A 3D Hexagon Pattern

Back in 2016, when the facebook group, Life's A Quilt, first started, I was asked to teach a little bit about sewing 3D Hexagons. I came up with a table runner that used three of the blocks in a vertical layout and I used the Easy Y Seams Technique. There was so many parts and a lot of detailed photos used for the tutorial, I chose to make it a online tutorial. Click here to go to the online tutorial...

But, many quilters I know like to have a printed copy of the pattern in their hand as they work through the steps of piecing a block together.

In 2017, the opportunity presented itself again, for me to teach sewing together a 3D Hexagon Table Runner using Easy Y Seams. Only this time, I didn't want the same vertical layout of hexagons as before. I chose to have my 3D Hexagons laid out side-by-side. I also set up this tutorial in paper format, no matter how many pages it printed out to be. The one catch - this pattern was to be for Life's A Quilt Members only.

Kaleidoscope Dresden

Supply list and fabric suggestions

for class at
Aunt Judy's Attic

for
Fussy Cutting Kaleidoscope Dresden Plates,

Instructor: Paco Rich
Class is now complete!
Don't forget to check out the class photos below.
Click here to download your Kaleidoscope Dresden Template.
Technique adapted from Rhonda Woodsmall's Dresden Kaleidoscopes

***Please read through, there is a lot of information to help you pick fabrics, find the repeat and select how many yards to purchase/find in your stash. PLEASE contact me with any questions you may have or if I am not clear. Chances are, someone else has the same question! My contact info is at the bottom of this post***

Fussy Cutting vs Stack N Whack

Fussy Cutting fabric is a way to cut a specific print out of fabric. This technique is great for small projects such as table runner, hot pads and wall hangings, as this technique allows you to use less yardage. One draw back is the waste created.

Stack n Whack is a way to cut fabric so you can have multiple repeats with little waste. This method is not recommended for small projects such as a table runner, but intended for large quilts.

In class, we will be walking through, step-by-step, on how to fussy cut our fabric and piece it so that we can end up with ten repeating blades for a dresden plate. By the end of class you will have completed at least one Dresden Plate using fussy cutting technique.

Basics:
Sewing Machine
Sewing Notions - thread, scissors, flat head straight pins
Cutting Mat
Rotary Cutter - with a new blade - makes life easier!
Ruler- about 6" any larger would make it awkward
Fabric marking tool - I like FriXon pens, but if you are using a dark fabric, white chalk might be better.
Fuseable web - I prefer Heat n Bond Lite (about 1 yard) OR if you are making hot pads, bring some insulbrite
Template will be provided in class

Fabric: picking fabric for the fussy cutting dresden plates is really similar to picking fabric for stack n whack. 

When picking your fabric, look for these things:

Medium to Large Print - the size of your palm or slightly larger

Contrasting Colors

Geometric shapes - lines, circles, squares...

Fabric that is often considered "busy".

Yardage and Finding the Repeat:
I can't give you an exact number of yards because all fabric has a different size of repeat.... BUT, I can tell you how to find the repeat and figure out how many yards you will need.

Finding the Repeat:

Slightly different with finding the repeat for a stack n whack, we are going to find the repeat across the width of fabric (not the selvage). We want to count ten repeats total and add 1/4 yard to that.

Example:
Open up your fabric, and find some distinctive image/print in your fabric. Here in this image below, I chose the blue flower with 2 green leaves and a smaller darker blue flower behind it. In this fabric, there are 3 repeats across the width of fabric. Moving down, there are 3 more repeats - you will need 10.

In my half yard cut, I do not have enough repeats - there are only 6 repeats - I need 10 repeats, plus 1/4 yard.

You should be able to get 5 to 7 dresden plates out of this amount.

Background Fabric:
There are a variety of ways to show off your fussy cut dresden plate: table runners, hot pads, wall hangings. Consider 1/2 yard to a yard of background fabric. It is best of this fabric is a solid or a blender fabric so it does not take away from your dresden plate. Here, I used a red blender for my background fabric.

