Tuesday, December 18, 2018

B is for Blues ~ A Hexagon Quilt | Part 2

B is for Blues ~ A Hexagon Quilt | Part 2  © Red Pepper Quilts 2018 #englishpaperpiecing #redpepperquilts #hexagonquilt

In case you are wondering what I have been up to ... this is it! Needless to say, the process of transforming the 108 hexie flowers from my previous work in progress blog post into a quilt top has been time consuming. Although I had already pictured in my mind how the hexie flowers were all going to fit together, I did spend much time pondering the final layout and the contrasting colors, including the use of the chambray - linen look - fabric for the joining hexie. Was it all going to work?

B is for Blues ~ A Hexagon Quilt | Part 2  © Red Pepper Quilts 2018 #englishpaperpiecing #redpepperquilts #hexagonquilt
B is for Blues ~ A Hexagon Quilt | Part 2  © Red Pepper Quilts 2018 #englishpaperpiecing #redpepperquilts #hexagonquilt
B is for Blues ~ A Hexagon Quilt | Part 2  © Red Pepper Quilts 2018 #englishpaperpiecing #redpepperquilts #hexagonquilt
All photos have been taken after the removal of all papers.

Sometimes when you spend a lot of time staring closely at something, self doubt can creep in, you feel like you've lost your way, and you wonder if your project going to turn out as planned. I finally turned the corner of doubt once many of the units were pieced into long rows, and long rows were sewn together. This stage is probably my favorite part of English Paper Piecing; once the many individual units come together, a quilt top emerges!

B is for Blues ~ A Hexagon Quilt | Part 2  © Red Pepper Quilts 2018 #englishpaperpiecing #redpepperquilts #hexagonquilt
Click on any image for a larger view.

I am super pleased with how the quilt top turned out. The color palette has plenty of variation; from deep dark navy to teal, aqua, and baby blue, mixed with a hint of green and shades of grey. The pops of bright yellow have added a ray of sunshine in all the right places. Yes, I did arrange and re-arrange the layout until I was happy with the overall composition of colors, ensuring also that no two the same hexie flowers were alongside one another. Inevitably something always sneaks past my close inspection. I am not perfect!

B is for Blues ~ A Hexagon Quilt | Part 2  © Red Pepper Quilts 2018 #englishpaperpiecing #redpepperquilts #hexagonquilt
B is for Blues ~ A Hexagon Quilt | Part 2  © Red Pepper Quilts 2018 #englishpaperpiecing #redpepperquilts #hexagonquilt
B is for Blues ~ A Hexagon Quilt | Part 2  © Red Pepper Quilts 2018 #englishpaperpiecing #redpepperquilts #hexagonquilt

QUILT DETAILS
B is for Blues ~ A Hexagon Quilt
Quilt top measures approx 55 inches x 67 inches.
English Paper Pieced.
108 Blue/Green/Grey Hexagon Flowers.
88 White Hexie Flowers with (Black Centers).
Hexagon size: 7/8" SIDES.
Total Hexagons: 1861
Started: October 2018

Fabrics Used:
Quilting Cotton
(Many of the floral fabrics are by Japanese designer
Suzuko Koseki for Yuwa Fabrics).
Kona Cotton in White (Robert Kaufman)
Melange Yarn Dyed (Chambray - Cotton) in Natural by Lecien

B is for Blues ~ A Hexagon Quilt | Part 2  © Red Pepper Quilts 2018 #englishpaperpiecing #redpepperquilts #hexagonquilt

TOOLS AND NOTIONS
 7/8 Inch Hexagon Papers (1861 hexagons)
7/8 Inch Hexagon Template with 3/8" seam allowance.
Water Soluble Basting Glue - Sewline.
Straw Needles - Size 11.
The Bottom Line 60wt thread by Superior Threads
in white (621), cream (655), and beige (652).

B is for Blues ~ A Hexagon Quilt | Part 2  © Red Pepper Quilts 2018 #englishpaperpiecing #redpepperquilts #hexagonquilt

Let's for a moment talk about piecing the 88 solid white hexie flowers. Oh yes, that did test my strength of character: basting 500+ hexie papers with solid white fabric, then piecing the same hexie flower 88 times, over and again. I had to grit my teeth and set myself a daily target, and eventually slow and steady won the race, and it was worth it. 

