweet cat would agree! Thank you so much for sharing! Bobbie 😍
No problem Bobbie. I am glad it was of some help to you.
❤
In the U.S. I realized I could do this with all the free junk mail I receive! Now I always have enough!
That is a great idea....thanks for sharing it
I was taught by my grandmother in the late fifties, she was a victorian granny, we always used our own metal templates to cut papers from old envelopes, letters, scrap paper and wallpaper lining paper, any thing we could lay hands our hands on, we never used card as it was to stiff to use, we reused the papers if they were in good enough condition, the brown paper found in rolls of birthday wrapping paper is ideal. It still doesn't cross my mind to buy cardboard papers.
That is great that you have that technique as well as the memories. I am self taught and I prefer card because I can pull the fabric tight on them and they don't bend like paper ones do.
I use the Fiskars xlarge punch for 1 inch hexagons, and 20lb cardstock like scrapbookers use. Amazon or office supplies sell packs of the card and each sheet makes a bunch.
Great video. Love your quilts. I've been wanting to try EPP and didn't want to spend the $$ on the paper. Super ideas on how to make your own. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you very much for watching and commenting
Your quilts are beautiful, Julie!! I've had a ScanNCut for a few years already, so I decided I was going to make good use of it and make my own. I can get 20 1in hexagons from one sheet of 8 1/2 x11 in cardstock, of 150 sheets for about $6, IF I used every sheet for just hexies😏 But, I'm also a cardmaker and paper crafter, but a lot of the scraps go for cutting hexies. So, potentially, I could get 3000 hexagons for $6 = $1/500. So worth my time.😊 Fabric isn't costing me anything, since I'm amusing scraps from years of sewing, plus a lot of thread I've had. Thanks for your tips.
That is great Wendy that you can use card for multiple purposes and that you have lots of fabric. I havent fabric in stock as I am not a lifelong sewer. Good luck with your 1 inch hexi project.
I have that hexagon cutter! It works great! The 1 inch one is the one I have. I had lots of old Christmas cards that I’ve used. Works great! Now to cover them, you are my inspiration! Thank you!
That is awesome that you have that cutter and are using old Christmas cards.
Now I am finishing your videos and you did the same, with Christmas cards! I’ve also used old file folders! I can’t imagine using as many as you do for a quilt! What do you do with the quilts you make? ❤️ they are beautiful!
@@smileytow1925 As they say....great minds think alike. The bedspread 3/4 inch hexagon quilt I made for my friend;s mother is the only big quilt I have made for anyone else. All the others are for myself to either use as quilts or wall hangings.
Thank you so much very informative I will see about a hexagon punch ...great idea ❤ UK
Thanks for the comment and for watching. You should be able to find these punches on ebay or Amazon. For half inch hexagons you need the medium punch. They don't make a small punch,
Thank you for sharing your cutting tips, I’ve started my Hexagon’s using computer paper and I’m thinking that the card would be easier to handle, I’ll be going to Spotlight to check out the punch now.
most newsagents sell cardboard a lot cheaper than spotlight,,,,,usually $1 a sheet or less
Your quilts are absolutely beautiful, my favorite is the second one but all are gorgeous!!!
Thank you very much
Old cracker and food boxes and magazine covers work as well… bit thicker but free
I have the 1 inch punch. I use regular printer paper. These are working perfectly for me. I am getting 3 to 4 uses for each hexagon paper.
That is great. I have started using art / drawing book paper as it is a bit thicker and I already had a book of it here.
@@juliethorntonKate from “The Last Homely House” RUclips channel uses old/used children’s picture books which use thicker than printer paper, she gets the books from charity or thrift shops!
@@HRHDMKYT Someone else told me that a while back. Unfortunately I have mobility issues so cant visit thrift shops so I either buy cheap playing cards online or sheets of card from the newsagent if my friend is available to take me there.
I made grandmother hexagon quilt, and table covers and thank you so much for showing me the hexxie cutters
No problem. I am glad you found this video of some use.
I make a hexagons pattern out of plastic butter containers lid to cut my fabric with, then I use the cardboard to cover my fabric with.
I cut my fabric into squares and cover the hexagons withthem....much easier than cutting hexagon shaped fabric and it works just as well.
Love your cat on this beautiful quilt!
Thank you very much for watching and commenting.
Hey Julie! I dont have one of those punches, but I hav3 cut my own from a ream of card stock plain that I got at Staples office supply here. 500sheets A4 size I think. Works great but those punches seem so nice! Something to consider! Thank you!
Thanks for the comment. These punches work great for half and three quarter inch hexagons. They do wear out after about 5,000 hexagons if the card is a little thick.
@@juliethornton good to know!!
I have the “XL” & “M” Fiskar’s hexie punches and use the cardstock [free] junk mail advertisements I get tons of in the mail … so my hexie projects cost almost nothing for the “papers”! (Just the initial cost for the 1” & 1/2” punches. The small punch was only CAD$12 and if I recall correctly, the XL punch cost CAD$26. So, not much compared what you paid for all yours).
