Today I finally finished piecing the top of the quilt for the half-hexagon quilt-a-long. However, the more I sewed rows together over the last several evenings, the more I realized that the quilt was going to fall far short in terms of size. I have to admit that I didn’t do a lot of counting of hexagons or measuring during layout. I was too impatient to get sewing! And all of the hexagons spread out on my design wall (flannel sheet) looked much bigger than when sewn together. So – I’m going to add about six more zig zags, which should add another 28 inches in length. It will still need a border of about 5 inches all the way around, so now I’m on the lookout for a good border fabric.
After laying out the rows this morning, I went out on the deck to enjoy a latte in the sunshine with my husband. When I came back in, one very naughty cat had done this with my hexie strips!
Not to be outdone, she was joined by her partner in crime….
This is the quilt top as it looked upon “completion” today – with fabrics above and below picked out for the new rows. I will repeat some fabrics, but get to incorporate a couple of new ones. Ahhhhhhh, more Amy Butler loveliness.
On Wednesday or Thursday I will be going over to our beach house to enjoy the beach and get a little more sewing done. I am excited to be reunited with a stack of quilt blocks that I accidentally left over there last visit. They are antique basket blocks that I rescued from their old, stained muslin backgrounds and appliquéd on fresh, new fabric. This is an idea that I fell in love with out of one of my favorite Kaffe Fassett books, Passionate Patchwork, and I will post pictures of them next week.
Below are peeks at twelve other antique blocks that I plan to incorporate into a quilt. These are a someday project, but I think they are so much fun! I don’t know whether to call them stars or flowers. Between each “petal” is a smaller “petal” in what I can only describe as a cathedral window style. They are all sewn by hand, with the center circle appliquéd onto the petals. When I get around to it, I am planning on appliquéing them onto new fabric.
With wishes, true and kind -- Joan
i was a bit unsure of size too...i wanted a square though...and am contemplating a border
ReplyDeletei love the white cat with the quilt blocks....the cat matches the background!
have fun at the beach...looking forward to seeing what you have been playing with there
I always seem to under estimate the size and have to add. You're right, even if you think you're compensating for the seams, it always seems to shrink. "Bad cats" but can you blame them. Those blocks are such a great find. I zoom in to see the detail.
ReplyDeleteI see you were able to insert a link! Congrats! Thanks for leading me to your blog, from the bit I've seen so far, I'm in for a treat...
ReplyDeleteThose cats hey!! don't they just think they were born to help!!
ReplyDeleteAs for those lovely antique blocks, I say flowers, definately!
your hexi's are sewn by machine. Does that turn out well? Can you do a grandma's flower garden by machine?
ReplyDeleteBeautiful work!!
ReplyDelete