This is a Great Tme to Learn Something New!

We've got a great pattern called "Hexagons, Hybrid Style" (and it's on sale!) that features a new technique for a standard Flower Garden Rosette.

Just as a hybrid car is part gas/part electric, hexies, hybrid style, are part hand sewn and part machine stitched. No paper! No whip stitching! No set-in seams by machine! Making a rosette is easier than ever!

1. Start with efficient cutting.

Cut 3 strips, 1 of first round and 2 of second round, as wide as flat side to flat side of hexagon template and long enough to cut 6 hexagons (17” for hexagons shown). Layer with fabric for row 1 on top right sides together with a strip of row 2 fabric. Cut 6 sets. Cut center hexagons, fussy cut, stacked, etc.

   

2. Pick up top two pieces and by machine, and stitch dot-to-dot. Use a 1.5 stitch length so it will not necessary to back stitch.

3. By machine, stitch one pair dot-to-dot to every other side of the pre-cut center hexagon.

Now switch to hand piecing – just a small running stitch, not the whip stitch associated with English Paper-Piecimg.  Take a back stitch at every dot and half way between dots. (This is when you pack all of the sewn parts and the remaining hexagons cut for the second round into a sandwich bag for your “carry-along” projects!)

The great thing about the hand piecing is that when you come to the corner, (a “dot”), it is easy to pivot and keep going. On this round you will complete 3 sides of the hexagon before you need to break your thread and move to the next piece.

4. Join the three remaining pieced pairs into every other empty side of the center hexagon.

5. Now there are 6 remaining hexagons for the second round.. When you insert these there are 4 consecutive edges sewn without breaking your thread!

6. Turn the  block over and swirl press.

Don't you love the symmetry on the back of the block?  When I take quilt tops to lectures and classes, people always notice the pressing. Consistent pressing means that, once quilted, if any seam allowance "show through" to the front of the quilt, they will be less noticeable because they will all look the "same"!

For complete instructions and more Hexie Hybrid designs get the pattern Prod #8302 for $5 during our sale April 17-22, 2020.

Better yet, take advantage of the combo offer #8706 that includes both the Grandmothers Garden templates Prod. 8351 and the pattern for only $14.98 and on sale with 20% off or just $11.98.

What did Brenda say?

Those of you who have met or talked with us at shows have probably also met Brenda Asmus, who has been a From Marti Michell “show girl” for many years.  At home in Texas, she teaches at guilds, and runs a From Marti Michell Club and teaches at Scrappy Quilter in the town of Schertz.

Back in February, Becky Thompson, whose YouTube channel is "Power Tools with Thread", took Brenda's Log Cabin class using the From Marti Log Cabin Ruler, which is designed just for 10" x 10" pre-cut squares. Becky recorded a tour of the shop and included an interview with Brenda.  It's a pretty fun video. We’re also happy to say Scrappy Quilter carries a great supply of our tools!

We thought you'd enjoy this virtual tour of the Scrappy Quilter. You'll meet Brenda at about minute 9 and hear what she has to say about the 10" x 10" Log Cabin Ruler.  I'm looking forward to getting down to Texas as soon as we can reschedule my visit!

It's Raining on the Nine Patch Parade

Sad to say, coronavirus has corona-rained on our parade -- but everyone is healthy, no worries there!

As many of us are doing these days, our sewalong partner Angie, the Gnome Angel, is adapting to many changes at home in Australia and we are "working different" here, too, with some staffers connecting to their From Marti computers from home. Both Angie's business and ours are still going strong online; FMM orders are still being shipped the day they are received.

But, given the logistics, we have decided to suspend the Nine Patch Parade and start fresh at a better time down the road.

In the meantime, we will keep the Nine Patch Parade Sew Along marching along in our studios to make it even better when we get the green light!  Thank you all for your patience and understanding.

In Atlanta, there is an organized group of 7,766 sewists making thousands of masks for our local hospitals. We thought you would enjoy seeing some of the cards Patti is making cards to send to her friends who are helping.

We wish you and yours good health.  Keep calm and sew on!