Hexa go-go

It’s my turn on the blog hop for my darling friend Tacha’s new book, Hexa go-go!  And what a book it is!

For a chance to win a copy of the book keep reading!

In my world, Tacha is the queen of all things hexagon.  She was the first person to show me that hexagons can be modern and not old fashioned.  We were in a few bees together when we both joined the online quilting world and I was so tickled to have a friend from Germany.  I felt very cosmopolitan!

In a blatant copy even then of Tacha’s style, I made these blocks for a bee using epp.

Hexa go-go

Little did I know she would go on to write a book about this fabulous concept.  I just knew that I needed to try my hand at it.  Time consuming but absolutely worth it!

Just a glimpse at the back of one of those blocks I made.

Hexa go-go

Because I know Tacha a bit (as well as you can know someone you’ve never actually met and share an online hobby with!) I wanted to do an interview with her so you all can get to know her a bit better.  I hope you enjoy it.

A: What made you decide to write a book?  I know you have a super busy schedule with two girls and being a member of Fat Quarterly.  How did you find the time?!

T: Good question. I can’t really remember what made me finally put together some of my ideas into a formal book proposal. My youngest daughter was just beginning daycare and I finally had time to gather my thoughts for more than a few minutes at a time so I started to put together ideas and it soon became clear that I was obsessed with hexagons!  After a quick google I found that there weren’t many books on the market which combined hexagons with modern quilt designs so I thought why not write a book myself!

Time was a huge issue for me. I pretty much submitted the proposal to C&T at the same time as I was contacting the rest of the Fat Quarterly team to see if they wanted to work together somehow. Fat Quarterly had been up and running for only a couple of months or so before I heard that my proposal had been accepted. It was pretty full on and I had to plan my time to the minute to meet all my deadlines especially since all the projects in the book are EPP projects and therefore sewn by hand. The only way to make it work was if pretty much every waking moment I was stitching hexagons!  But that is the beauty of EPP – it is really so portable. I stitched during car trips, took the hexagons on family holidays, to the park and pretty much anywhere that I went. Everyone got used to the fact that when they saw me I was sewing and covered in threads. When I look back now I am not really sure how I managed it.

A: Be honest. How long did it take to make that fabulous Union Jack quilt? Because I want one and I’m not British! lol

T: The Union Jack quilt took shape pretty quickly as I just couldn’t wait to see how it would look once finished! It was also one of the first of the quilts that I made which meant my hands were still quite fresh so the stitching went more quickly. (I could definitely feel myself slowing down by the time I tackled the last few quilts!) I reckon it probably took about a month from start to finish.

A: What is your favorite project in the book? And yes, I realize that is like asking you to pick a favorite child

T: Totally impossible to answer that! I think at some point or other during the process they all ranked up there. But I have to admit for having a soft spot for the Over the Rainbow quilt but shh don’t tell the other quilts! The rainbow quilt reminds me of all the people in Bee Inspired who stitched up blocks and there are so many different scraps of fabrics in the quilt it is like a library record of my stash about a year ago!

A: What can we expect from you next?

T: I was trying to have a rest but little ideas keep bubbling to the surface so I do have a few secret projects on the go. Hopefully I’ll be able to let you know more about them soon. In the meantime it is business as usual at Fat Quarterly. We are busily preparing for our second retreat next year and of course for our next issue!

Thank you Tacha for sharing that with us!  and for more peeks at her book and hexagon goodness, keep following along on the blog hop.

193 thoughts on “Hexa go-go”

  1. I have been lazy this past month and haven't sewn.
    my fabric diet enforces no fabric purchases without on going sewing
    so it has been a little more than a month since I purchased fabric.

    but, I plan to sew today!

  2. I was just in the shop two days ago buying fabric for a project to complete. Trying to get my holidays gifts done early this year. I say that, but crossing my fingers.
    Judith, Texas

  3. I bought some Riley Blake Dresses the other day. I'm waiting in anticipation for the package to arrive! I might just hang the fabric on my wall and stare at it for awhile until I figure out the perfect project. Thanks!

