Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Hexagons

I didn't expect this project to move as fast as it has. I enjoy basting the hexagons while I am watching TV. In fact I need to stop because my arm is beginning to hurt more than I stop because I'm bored. I know I'm not making a Grandmother's Flower Garden, but wasn't sure what I wanted to do. I've seen some small quilts made out of squares that are actually value or color studies, and I wondered if I could do that with the hexagons.

So at first I had this. A few basted hexagons and a few more that had been cut out, but not basted.

A few days later I had what is in the second photo. And yes, it looked like I could do that color and value study with them. At the point the photo was taken I had a lot of yellow and some blue ad a few green and brown hexagons And a total of 3 that were orange.

I've cut out a lot more. More dark colors. I've found a few more orange scraps in the stash. I've started cutting the red fabrics. So this second photo is not what the project is going to look like once it is finished. In fact, I've pulled the hexagons that are finished out of the configuration in the photo.

I'll try this again once more of the hexagons are done. What I am hoping for is a group of very light fabrics from several color ways, not just yellow, in the center and a rainbow for the middle ranges with the dark fabrics on the outside. I have some very dark blue and at least one, possibly two, blacks. It is very likely that the outer ring will be those two fabrics with maybe a very dark green and/or brown to fill in.

I'm not sure how big this will be. I'm not sure if I will try to finish it with the hexagons as the outer edge or if I will applique it to a large piece of solid neutral fabric. Or just borders. I've already pulled one hexagon out because it won't work, and I'll probably be doing that with a second. But that white and red hexagon just might find itself back once the red fabrics show up. 

Take care all.

12 comments:

  1. Your hexagons look great. I just started a project myself, I think I'm going to make 12" blocks with one color and then have a rainbow of blocks.

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  2. I'm always fascinated by hexagons, and even more by the patience people have to make an hexagon project! Yours looks great!

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  3. You have a beautiful blog and you do such nice work. I love the hexagons. I've awarded you the Liebster Award for blogs. I hope you have as much fun with this as I did. The info is here: http://dietingononeleg.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-liebster-award.html

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  4. hhmmm look good!
    I have 2 boxes of hexagons that were gifted to me. I'm not knowing when I will do a thing with them as I've not learned anything about hexagons yet. I was thinking you sewed them...couldn't figure out how. I see you are finishing them under.
    I think I will have to snoop around in youtube and figure some things out.

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  5. So many pretty hexagons, and so much work! Whatever you end up doing with them will be fabulous!

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  6. I can see why you liked the hexagon quilt I made (www.lacika.org & go to blog). Hexagons are a lot of fun to work with. I made a traditional charm quilt with hexagons. Since it was done by hand, it was a great "carry along" project when my son had surgery. If you want to try the folded hexagons I made, you can find a tutorial at Mary Anne Ciccotelli's website.

    I love the idea of using color and value for placement in your design.

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  7. That's an amazing idea! Your quilt is going to be beautiful. I would love to do a hexagon quilt someday, but I haven't been able to bring myself to start one. How did you cut your hexagons?

    -Bobbi
    amid.this.moment@gmail.com

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    1. I hope you see this. Look at the photo and you will see a plastic hexagon template. It has 3/8 inch seam allowances on it. I bought it at the same time and from the same online company I got the papers from. Because I'm only making one or two hexagons from each fabric, I'm back to the ancient method of drawing around the template with a pencil and cutting it out with a scissors. That is the fastest way if you aren't cutting multiples of the same fabric.

      It is like being in the 1970s again and making that first quilt. Back then the templates were cardboard. You made them the exact finished size, drew around them, cut them bigger and then sewed, running stitch by hand, on the pencil lines. The next technology was template plastic. It was a decade before the first rotary cutter and mat came out.

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    2. Thanks for the reply. And for the history lesson! That's so cool that you have experienced the different ways of quilting. I'll have to look into getting some templates. I need a new handwork project, and I'm thinking that hexagons are just the thing.

      -Bobbi

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  8. Great hexagons, I have a slight addiction to making them. Can;t wait to see how they turn out when done. I think it will be a few years til I finish mine, haha.

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  9. Beautiful fabrics! Hexagons are addictive. I'm making an hexagon quilt for my daughter.
    Regards

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