Country Style Hexies Quilt

Some things make you feel happy just by looking at them - and this quilt is one of those special things for me. Working on my 'Country Style Hexies' quilt has been quite a journey, spanning more than three and a half years as one of my 'occasional projects'. A few days ago I added the last stitches to the edge binding, marking the end of this quilt's making stage. Below is this quilt's story, mostly in photos.

My travel sewing kit (an old chocolate tin) which easily slots in my handbag - perfect for waiting rooms, while out at children's sport etc.

The inspiration behind this quilt is shared here - way back in December 2015. The hexagons are 1 1/2" (length of each side) which is quite a common size and well suited to the scale of these fabrics. I chose to thread baste these hexagons using a little back stitch on the back of each corner fabric fold, which enables the paper templates to be removed without undoing the stitches. Leaving the basting stitches in place helps keep the reverse side neat and sitting flat.

The hexies were stitched together into small manageable blocks which were later sewn into rows, then finally into a whole large panel/piece.

The papers from surrounded hexies have been removed - however papers in the edging hexies are still in place to allow further stitching.

I had thought I would finish at this size above, then I discovered I had a little more fabric of most prints and decided to extend both sides to make a more usable single bed size quilt *.

Above you can see I have temporarily attached narrow strips of the white spotted fabric to the edges of the completed hexagon panel using large machine stitches. I then carefully appliquéd the edges of the panel to the white border strips, using some small dots of soluble glue from a glue pen to keep the points in place while I stitched. After the appliqué was completed I removed the machine stitches.

Additional grey borders ready for machine sewing to the edges.

All the quilt layers thread basted together, ready for hand quilting.

I used Gutermann Sulky 12w cotton thread for the hand quilting. This thread is soft like a perle 8 cotton thread, however it is finer and easier to use. I wanted the quilting to be visible and give nice texture, without being bold and detracting from the fabrics. The entire quilt required just over one reel of this thread. 

I use waxed quilting thread, doubled, for hand stitching my bindings onto the quilt back.

The pieced quilt back.

My Country Style Hexies quilt is happily at home in our open living area for now, so I can enjoy catching glimpses of it each day. Seeing all those pretty colours and favourite prints brings joy to my heart, just as they did over the many, many hours, years and life seasons during which I enjoyed cutting, basting, stitching and hand quilting.

* Finished quilt size - 62" x 88" (157cm x 223).

Sudden Departure

"So who's going to get married?" was the half-joking comment as we began to say our goodbyes on Boxing Day. We had just enjoyed a wonderful Christmas Day - all of our children had been home and both grandmothers had been part of our Christmas Day too. There was a sense of not wanting to wait another six or twelve months before being together again. A wedding would definitely bring everyone home! ;)

In the wee small hours of the very next day my mobile phone woke me from sleep. It was the aged care home - she had buzzed - needed help - passed away before the ambulance arrived. I was dazed. Joan, my mother-in-love was in fine form Christmas Day, as usual. Talking about New Year's resolutions, and participating in happy banter around the afternoon tea table, increasingly forgetful as the years moved on. Gone. All our plans changed in an instant. Joan was never afraid to die and would speak of being reunited with her wonderful husband of 57 years and eldest son whom I never met. Heaven holds many precious family and friends. 

January has certainly taken a very different turn to anticipated. Tomorrow most of us head back to her previous home on the coast to attempt to make some more headway in gradually emptying the house - quite a daunting task. Her room in the aged care centre was challenge enough.....she didn't throw anything out! Amongst trying to sort her paperwork for the last five years, communicating with her accountant, solicitor, real estate agent, mail redirection etc, life goes on. Next week I hope to devote largely to our homeschool recording, planning and preparations - an abridged version may have to do for now.

Early morning or late afternoon walks are a valuably time to clear my head and fill my eyes with more of nature's wonders. Still finding beauty, joy and contentment in my everyday life.


Further details of many photos will appear if you hover your cursor over the image.  :)

*** You may also enjoy my Instagram feed which I add to several times a week. You don't have to join Instagram to view - just click on the little blue square camera logo under my blog profile (top right hand corner).

Karen

Pink and Blue and Purple Too

Hot summer days and school holidays bring a change in focus and pace. The blue and white sewing I shared a teaser of last post is now a completed quilt and listed in my Etsy shop. I'm very fond of  classic blue and white and a timeless design.

The garden still provides splashes of colour despite some sizzling hot days. I find some quiet watering and weeding in the early morning cool rather therapeutic and rewarding.

Jodi from Tales of Cloth will soon be hosting a quilting Block of the Month club featuring the beautiful flowers/ice-cream design above (English Paper Piecing - EPP). Jodi generously gave away a number of trial paper packs, the perfect motivation to cut into some special fabrics to create these sample Ice-Cream Soda Quilt blocks. I have enjoyed making these even more than anticipated and plan to make some more soon.

Yesterday I added some organic fabrics to my Etsy shop, something I have thought about for a while and hope to add to over time. Another new addition to the shop are the Extra Fine Bobbins which I wound and prepared today (as above). Gutermann Extra Fine polyester thread is my personal favourite for fine hand sewing of EPP and appliqué as I have shared in detail before. A bobbin is a convenient size for portable handwork and is also an easy way to sample this specialty thread which can be difficult to source. The plastic bobbins fit Janome machines for reuse too.