HeLP for Hexie-aholics for 11/17/14 - using binder clips

Hello and welcome to a snowy edition of HeLP for Hexie-aholics. Yes! You heard me right - we've finally got snow here in Western NY. Don't worry, I'll be sick of it soon enough...possibly even after the 2 feet we are due to get tomorrow which will probably cut our guild meeting short. Grrrr. I guess I best dig out my boots...

Anyway... a week or so ago, I was asked by JoAnn, friend of Margaret, where on my blog was the link to my tip/tutorial for using binder clips. I told JoAnn that I didn't have an actual tutorial on my blog but I would be happy to post it today for HeLP.

As I was getting ready for today's post I remembered the twisted hexie tutorial I had done back in August. There actually were photos in that tutorial showing the clips but also this next photo showing lots of clips and curving the pieces with the larger piece on the outside so I can fit them together if my basting wasn't quite as accurate as it should be. Be sure to got check out my comments on the other post.

For today's post I decided to work on a POTC block. My basic premise is that I have seen people who just hold the fabric to the papers, they use paperclips or they use Wonder Clips. Fingers can slip and if you need to set the project down it can all go wonky. Paperclips can snag on the fabric and I find Wonder Clips too big.

I use the mini binder clips found at Walmart - I think they were a box of 75 for $3.00 and yes, I've got two boxes of them for all my UFOs but that's a different story. I've also been known to hand over a couple to someone who is just learning to EPP...anything to get them addicted faster!

I start by using two clips, one on each side of the honeycomb paper. Some shapes only need 1 clip and others need more. I also use more clips if a piece is fussy cut so I can properly align the fabric to my paper.

As I put pieces together, I use a clip on each side of a seam.

Or as I need to put the odd shapes together I use a clip. I prefer a gentle rounded fold instead of actually folding and creasing the papers since the creases will make the paper deteriorate faster. I've been able to re-use some of my papers 15 to 20 times.

I hope these photos give you some idea on how I use the mini binder clips. I really like that the clips do all the work to hold things in place and especially if I have to set down my project so I can let his Highness outside. Not that I have to do that more than like 3 times a day or anything...

I appear to have left the block at home so I can't show you how far I got...maybe for Wordless Wednesday...

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