Everything I ever needed to know I learned from YouTube, a quilt in progress + New favorite tools!

Everyone in my family is under the impression, that if you want to learn to do something you go to YouTube and search for your subject. Super Husband learned how to fix our television, how to catch squirrels in the attic and how to fix the window that refused to go back up in our car. My girls have learned to make soap, found recipes for body scrubs, and how to put on make-up. There was the infamous hair cutting incident that started with a YouTube video and ended up with an unwanted mullet on the part of a certain 14yo girl, but never the less, YouTube is our Go-To. I have learned knitting and crochet, fashion drawing, and I recently learned a great method for cutting hexagons and a method for machine piecing hexagons.

I discovered this Kaye Wood video and her awesome rulers and immediately ordered one to start making a hexagon quilt. 

Of course, I didn't want to hand piece hexagons. But lucky me, this video was listed in the sidebar of related videos. 

This quilt has been relatively easy so far using both of these methods, and I feel like a super-accomplished quilter having tried something new.

You do get left with a bunch of these little triangles when cutting with this method, but luckily, they are perfectly usable. Of course, I can see making anything with these taking a lifetime, but then, maybe I'll just spend the next 60 years making little hexies out of tiny triangles.

On another note, this post would be incomplete without introducing you to my latest tool obsessions as I gained a few in the process of making this quilt. Are you a sewing tool junkie too? I may buy more tools than I buy fabric. I could be exaggerating, but maybe.

This quilt-go-round, I found these erasable pens. They erase when you iron them and mark very nicely on fabric. Even when you mark on the bias, the fabric doesn't stretch. Love that! My hot pink Frixion pen has been invaluable for marking the 1/4" starting and stopping points on my hexagons. I can't wait to use them for embroidery and applique.

And speaking of marking the 1/4" starting and stopping points, I really like this Jinny Beyer Perfect Piecer tool. It has all sorts of angles marked and little holes where you put the pen through to mark your points. And I imagine there's tons of other uses for it too that I've yet to figure out.

On that note, I'll leave you with a bit of advice... make sure your teenage/pre-teen female children understand that not all YouTube videos are useful. Especially ones that advise using your leg shaving razor to cut your hair. I'm just saying.

PS Since I know someone will ask, the fabric I'm using for the hexagon quilt is Flower Sugar by Lecien. Available here.

[Edit: I'm so honored! Kaye Wood commented on this post! For another way to piece hexagons watch Kaye Wood's Hexagon Cut and Sew video. This method allows you to avoid having to mark your 1/4" points!]

Comments

[Little Bluebell (Adrianne)]

1.

I love *those* hexagons!! I really like the larger scale. The leftovers are pretty cute too. My husband and I google everything. What in the heck did we do before the internet?!

[[email protected]]

2.

Thanks for the plug on my hexagon cutting technique. It is so easy and you can make any size as I am sure you found out. You mentioned marking the 1/4" to sew; check my video on sewing hexagons. I have never marked a starting point or a seamline. Just wanted to make it as easy as possible for the quilters. Kaye Wood
www.kayewood.com www.kayewoodTV.com

[Anita]

3.

Hi Bari - happy holidays! Hey did you buy the marking pens locally? I'm always on the lookout for a good marking tool. I'll have to check out Kay Wood's website.

[waterrose]

4.

Thanks for explaining what that tool is used for. I saw it at a local quilt shop and just couldn't imagine!

[SarahB]

5.

Oh Bari! These are turning out so beautifully!

[Eileen]

6.

I was just going through a stash of fabric and found a stack of squares and now I want to cut them into hexagons! I'm looking forward to getting your new book!

[Lesa]

7.

I love the look of the hexagons! After I finish a quilt kit I just purchased, maybe I'll give these a try! I just wanted to mention that a quick way to use your leftover triangles is to make a little mini "bunting" banner! I've seen them everywhere and it would be a cute, easy way to do something with your scraps!