The Big Summer 21 Fabric Bundle has landed! My second handprinted, limited edition fabric bundle of the year. And this time I kept a scrap pack for myself to play with!
I have been asked often for ideas on how to use my fabric. And usually there is not much left of it for me to use. So in a bid to help you out and give you some ideas of what you can do with each collection I will be printing a bit extra for myself from now on. That way you can get some inspiration and I get a nice record of each of my fabric collections.
A bit about the collection:
The Big Summer 21 Bundle drew inspiration from the sun, sea and sand. Colours of the warmth of the sun and cool breeze of the ocean. Printed in three designs. Rectangle Grid 002 is an elongated version of the 2020 Rectangle Grid using a fine line. Sticks is an old favourite which again uses fine lines in a haphazard way giving pops of colour which breaks up the solid fabric. Windows is a new design using a block of four rectangles repeated in such a way that creates movement and rhythm in the design.
So, how can it be used?
It's no secret that I love english paper piecing. And as I was using a scrap pack it was an obvious choice to do some EPP. The Rectangle Grid worked particularly well with these 1" hexies. You can see in the photo above on the white, navy and yellow (just peeking out from under the pile of hexies) and in the white hexagon in the photo below where the grid has been used. I placed the hexie paper so a grid line runs from point to point. Creating a secondary hexagon within the hexie flower.
Windows can be used in two ways. Either cut randomly which I think works well with the hexagon flowers. Or cut intentionally like the pale blue hexagon below. Each hexagon was cut with the print running in the same direction. When stitched together in the hexie flower it gives a more uniform look. I prefer the 'messy' cutting with the Windows print. I think it is more interesting contrasted with the other more uniform designs and flat red joining hexagons.
With the Sticks print I used it to break up the busy prints. It adds a bit of quiet without being a flat colour. Having different intensities of print design creates a more balanced overall look. And this along with the contrasting dark to light colour tones is all together pleasing.
What about the red hexagons?
This is a personal preference. I love a pop of red. The hexagons all together without something to break them up were beginning to blend together. If that is the look you are going for thats great. But, I like to break it up somehow. I auditioned several reds for this job. Orange reds, dark reds, pink reds and settled on what could be described as a pure red. Flame for those that use RK Kona.
Don't decide on your layout straight away.
I would suggest making a few hexie flowers before deciding your final layout. You can play about with your layout and get a feel for what is required before committing and sewing them all together.
Have fun with it and experiment!
If you are wondering about pairing the Big Summer Fabric Bundle with a solids bundle check out my other blog post HERE.
I use Aurifil 80wt thread for piecing and I like John James Needles. Both can be found in my webshop, HERE.
My handprinted fabric is printed in small runs for short period of time. I try to print four or five collections a year. Each is different and fabric wont be repeated in the same design and colour twice. this means that the fabric you buy is truly limited edition. To see which handprinted fabric I have in stock check, HERE.
RETRO HEXIE EPP KIT
NAIVE MELODY APPLIQUE QUILT PATTERN