You will also need fabric to cover the center of your dresden. For these two projects, I appliquèd an odd shape over my dresden center - a fussy cut leaf and some strawberries made out of red fabric.

What not to use for the Dresden plates:

Blender fabrics -

Fabric has large print, but when you step back and look at it, this reads as a tan fabric. There is not any high contrasting colors.

Reads as a blue solid.

Small print -

Print is too small.

Contrasting colors, but the print is too small.

Panels -

Large print, but no repeating pattern.

No repeating pattern.

Additional ideas:

If you would like to make a large quilt using the dresden plate, consider combining the stack n whack method with the fussy cutting method. You would need to purchase fabric similar to the stack n whack fabric selection, but you would need 10 repeats instead of 8.

If you're not sure if you like a certain fabric, download the camera Kaleidoscope app and audition your fabric. Click here to download the app on your Android.

Our first class was TOO much fun!

 

If you have any questions at all, feel free to email me: LifesAQuilt.LAQ@gmail.com.

3D Hexagon Table Runner Supply List

3D Hexagon Table Runner Using Easy Y Seams
Please Note: This is a supply list for my face-to-face class. To see my online tutorial on 3D Hexagon Table Runner, click here.

Supply List The class has closed. Thank You! See Class photos at the bottom of the blog.

Aunt Judy's Attic

Instructor: Paco Rich

In class we will go through the steps for piecing together three - 3D Hexagons using the Easy Y Seams method to make a table runner. You will learn one way to nest your seams to line up points and reduce the bulkiness at your points. By the end of class we will have finished a table runner top measuring about 10" wide by 34" long. You will also leave the class with the skills needed to tackle any Y Seam you come across, such as tumbling blocks and six pointed stars.

**Important!!** If you have any questions at all, feel free to email me: LifesAQuilt.LAQ@gmail.com. 


Basic Supplies:
Sewing Machine
Sewing Notions - scissors, straight pins
Cutting Mat
Rotary Cutter
Fine Point Fabric Marking Tool - I like the FriXion pens
Thread - best if it matches one of your fabrics

Rulers: 
It is not necessary to have a special 60° ruler for this class, but this class gives you an excuse to have a cool new ruler or use the cool 60° triangle ruler you bought long ago. However, any ruler with a 60° line on it will work just as well.

**After our first class, the majority of the ladies felt it was easier to have the 60° triangle ruler - if you need one, let Judy know and she will have them ordered...

60° Triangle Ruler

Square Ruler with markings for 60°, 45° and 30°

You will also need a ruler that has 1/4" markings.

Fabric Supplies: 
What 3 colors:
You will need 3 different fabrics - a dark, a medium and a light. The 3 fabrics can be all of one color (ie: all green) OR you can have one focus fabric with two coordinating colors, as long as one is dark, one is medium and one is light.

If you are unsure: use your smartphone to take a picture of all 3 fabrics together. Change the photo to a black and white photo and you will see the tone. If all three fabrics look the same in the black and white photo, you might have trouble achieving the 3D look.

Examples:

Notice how the coral and green are almost the same tone in the black and white photo? If you look at the pieced runners above, you will notice the green/coral grape runner does not give off a strong 3D feel as compared to the other two.

How Much Fabric:
From each of the fabrics you will need to have at least 14" x WOF (width of fabric). This includes fabric for the triangles in between the hexagons.

Extra fabric for binding and backing is needed. Backing: need at least 14" x WOF. Binding using 2.5" half fold: need at least 8" x WOF.

Something to think about: If you have a focus fabric and want to fussy cut a particular section, plan on having more focus fabric.

Beautiful 3D Hexagons

made by students

Love the variation!

Looking for more ideas on color/fabric selections?? Check out my 3D Hexagon ~ Tumbling Blocks Board on Pinterest.

Hope to see you in class! If you have any questions at all, feel free to leave a comment and I'll get right back to you.