Every so often I really enjoy a hand stitching project. English paper piecing is fun to do. A few years ago I used quite large paper hexagons ( 1-1/2" on each side) to make this quilt:
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| (I forgot to take a photo of the finished quilt! Oops. But it is finished, and in use on our sofa in Savannah) |
as you can see, it only uses 10 flowers with a green round of diamonds to connect them. I machine ziz-zagged it down on the background piece of fabric and then did the applique on it by machine as well.
This time out, I am using smaller hexagons, that measure one inch on each side.
A while ago, I had tried out this same diamond shape with a place in the center to put some focus fabric:
I really liked the shape, so I decided to try a bigger project using the diamond, this time using some of my favorite bright colored fabrics. There are some solids, and some black and white prints as well.
I had some really great fabric by Anna Maria Horner from a couple of years ago in a bright yellow with roses:
So after I had a few diamonds stitched together, I basted them to the fabric where there was a nice piece of fabric showing. This is what the basted pieces looked like from the wrong side,
I am showing the back so that you can see what it looks like if you havent ever tried paper piecing,
I don't bother cutting the fabrics into hexagons, I just use squares. For this size of hexagon (one inch sides), I use a 2-1/2" square of fabric.
They are really nice to work with on a snowy day in Saskatchewan. I realized that the brightest window in our house is in the dining room, so I dragged an easy chair in there so I can work on them in the light.
love the quilt and the idea on framing a picture...
ReplyDeleteI remember this quilt! I loved it then and I still love it now. The applique is particularly lovely. I think I went out and bought 3 or 4 books with these type of applique patterns after the first time I saw it, lol! Thanks for being so inspiring!
ReplyDeletewhat a lot of little pieces! i'm struggling along with a two little pairs of jammies....and that makes me feel overwhelmed! gosh i hate the winter!
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing - the idea of framing like a picture gives me ideas for a postcard...if ever i finish these jammies!
cheers!
molly
I LOVE the bright hexie frames around a signature fabric. This is going to look fantastic and I hope I get to see it IRL.
ReplyDeleteI really love you flower garden quilt (first picture). I can't stop thinking about it. Do you have a pattern for it? Can I buy it?
ReplyDelete