Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Hexagons


I have a few antique hexagon quilts in my collection.  The oldest is circa 1830, and the most recent finished quilt is circa 1930.  The Graduation Quilt is a hexagon, but it's been gifted, and no longer mine.  I do have three hexagon projects in process.  If I finish one this year I could say my collection ranges from 1830-2016 representing 186 years...

These are 1/2" hexagon florets.  I will add tot he variety this year, maybe get to 200 next year.  The project is all planned and includes applique.





These are silk hexagons, 3/4" per side.
Made from silk fabrics, primarily ties.

I have enough ties to make three table runners.  One for me and then one for each child.  Several of the silks are old ties from my husband over the last 40+ years.

I was also gifted some Italian silk ties to add to the mix, variety is a good thing!

I am not sure how I will set them, I will decide after more are completed.  Setting silk may be a purchase.







This is my New Years start....1/4 " hexagons.
A friend said she was going to try them.  "They are so cute" she innocently said...that was all I needed and I was all in too!  Ever the optimist, I bought a package of 1,200.  Yes, 1,200.
Paper Pieces HERE
These are my first three from trash scraps at the cutting table.
What to do with them?
Lots of ideas came to mind - but it is always nice to hook in some other WIP.




I purchased a few of the small (6") Fruit Basket Medallion panels from the Quilt & Textiles Collection HERE.

This is the 6" medallion, with the 1/4" florets.
I plan to trim the medallion then add a printed fabric border before I add the hexagon round.

I will keep the finished size of the quilt small, maybe 18" - it is still evolving...
My approach to hexagons is simply paper, needle and thread.  I don't starch, glue or baste through the papers. I reuse the papers.  Just a little tack stitch at each corner works best for me.

Do you have any hexagon projects?




32 comments:

  1. Wow are those LITTLE! I've been making hexies every night in front of the TV, but I don't have a particular project in mind for them yet. Something scrappy eventually.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree Gayle! They are so fun to make, and scrappy is good too.

      Delete
  2. Wowsers those are teeny tiny! Very, very cute though :0) enjoy! I have one hexie project going - it's small and supposed to become a bag.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Gorgeous work! So small and perfect. I still haven't started any hexies, but they are definitely growing on me!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I do have a hexiflower project; been at it since 2011. Love the fussycuts in the first picture. Maybe my next hexi project will have fussycuts too. The green and black (navy?) hexi in the second picture is SOOOO AWESOME!! ♥ Down to 1/4 inch? Don't know if I can go that low lol. Good luck with the medallion project.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The green wave one is an Italian silk. I had to use it right away, just love it!!

      Delete
  5. Yup, I'm working on a hexie project too, but no where as teenie weenie as 1/4"! And I can see you're fussy cutting some of those! Wow! They do look good around the medallion. Love the idea of using the silk ties. My hexies are 1 1/8" and that seems like a good size for me. :0)

    ReplyDelete
  6. They just kept shrinking as the post went on!
    Oh, I applaud those tiny hexies. I ventured into that arena last fall, but not so successfully. One little floret was all I could handle. Your project is going to be wonderful!
    I have two hexie UFOs, and sometimes I actually work on them. : )

    ReplyDelete
  7. That is soooo small! I have never done a hexie project....I would probably need a new pair of glasses to make them this small ;-)!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love hexagons! I have a chocolate box full of basted 3/4" hexagons, just need to sew them together now!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I really love hexagons, but I have no project going along with them at the moment, as I am working on the first block of a brand-new (well, to me...) project, from which the picture is here in your blog ;)).
    But your hexagons are so lovely, especially the tiny ones. And combined with the wonderful panel I can see a beautiful quilt evolving (would be great with the very little ones too, I think).

    ReplyDelete
  10. Yes I have about six hexi projects.....none 1/4" though....just too small to think I would ever finish. My projects seem to evolve as I sew, ie no pattern.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Nice, Dawn! Hexagons are not generally high on my list but yours just might make me change my mind! (I have the same panel from Q&TC...it will be fun to see how different ours finish, huh?)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Lori, you are a no reply commenter. I look,forward to seeing how you finish your panel. They are so nice! I bought all three sizes.

      Delete
  12. Now that IS working with your scraps, what tiny hexies!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Love what you are doing with our medallion! Can't wait to see the finished project. Thanks so much for including the link to our Etsy shop.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi, can I ask where you purchased 1,200 hexies papers?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Paper Pieces http://www.paperpieces.com/shop-online.htm
      I also highly recommend their templates for fussy cutting

      Delete
    2. Thank you!
      I have just started making "pickle dish" from the book Kindred Spirits by Jill Shaulis and Vicki Olsen. I'm using the 3/8" hexies. It is a framed piece.

      Delete
  15. Beautiful hexagons and project ideas!
    I don't have any current projects going with hexie's but I have a hexagon diamonds quilt on my wish list.

    ReplyDelete
  16. so sweet and tiny - what a great post and sharing of lovely little hexies
    happy new year!

    ReplyDelete
  17. I usually just melt when seeing your applique and am looking forward to meeting you at Dorry's in the Netherlands.But those hexagons ,love them!! I have a 3/4" project going and a project with tiny ones too. The larger will eventually become a bedquilt. The tiny ones are for a bag. And I also only take an extra stitch at the back. If I fussycut I will use a tiny bit of glue to make sure my paper doesnt shift. Keep making beauties.
    Groetjes uit Nederland, Terenja Hupscher

    ReplyDelete
  18. Dawn they are just delightful! I guess 1200 of the teensy ones would be required to make a sizeable quilt ...gulp. The medallion surrounded by hexagons is a wonderful project - already looks sooo charming!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Ooooh, love all your hexies!!! That fruit medallion project is going to be lovely! And silk ties! What fun! I love hexies. I have various plans for various hexie projects. Who knows if they will ever happen. lol!

    ReplyDelete
  20. oh this will be darling! I don't have any hexies going on now but I did a bit last year ! :) They are like potato chips...you can't 'eat' just one! :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. Have to love those hexies - like potato chips - just can't stop! Working with silk must be a challenge???

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, hard to put the hex work down. The silk is tricky. I sometimes use one of the tiny binding clips at a corner to get started. The silks vary in weight too. When fussy cutting I sometimes add the challenge of bias!

      Delete
  22. Hexagons are sooo dutch. I have an antique dutch hexagon quilt, still with the paperpieces inside!

    ReplyDelete
  23. I love your tiny hexies and what a clever choice to combine them with that beautiful medallion.
    I am currently working on Karen's (Faeries & Fibres blog) Value Proposition hexagon quilt.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I love hexies and your projects are no exception. Those 1/4" are crazy! They're perfect for around the medallion. I can only think of one hexie project I have going. I was thinking how slowly that quilt is coming together but I guess it makes sense since it is bed size and all hand pieced!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for your comments!