I am glad that you have them to use as the medium hjas been discontinued and the large one is hard to find. Thanks for the comment and for watching.
this has been so helpfull. I normally don't so EPP because it costs so much, but I will try and get this cutter.
I am glad it has been of some help. Thank you for watchinbg and commenting.
Wow, what a inspirational video thankyou so much. You are a beautiful lady for taking the time to share your experiences. Thankyou so much. ❤
Thank you for the great comments and for watching so many of my videos.
This was so informative and I look forward to so much more you are an amazing lady , can see that you suffer from arthritis so I hope you don’t get too much pain stay
Card stock works great with the punch.
Yes it does. Thanks for watching and commenting.
hi julie, i’ve so enjoyed your videos and admire your patience! Your quilts are beautiful! These tools are paper punches and i use these in my cardmaking, scrapbooking projects- love them!
Thank you very much for the comment and for watching. I really appreciate it.
Thanks for the information, great video, I've just ordered the punch here in NZ from spotlight, sale on too so even better. So pleased I came across your video as I was thinking of investing in a sizzix die cutter machine but your idea is much cheaper. Many thanks again.
I am glad it was of some help. Make sure the cardboard you get to cut them out with isn't too thick or the cutter will jam and you can't fix it. The thickness should be about the same as cheap Christmas cards. The cutter should do at least 5,000 hexagons. They say they have a lifetime warranty but I am sure that is with cutting paper. Good luck with it all.
Will do. I have some old children's books I will try, have heard of someone else using successfully. 🙂
Cool. Let me know how they work out.
omg what a great idea about the files i would never have thought of that this was a great video thank you for sharing
any cardboard should work but I have found cereal boxes are too thick and kill the punches.
Very cool idea , thanks.
You are welcome
Thank you Julie for this very good video. I found your video of hints and tips earlier today and subscribed so I could watch more of your lovely videos. Your quilts are really beautiful. I think it is a great idea to cut the shapes yourself but I usually draw around one with a pencil on paper and cut with my scissors. Please could you tell me why you use card instead of paper and whether I could use the paper of magazine pages? My hands .....like the rest of me, are very sore with arthritis so I don't think I could use the wonderful little cutting things you have. I am loving your videos and am so glad I've found you. God bless Julie from Vera in Northern Ireland.
Thank you for the comment and for watching and subscribing. I also don't think cutter would be suitable for people with arthritis in their hands or who have weak hands as they take quite a bit of effort to use.
Great tips Julie
I’m new to your channel. I love your videos. I want to learn to make my own hexagons, shapes and hexagon quilts. Your quilts are so beautiful!!!! You are
So easy to follow and I plan to use your method. Also I enjoy your videos so much I’ve been watching them over and over.
Thank you very much for commenting and watching my videos. I am glad they are of some use to you as that makes creating them worthwhile. Good luck on your hexagon journey
@@juliethornton Do you make up your own patterns?
@@juliethornton Also I’ve shared your videos with my friends.
My first few quilts were adaptations on ones I found online but my recent underwater quilts are my own designs
Excellent points. Thank you so much.
No worries....thank you for watching and commenting
Never seen those cutters before . I am in England , will have to do a search . I use the advertising leaflets from magazines, draw them out and cut with scissors . A LONG drawn out process !! Forgive the pun !!
I would think you would be able to find them on Amazon or ebay.
Gill... I got mine on Amazon.
Thank you ladies
Those cutters are easily available in the UK, do a Google search
Thank you for your video! I am now purchasing some hexagon punches. I hadn’t thought of using those before. They’re quite cheap on eBay for me in the US. Have you thought about using card stock printer paper? I bought a pack of 90 pound 300 sheets for about $12. If you want to get the 67 pound/147 gsm, You can get 250 sheets for $10 US.
Thank you very much for the comment and for watching. I find buying sheets of poster cardboard the cheapest option if I don't have donated cards available for punching out the hexagons. Australia is not cheap for a lot of things and card stock printer paper is one of them but thanks for the tip.
I might be too perfectionalistic :) i found out, if I start cutting on one corner and work diagonally, I dont have a lot of waste, and dont need to precut any strips. So the cutting shapes nestle the hexies almost as they are positioned in the quilt.
I can understand though that it needs quite well developed fine motor skills and patience, that not everyone has.
Still cutting cardboard shapes and fabric from gifted clothes to reproduce the crazy pattern quilt my mom made. Mine will be in smaller hexagons, though. She had a 7 cm hexagon as template and it is backed with a slippery fabric from my late grandmas fabric stash. I want to replace that slippery backside with my smaller hexie crazy quilt, so it can be used on both sides.
You seem to have a good system that works for you with both papers and fabric. I tend to cut the board into strips first so that I can then cut the hexagons out at my smaller desk while I watch something on the laptop. Thanks for the comment.
Wow! I have yet to quilt with hexigons. It looks complicated. Yours are beautiful?
