Monday, August 28, 2006

Hexagon I Spy.



My hand sewing project ( Hexagon I Spy ( Eye Spy )) is progressing well. FJ asked how I was doing certain parts so I will go through it step by step.
Each little hexagon component has 3 layers, shown in the photo. ( backing, batting and feature fabric ). The backing fabric is put wrong side up and the batting and upper layer matched neatly lie on top and are pinned in place. Then fold the edge of the backing over ( just like doing a double binding ) and pin it down, progressing around the 6 sides, mitre the corners all in the same direction as you go. I have then hand sewn the edges down. You end up with a little padded hexagon. ( it would be ideal as a coaster ; or table mat in a larger size ) I will then quilt each one ( practise at machine quilting) ( or it could be done by hand ).
The sides of the hexagons then butt up together and will later be sewn to each other, after I have decided on the correct lay out and when I have finished 100s more! (don't know how big yet.) I will need to try and get a good mix of bright colours to make it interesting. I had quite a collection of kids feature prints as I have made previous I spy quilts.( by a different method.) I an intending to use the same backing for the whole lot, but this could be varied, using different colours in plain fabrics.

Yesterday I did a massive gardening project. I started demolishing a 12 year old fence on which some of my roses grow, because it was made of untreated gum logs and was rotting away. In order to get at parts of it I had to give the big old roses a huge haircut! After lunch DH took pity on me and helped which meant the project was cleared up in one go. The posts, ( treated timber ) still solid are left and we will string a chain along them this time. I have another chain fence quite close by so it will match up with that. I will be interested to see how the roses flower after such an attack.( they are so big now they can mainly free stand , more as bush roses) As well as a whole truck load of rotting wood and prunings I also dug out 2 tractor bucket loads of agapanthus that were creeping and multiply much too close to the same roses. It has cleared the fence line for putting up the chain. By last evening I was one tired gardener with a back that knew it had been working, but the only injury I had was one rose prickle stuck in my cheek to the right of my nose which DH carefully removed with the tweezers, and it is fine today. Very satisfying to complete a project like that. Phew! Nothing too strenuous planned for today.

9 comments:

Hedgehog said...

Thanks for the explanation. I've never seen a quilt made that way.

Ali Honey said...

Hi hedgehog, (lol )I've never made one this way before either!

Unknown said...

Lovely idea with the Japanese Folded Patchwork hexagons - like the I-spy subjects in each one and of course once you stitch all the hexagons together your quilt is done and you don't have to sandwich quilt and bind it like my hexagon one.

You were lucky that rose thorn got your nose and not your eye - thank goodness for husbands with or without tweezers :o)

KC Quilter said...

I LOVE that Hexie I Spy. I have wanted to put a dark edging around some hexies I have made but wasn't sure how to do that! Thanks for showing.

Judy said...

Very nice and oh so interesting how you are making them!!

Helen said...

Ali they're gorgeous! What a fun quilt it will be. Do you hand sew them all together too? Crumbs, I can't see me doing one, but I love it!

Fiona said...

How intriguing, like Hedgehog I've never seen them done like that before either. I like the backing fabric, it really showcases the feature prints.

ForestJane said...

Owww, a rose thorn stuck on your face? You deserve a day of rest!

The hexagons with the black trim will be SO pretty... but uggh, all that hand sewing would drive me bonkers... lol Thanks for the explanation, though!

Shelina said...

I've never seen a quilt made that way before either - at least not in hexagons, but I really like it. It seems like a lot of work - I think I would hate the cutting but enjoy the handwork - but when it is done, its done. I might just have to try this project with my leftover novelty fabric.