Beginner's Guide to Quilting - UK (2020-02)

Get to grips with a truly portable technique

and make this fun gadget cosy

BY REBECCA REID

Hexagon laptop case

You will need

MATERIALS

Q Basic quilting kit, see page 16

Q A variety of print and solid fabrics

(or one charm pack)

Q Lining fabric: 11in x 28½in

in a co-ordinating print

Q Batting: 13in x 30in

Q Backing fabric: 13in x 30in

Q Cord for button loop: 5in length

Q Button

Q Quilting thread

Q Hexagon template on page 161

FINISHED SIZE

Q 10½in x 14in – to fit a 13in laptop

NOTES

QSeam allowances are a ¼in,

unless otherwise noted.

QTemplates do not include

seam allowances.

PREPARING THE TEMPLATES

1

Trace the hexagon shape on page 161 and

cut it out from thin card to make a template.

2

It can be useful to sketch a layout diagram
to work out how many whole, half and part
hexagons you need to cover your laptop. Use
the card template to cut out the correct
number of paper hexagons. Office paper or
freezer paper works well.

3

Once you’ve cut out all your paper shapes,
pin them onto your cotton fabrics (or iron
on if you’re using freezer paper). If you’re
using a charm pack, you can cut one whole
hexagon from each square.

4

Trim the fabric ¼in outside the edge of

each hexagon all the way around (Fig 1).

5

Turn the edges of the fabric over to the

back of the paper template and baste into

place, folding the corners neatly as you go

(Figs 2, 3 and 4).

6

Arrange the hexagons on a flat surface

until you’re happy with the placement.

SEWING THE PATCHWORK

7

Take two hexagons and place them right

sides together, then whip stitch (see page

98) along the two sides that will sit next to

each other. Be careful not to sew through the

backing paper and try to make the stitches

small for a neat look.

8

Continue joining the hexagon pieces

together in this way, working on one seam

at a time until all the hexagons are joined

together. See page 99 for more details on

how to sew hexagons together on all sides

into blocks. You’ll need to fold your paper

hexagons in order to do this – don’t worry

too much about trying to keep them flat!

Draw^ a^ rough^ diagr

am^

before^ you^ start^

stitching^ and^ num

ber^

each^ shape