  4. My most recent purchase was some baby fabric at Joann's to make baby blankets for a friend having triplets! I'm ogling all the new lines but fabric spending is mostly on hiatus right now. 🙁

  5. Iche liebe auch Deutschland!! this year I have put myself on a bring down the stash to a more managable mess kick…so I have only purchased what I MUST have to finish a project. So, my last purchase was a simple black flannel that I used as a backing for a quilt. stash busting is going great and this book would be a huge help in that direction! 🙂

  6. I'm slightly mortified to admit I just did quite a big fabric shop, but Bella, Cameo, Indie and Madrona Road may or may not be coming my way… Thanks for the chance to win :o)

  7. Made a quick run into JoAnns in July in Portland to get more black Kona cotton to make the shams to match the black and batik bento box wedding quilt that I handed over that day. Also bought some drapery pleater tape to make curtains and valances. No one sells it here in my little town. Need to place an order for a Laurel Burch stripe that is my favorite fabric before it's all gone for good.

  8. The last fabric I bought was 2 weeks ago when I found some International Tractor Fabric to make some pillow cases for my nephew. Thanks for a chance to win this great looking book! 🙂

  9. My last fabric purchase was for some fleece as a secondary curtain for my daughter's room. I bought it to help keep in heat in the winter and block light during these longer summer days. Sadly, I haven't finished the curtains yet.

  10. Two days ago I went to Bombay to drop my daughter and grand daughter off at the airport and instead of coming straight back to Poona, I went fabric shopping. I got the most beautiful shaded silks , something like Oakshott , with tiny woven squares. I bought it to make scarves but now it'll be hexagons !!

  11. Just this morning, oupps, don't tell :). I just had to have some blenders/basics, especially since I could use a 20% Off coupon :). Thank you for the chance to win!

  12. I can't remember the most recent purchase I made. Sad but true. I have been trying really hard to reduce my stash. I did just recently purchase batting, though, and I remember that happened less than a month ago. 🙂

  13. My most recent purchase was yesterday and I got 1.5 yards of poly faux suede. I am making my dad a quilt for Christmas out of flannel charm squares and want to use the faux suede to make the solid color half square triangles to go with the flannel half square triangles. I can't wait to start it!

    lindapawlak@verizon.net

  14. Well I hope my husband will not read this comment here! I just bought 6 fat quarters today to make placemats for our new house! But most of the time I don't need a specific project to buy fabric!

  15. I'm trying to avoid fabric shopping and use stash as much as possible right now, but I am planning to make a purchase when I'm done here – I want to try out some moda cross weave 🙂

  16. I'm kind of like Tasha as far as always having hexie's with me. If I am sitting, I am stitching. They are incredibly addicting and that Over the Rainbow quilt is on my list. From the looks of it, I'll be making multiple projects from her book! Thank you for the opportunity to chime in on this wonderful giveaway! If I never bought another piece of fabric, I could probably still sew forever with my stash, but where's the fun in that? It's been about a week since I last purchased any fabric. I had to hunt down a particular ocean blue print for some backing. But tomorrow I am headed into town and some fall prints will be coming home with me!

  17. My last fabric purchase (July 7th) was from Nancy's Notions, Bird Walk Fat Quarter pack. I can't help being drawn to modern bird fabrics! Not sure if I will fussy cut a baby quilt or make something else. Thanks for the chance to win. I favor Tasha's over the rainbow quilt as well. Paper piecing can be a challenge for me…I admire Tasha's handiwork!

  18. The quilts in that book look fantastic. I have really wanted to learn how to do the hexies! My last fabric purchase was on ebay friday night. I got an Amelia charm pack I had been looking for since my daughter took mine 🙂

  19. I got two Summersville charm packs a couple of weeks ago from ChristaQuiilts.com. I want to make a simple patchwork quilt using the charms and some coordinating solids.

  20. So excited! Bought 4 FQ's on line from Cupcake Cottons in the UK and they came in a darling patterned wire basket.
    Oh dear…. don't want to take them out to use them Soooo lovely!.
    Love the book, fabulous ideas and so fresh and original. Good luck!

  21. I just bought the other day! I needed some more Kona for the backing of a baby quilt I am working on! And then I always get a little something for my stash! I don't even remember what it was now! Oh boy I think I am buying too much lately! Ha ha… NEVER!

  22. yay, I bought a bunch of Kona solid blues and light blues. I am going to make a table runner to represent my friend and I swimming everyday for exercise (we live in Florida). I will make it for her for Christmas. Not quite sure how yet, but taking a page from the seaglass bottle pillow I saw on a blog. 🙂

  23. Recently, I got some Stoffe fabrics (not very big choice here in Europe) mostly in green for my first quilt (top is done now and waiting to be put together). But my last purchase was on Monday (at Grande Braderie) just two pieces of unknown origin (suspecting upholstery) perfect for notebooks covers I'm planning to do for my friends.
    Thanks for the giveaway.
    ebooker@o2.pl

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