B is for Blues ~ A Hexagon Quilt | Part 2  © Red Pepper Quilts 2018 #englishpaperpiecing #redpepperquilts #hexagonquilt
B is for Blues ~ A Hexagon Quilt | Part 2  © Red Pepper Quilts 2018 #englishpaperpiecing #redpepperquilts #hexagonquilt

The hexagon papers have been removed (all the photos here are of the quilt top after the papers have been removed) and this quilt top is now ready for basting and quilting. 

I am signing off until early next year, and wish all of my readers a joyous and peaceful holiday season spent with family and friends. Of course, I also hope you too get to spend some time with needle and thread!

Merry Christmas and best wishes for 2019,
Rita


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24 comments:

  1. Wow! Your determination to get this done is amazing. I love English paper piecing but to accomplish this in less than three months is quite the accomplishment. I worked on a queen size one that is now a completed top for over 15 years (doing many other things along the way as well) and I am currently trying to find some direction with a new project myself. I totally understand the rearranging and yes something always escapes our eye but I have embraced that it is just better when they fall where they may. It’s a beautiful quilt. Merry Christmas to you as you enjoy the holidays with your family and friends.

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  2. I always disliked EPP, but this one is so "fris en vrolijk" as we say in Holland, that I hereby give my approval😉.
    Happy Christmas for you and your family.

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  3. B is for Blue is the bomb!! What more can I say! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family Rita. xo

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  4. I am in love with this quilt! Great job!

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  5. I love this quilt! I'm embarking on my first EPP project after Christmas due to some extended travel. Your work is always an inspiration! Merry Christmas!

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  6. You are a true artist and this quilt is lovely! Well done!

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  7. Your quilt is lovely, Rita! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family.
    -Jean ❤

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  8. I've been wanting to do some EPP, and this quilt is so inspiring. Thanks for sharing!

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  9. I do miss your presence online, but it's great that you are sewing with great pleasure!

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  10. Absolutely gorgeous! I am always so impressed with your vision. Have a very merry holiday season with your family and friends. I’m not the only one looking forward to your return after the new year. Your posts are so inspiring!

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  11. Well done Rita! I do love this creation, and you❤️
    I hope you have a happy Christmas.
    What was more difficult making the white ones? Did you feel like you were working in a hospital? haha
    The colored ones, especially the patterned ones, are difficult for me to keep them straight,
    Sewing is different now but I know how many times you are somewhere and people ask you what you are making.
    In October, daddy was in the hospital with CHF and I brought my sewing. I did not realize what a spectacle I was creating just having a little 4x7 box with fabrics needles and templates.
    This quilt is very very pretty.

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  12. Oh my! Beautiful! I can see the white hexie flowers with yellow centers as daisies and the colored hexie flowers as black eyed Susan's and cone flowers. Now I have to make one too! But I will use larger hexies.

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  13. This is just stunning!!! I’ve thought about trying some epp and this quilt makes me want to do it!! Love the modern feel with the white and gray. Thank you for always inspiring us!!

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  14. Such and unusual quilt. Absolutely breathtaking as always!!!

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  15. I am so very much in love with this wonderful quilt! It is the best thing I've seen in blogland for awhile. I do love blues though. I love hand work and all other types of quilting techniques, but I don't love Hexies yet. I sure wish I did because I would SO make this quilt!

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  16. this is gorgeous! great color combo - can't wait to see how it finishes up!

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  17. This is lovely and very interesting to look at. It's one of your best! Happy Holidays to you and yours!

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  18. Very nice!! I have been working on a scrappy EPP and have over 100 different flowers together and have been debating on how to do the edges. I really like your edges and may do something similar. Beautiful

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  19. love, love, love your layout! I think your wonderful choice of fabrics and colours really shine in this combination of organized main structure and random, eye-catching individual flowers. Thank you for sharing your beautiful creations and craftmanship with us.

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  20. lovely fussy cutting! Happy New Year!!

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  21. Just Beautiful.....do u press before or after removing papers ??

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  22. beautiful! I love your use of the blues and the white and the chambray! gorgeous!! Hugs, H in Healdsburg

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