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The first step is to select fabrics. I
find this pattern perfect for using up fairly large scraps. I
start by
sorting the scraps by value: light, medium-light, medium, medium-dark,
and
dark. For 3-ring flowers, I make the outside ring either light,
medium,
or dark (for strong contrast when sewn together) then vary by one shade
as
I move in.
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For example, if the outer ring is dark, the
inner ring will be medium-dark, and the center piece will be medium (or
possibly medium-light, depending on what I have the most of). If
the outer
ring is medium, I can go either way; sometimes I'll use a medium-light
inner ring and a light center piece, sometimes I select a medium-dark
inner ring and a dark center piece. As with all quilting, a
variety of textures and pattern types will produce a more interesting
flower!
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I suppose you can start piecing anywhere in the
flower, but I start with the center piece. Cut a 2-1/2" square of
your selected fabric. (How precisely and closely you trim is a
matter
of taste. I machine quilt and hate wasting time trimming, so as
long
as the piece is at least 2-1/2" diameter, I don't worry about excess
fabric.
If you hate excess, I suggest trimming AFTER you have pinned the
pati
in place, and leave 1/2" extra for the first few hexagons you baste.
After
you've sewn some hexagons together, you'll see whether you can
comfortably
trim more.) Center the pati on the fabric so there is ample extra
fabric
on all sides, and pin by pushing a straight pin through the center hole
at
one edge and bringing the point up and through the fabric just before
the
other edge of the hole.
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To baste the hexagon, bring a threaded needle
from the wrong side through the pinned fabric near one of the points.
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Fold the excess fabric to the RIGHT of this
point down.
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Then fold the excess fabric to the LEFT of this
point down, creating a small fold at the point.
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Bring the needle up through this fold,
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Then stitch through all three layers to hold the
fold in place.
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Bring the needle to the next point of the
hexagon, moving counterclockwise, and repeat. (Left-handed
stitchers may prefer to reverse my directions and move clockwise.)
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Continue until all six points have been basted
down. At that point, I tie a small knot and bury it while
bringing the needle out through the point of the hexagon.
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Place the just-basted hexagon right side down on
the right side of another hexagon it is to be stitched to and bring the
needle through the point of the second hexagon. (I find sewing
the first
two hexagons together to be the most challenging; subsequent hexagons
will
nestle into the corners formed by already-sewn-together hexagons.)
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I bury another knot in the second or third
stitch and whipstitch the remainder of the seam.
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I bury another knot a few stitches before and a
few stitches after each hexagon point.
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Be careful to put a firm stitch at the very end
of the first side and the very beginning of the second side, to keep
sharp points. Repeat at each subsequent point.
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