Thank you very much
This was so informative and I look forward to so much more you are an amazing lady , can see that you suffer from arthritis so I hope you don’t get too much pain stay safe 😘 x
Thanks Georgina. Luckily the arthritis in my hand isn't an issue.....unfortunately the arthritis in my back and hip is which luckily doesn't stop me sewing hexagons. It just limits the time I can sit doing them.
@@juliethornton glad to know your hands don’t get a lot of pain , tried to comment on your next podcast but it’s not working beautiful work , have just started patchwork again love all crafts please stay safe xx
Hi Julie
Could you tell me if you have done app half diamond shape I need to know how to wrap the fabric on paper template
Hi Colleen. I haven't done any half diamonds, only whole ones, but I have done squares and half hexagons and bases on them I would suggest you use a fabric glue pen and glue the fabric to the paper template. If you use thread you wont get the fabric tight enough Have a play and work out which way you fold the fabric over works best and then re-fold with the glue. I hope this helps.
@@juliethornton it has helped thanks
I've done EPP for fifty years, never used card, far too heavy ,always used stiffish paper . Like envelope paper, or any thing similar. Try reusing papers, we always sewed through the paper ,and pulled the threads out, the papers were always removed from the centre of blocks, and just the edge papers left in place , until the blocks were joined. Never wasted time cutting papers for every hexagon or diamond or what ever shape made. Anne
Hi Anne, Thank you for the comment and for watching. I prefer card myself but have used thicker paper like art paper int he past. What do you mean when you say you have never wasted time cutting papers.....?
Hello! I just found your channel and your quilts are amazing!! You are a quilt magician 🤗 have you considered the accuquilt? I just learned about them and I think they have hexigon dies that fit. It’s mainly for fabric but it cuts paper too. I’m not sure about thick paper but you could check into it! I hope that helps!
Hi. Thanks for the comment and for watching. I have just looked at their website and if I were to do any epp other than small hexagons I would definitely use their products. Thank you for the tip.
@@juliethornton Just hearing you talk about the price of buying the paper hexagons is wild! They have this set which has 1 inch hexagons www.accuquilt.com/go-qube-english-paper-piecing-1-finished-sides.html and you could get the smallest machine Go Baby for $100. I know it’s pricy but would definitely save on your hands. There was other die cutting machines like sissix or cuttlebug. You might look at those too
Are you using like poster board thickness type paper for these? Such a fantastic idea! Definitely getting one of these immediately!
I buy the cheapest poster board I can find.....it is about the same thickness as cheep Christmas cards that you can buy in bulk.
Don' t you reuse the hexagons ? I used those same 0unches ànd use regular paper and one the hexagons are sewn together I remove the papers and reuse them I don't understand why you are cutting out thousands of hexies when the papers can be reused.
I do reuse a lot of the hexagons but if they are worn or made from already used cardboard then I don't reuse the, Of a quilt of about 15,000 hexagons I probably reuse half of them but they only get reused once usually
Is it not possible to use the paper hexagons more than once??
Hi. Yes, you can use the papers more than once and the thickness of the papers will make a big difference in how many times you caqn reuse them.
Scribbled up and torn children's books at the thrift store. Children's book pages are thicker than adult books and it is already ruined so you'll get it free or cheap and punch, punch, punch.
That is a very good idea. I will keep it in mind for the future.
Thank you Julie, I've just started to make a quilt using 3/4" hexagons and a bit surprised that I will only need 5,000! Do you re-use your cardboard hexagons? I make my own but I'm lucky as I've got tonnes of card from card making days. Sadly I live in UK otherwise I would have gladly sent to you, but as we know card/paper weighs heavy. Stay safe and well
5,000 hexagons sounds right for a 3/4 inch hex quilt. The one I made for my friend's mother as a double bed bedspread took 5,000 of them. I do re-use the papers if they aren't too damaged or bent but prefer not to. Now that the fiskars medium punch is no longer being made I try and re-use as many as I can as I know it will be hard to replace my punch.
I got mine from Amazon. There are different makes out there. Happy hunting. If you have any trouble I could try to send one over to you!
Thank you for the offer but I can get one through Amazon here when I need one. I was given one recently so I should be fine for a while.
Julie, I have a question. I am looking to buying this punch, but every where I read about the medium punch is that it punchs 1 inch hexagons. I have tried to look for a small to see if it goes to 1/2 inch but can not find one. Did you make your La Passion quilt using the 1 inch or did you buy your hexagons already precut. Thanks for your help.
Hi Janice....thanks for the comment. The medium punch definitely does half inch hexagons.....the reson it may say 1 inch in some places is because the measurement across the hexagon is 1 inch but the sides are definitely 1/2 inch with the medium Fiskars punch. I have been having the same problem buying hexagon graph paper to draw out a design on. I stamped out all my hexagon using the medium size punch resulting in the half inch hexagons needed. Any more question feel free to ask.
can't you reuse the paper hexagons?
Yes you can reuse them but after multiple uses they become too worn to use any more. Thanks for the comment