Blue Hexagons Quilt 💙

Three years ago (November 2019) I began thread basting some favourite fabrics onto 11/4" hexagons, a wonderfully relaxing way to play with fabric. Soon I had quite a collection, and despite experimenting on several occasions with various arrangements, I couldn't settle on a design which felt right. My beautiful hexies were relegated to a container for safe keeping while I worked on other projects.

Early June 2020 Rita Hodge of Red Pepper Quilts shared her finished Hexagon Stash Buster Quilt in Blues. It looked so good - and I was instantly inspired to start something similar with the blue hexies I already basted. Searching through my fabric collection I soon discovered I had more blues than any other colour, which was a bonus for a quilt like this.

I quickly put together a compact kit to keep me basting and stitching. Following the same technique as Rita, I was constructing interlocking blocks of 16 hexies each. I  use a traditional hand whip stitch when joining my pieces together on an English Paper Piecing (EPP) like this.

I worked on these blocks intermittently, with added enthusiasm following the addition of any new fabrics. However I found the random nature of the blocks not so enticing, so instead I more often gravitating to my other sewing projects.

Then in February this year Rita shared her version of the Treehouse Hexagon Quilt Project, a quilt designed by Emma of Treehouse Textiles. This design has a wonderful balance of structure and freedom. Varying slightly from Emma's original design, I reimagined my blue hexagons quilt and have thoroughly enjoyed stitching many blocks, each with their own differences amongst a basic structural criteria.

A couple of times I thought I had completed all blocks needed, however on closer inspection the colour balance needed more aqua. Following that adjustment, I conceded that it really needed to be longer to become a useful bed quilt for either a full/double bed or a queen size. Two more rows of blocks were created.

Then it was time to create the lighter coloured half-sized blocks to give provide pleasing edges topped bottom.

Now it was time to finish sewing the blocks together and pop the papers out from the back.

For the batting/wadding I selected Quilters Dream Cotton batting in white. It is a lightweight batting, making it more suitable for our warmer climate and less bulky to wash. It is the only cotton batting I have found which is truly white, something I was particularly looking for to support the white base of this quilt. 

After a long-time debate with myself about how (by machine or by hand) I should quilt this large quilt, especially as it was spring by this time, I decided to hand quilt with DMC Cebelia 'crochet cotton' 30 thickness in white (B5200). This is the same thread I chose to quilt my most recent finish, Fresh flowers Quilt. By outline quilting each centre, hexie flower and around each block, it has highlighted the quilt design and created a subtle texture. A mostly cool spring has made the quilting a joy.

And now finally, it is finished and ready to be used on a bed. I had no idea my initial hexies would end up looking like this - and I am delighted! 

Quilt Details

Blue Hexagons Quilt

Design eventually based on Treehouse Textiles Hexagon Quilt Project 

90" x 77"

228cm x 195cm

Tentatively started November 2019

Completed November 13th 2022

1 1/4"hexagon papers

Thread basted

Quilters Dream Request100% Cotton Batting in White - queen size

Hand quilted with DMC Cebelia 'crochet cotton' #30 in white (B5200) 

Life Past and Present

It's amazing the things you discover as you begin to clear out someone else's home. There is much which needs to be graciously overlooked and dealt with appropriately and then you also find curious old treasures. Trying to find the line between old worthless 'stuff' and intriguing possessions is a difficult one, which is made both easier and harder once the owner is no longer here.

I find my self looking back over the old black and white photos to see if any of my young mother-in-law was wearing any of the dozen hats and fascinators discovered in her hat box - and I haven't found any yet. I didn't even know about the existence of the hat box until just over 12 months ago when she had to have a particular hat (the one with all the little fur tails) to wear to my son's wedding, the same hat (and accompanying dress) which she had worn to her oldest son's wedding in 1983. She and I spent hours looking for the hat box and nearly left her old seaside home without locating it. Once found, she briefly looked through her memory hats that day as we quickly gathered the right hat and headed back into our home town an hour away. And that was all. Life moved on. 

Many finds remain intriguing mysteries, other my husband knows the story behind them, like dozens of Fowlers Vacola preserving jars retrieved from the boat shed. These have been scrubbed are now happily in use in our home and a local florist as vases.

Each week we make another trip down to continue the huge task of house sorting, and when time and the weather allow, we enjoy a little time at one of Iluka's wonderful beaches before heading home.

Life continues on amongst sorting my mil's affairs. Early morning walks are still a pleasure, before the heat and humidity of the day linger long. Quite a few new fabrics have been added to my Etsy shop over recent weeks, bringing variety as other fabrics sell out. An organic quilt from my Etsy shop has also made it's way to a new home this month. Nothing seems to mark the passing of time more distinctly than birthdays. Our youngest turned 10 this week - Miss E had a wonderful birthday and is a blessing to us every day!

Further details for some of these 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

Seasonal Sewing + Etsy Update

Spring

Summer

Autumn

Winter

As I stitch I like to think of the little stories the fabrics tell. Sometimes they speak of seasons, other times it may be happy tales of the garden. The block directly above was completed on the day of Mr J's wedding - here it is sitting with Master T's groomsman's waistcoat, new shoes and satin tie. I believe my favourite Ice Cream Soda Quilt block is still the one below.

I've really enjoyed sourcing more favourite fabrics and Extra Fine polyester thread in new colours for my Etsy shop. Many of the organic fabrics I stock are exclusive to the Australasian market in regards to their colours or the fabric type. Other fabrics have been purchased directly from the US or are now out of print and very difficult to find. There are a handful of fabrics which are not organic, including a cute Little Red Riding Hood print which is a very fine 75% linen, 25% cotton fabric. I've also introduced flat rate shipping within Australia of $3.50 on all fabric orders. For US fabric orders, I can usually ship a whole metre (39") at the rate quoted for a half metre, depending on the fabric's weight.

With so many beautiful fabrics on hand it's very tempting to think about sewing more than just quilts. The Wee Wander print above would make gorgeous little girls dresses. What would you make with the Little Red Riding Hood fabric?

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