I did not intend to take such a long break from blogging and sharing my sewing adventures! But I have enjoyed taking the "work" out of what has been my normal for the last 10 years; instead simply enjoying the making, and enjoying every decision that comes with that, from leisurely choosing fabric, to design, and every single (slow) stitch. No deadlines, no pressure to document.
And I have been sewing! I have been working on this Stretched Hexies Quilt top for the last few weeks. This quilt top has been English Paper pieced (EPP). I continue to enjoy this slow sewing process, and have spent many a long and warm Summer days quietly stitching. I really like this traditional coffin shape, but it was pointed out to me that calling this quilt my Coffin Quilt was a little morbid, and as such Stretched Hexies Quilt it is.
The fabrics chosen for this project were predominantly from my "low volume" fabric stash, with a splash of more vibrant color here and there. A low volume fabric to me is a print/design on a white/light background and as you can see my version of low volume is in fact quite colorful (and busy!). All fabrics are printed quilting cottons and range in design from simple basics (dots, stripes, gingham) to floral and text fabrics, and larger scale graphic designs.
Most fabrics have been repeated four times, some have been repeated more often to create a somewhat cohesive look. Many of the fabrics have been fussy cut to feature a fabric design element. All fabrics were cut by using a rotary cutter and a coffin shape acrylic template (with 3/8" seam allowance).
QUILT DETAILS
Stetched Hexies Quilt
Quilt top measures approximately 50 inches x 60 inches.
English Paper Pieced.
710 Stretched Hexagons (Coffin Shapes)
Stretched Hexagon measurements:
Short Sides: 1 inch.
Long Sides: 1½ inches.
Started: February 2019.
Fabrics Used:
Quilting Cotton
TOOLS AND NOTIONS
710 Coffin Shape Paper pieces.
Coffin Shape Acrylic Template with 3/8" seam allowance.
Water Soluble Basting Glue - Sewline.
Straw Needles - Size 11.
The Bottom Line 60wt thread by Superior Threads
in cream (655).
I found that the easiest way to sew these shapes together and manage the progress of the quilt top was to piece the coffin shapes together into blocks as pictured above. I pieced 35 such blocks with fabrics chosen at random. Once the blocks were all completed I arranged and re-arranged them until I was happy with the overall layout, and then I pieced the blocks together: first in long vertical rows, and then I joined the long vertical rows together to complete the finished quilt top. Papers were removed as the quilt top progressed.
I now have two finished EPP quilt tops that need quilting (here is the other quilt top) and I have firm plans to finish both within the next few weeks. Let's hope I can commit to doing so without further distraction.
As always, thank you for stopping by!
Rita
RELEVANT LINKS:
More RPQ English Paper Piecing Projects:B is for Blues - A Hexagon Quilt (December 2018)
A Scrappy Grandmother's Flower Garden Quilt (September 2018)
Liberty of London Hexagon Quilt (September 2018)
Liberty Stars Quilt (January 2018)
More RPQ Low Volume Quilts:
Modern Half Square Triangle Quilt and Quilt Pattern (May 2016)
One Patch Quilt :: Diamonds (July 2018)
Bright Hopes Quilt (November 2017)
A Low Volume Herringbone Quilt (November 2017)
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