Over the last month I’ve had lots of travel time happening. We were to Rochester, MN twice, Forest City, Iowa to a picnic, to Clear Lake to the antique show and several times out for doctor appointments. Every time I head out I always grab something to do in the car. Lately it’s been this.
I started this a long time ago. I had seen it on a blog…like when I first realized there were blogs. It was on a blog called Simply Libby. I read it all the time and loved it. The writer has since quit updating her blog..sad for me, I really enjoyed it. She originally blogged regularly, then less and less. Eventually I quit checking. Anyway she was working on a English Paper Pieced Hexagon quilt. I loved it and decided to jump into paper piecing. I didn’t know anything about it just knew I could do it in the car or watching television. I was in. I found someplace on the internet that I could print hexagons from and I was on my way.
The blogger didn’t even have her quilt finished and I loved it enough to jump in. As I said, I had no idea what I was doing!!
Read more about the blog that inspired me here. http://simplylibby.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2012-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&updated-max=2013-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&max-results=50
What is not to love about this….Can you see how I was tempted to jump in.
Remember I said I knew nothing about English Paper piecing. That’s the truth. I just started not even thinking about size of hexagons of anything else. And here’s where that plan took me….Years later, I have a stack of diamonds and a stack of stars. I was going to snap a picture of the stars and diamonds but alas they are upstairs and this foot isn’t taking me there soon….anyway, I have about 25 stars in various states and about 75 diamonds completely done. I don’t work on it much except when I’m in the car..but I still consider that I’m actively working on it.
Then awhile back when I was internet surfing I saw a picture of someone’s hexie project. It was held up next to their hand. It was tiny. A light came on in my brain. Oh my. I bet my hexies are a different size than the ones in the original blog post I saw about the quilt. I measured my star across. On my. It was large…about 25″. OH NO!! My hexies are WAY to big.
Okay….DEEP BREATH. I can’t have done all of this paper piecing for nothing. It was time to change the plan. I was not going to finish the stars that I had in various states of progress. I was going to start assembling the diamonds and stars..and that’s what I’ve done. I want to see what I have and what I need. Yes, I know I could graft it all out and see but I’m not going to. I’m just going to start stitching them together.
I’ve figured out that mine will likely only be four stars across…not five like shown. That’s all A-Okay. As long as my project isn’t trashed in the process, I don’t mind a bit. I would have HATED for all the work to have been for nothing.
I thought that it would come together quickly being that I have stars and diamonds done….wrong. The black outlines are taking forever!! Don’t look for this to be finished any time soon. Although if I keep having medical issues it might be sooner that I thought.
Lovely hexagons. What size are you using? How are they measured? I’m sure you’ll have it done before you know it and without more health issues! I’m amazed at how many projects you are juggling at once. Soon you’ll have several finished all at once! What fun!
I love the hexagon quilt and in the process of one myself and finished a different one last year. I have never seen the blog you listed and always wonder why someone just quits a blog without an explanation knowing they have readers – would always like a reason – even if it is just “I have lost interest”
Libby’s is really beautiful, so I can see why you started making one for yourself. I have an applique Dresden that’s keeping me busy for a little while longer, but I’ve been wanting to make another hexie quilt, and this one is a winner for sure. I love how the black pops the other colors. What size are your hexies?
I like Libby’s hexie quilt. I’m sure yours will be just as pretty regardless of size.
You’re lucky you can do hand work while riding in a car. I’ve never tried, but I get soooo car sick trying to read. I usually take along a paperback, so I can read when we park and Hub goes into a store I’m not interested in.
I love hexies! I am making a hexie quilt myself, of my own design.
You can tell what size hexies you are making by measuring one of the straight sides. If it measures 1 inch then it is a 1 inch sized hexie. They come in lots of sizes, including 1/4 inch, can you imagine. The 1 inch size seems to be the “standard” size. A friend made a 1/2 inch hexie project. It is beautiful, but small!
Have fun. If you happen to need more papers for your project or some of your readers don’t know . . . In the scrapbooking department of Joann’s Stores is a hexagon paper cutter. It come in two sizes, 1-inch and 3/4-inch. You can use as papers all those cards that fall out of magazines.
Happy Hexing!
I think I’m going to have to start one of these hexie projects. I sat in a 6-hr continuing ed seminar today. and some people bring sewing projects to work on while they listen to the lectures; I should do that too. I’ve looked for hexie quilt patterns but haven’t found any that struck my creative fancy. I’m probably looking in the wrong places. I’ve got a 1-1/4″ to 1-1/2″ hexie maker which stamps out the paper hexies but haven’t used it yet. Your hexies are very pretty.
One of the great things about quilting is you can do what you want. Sometimes you make an error and the solution to fix the error is what “makes” the quilt! I think a 25″ star sounds fine — it takes less of them to make a nice-sized quilt.
Love your hexagon star! It is going to be a beauty for sure. Thank you for featuring my blog in your post and driving some traffic my way. It inspired me to do an update on what I have been doing post blogging. It’s fun to know that people are still out there enjoying my little escapades and wondering what in the world I’ve been up to.
Have a great day!