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Wednesday, December 29, 2021

4,901 Hexies!


I took the last stitches in the knife edge binding finish on the hexie quilt last evening.

The momentous last stitch passed by without much fanfare, but I will admit to emitting a soft sigh with a smile across my face.

It's been quite the journey.  So very on again and off again with this one.

Making the top as a travel-only project spanning a decade and a half - wondering if this would ever really become a real quilt, or would it more likely end up as a passed along "vintage" quilt top, making its way through many hands over so many generations.

"Oh you remember, great great aunt Bonnie....this is a quilt top she never finished...."  And back into the acid free paper and acid free box it goes to end up in the darkness of a closet until passed on to the next generation.


I posted this photo when the quilting was done, binding not yet started.

It's raining this morning so I can't quite get "totally finished" photos yet.

I have had many questions over the years on this, so here are those stats again.

The quilt is constructed with English Paper Piecing.  

I use a thread basting method that just tacks the corners on the underside of the papers.  the stitching doesn't go through the papers so they are removed as soon as a hexie is surrounded with others. NO GLUE.

There is a tutorial under the Tips & Techniques tab at the top of the blog.

My hexagons are 3/4'' per side, and there are 4,901 of them in this quilt.

The finished quilt measures approximately 74'' X 85''.  Not too big, not too small.

The only machine stitching in this quilt is where I pieced the backing with 1 seam.

I used a silk blend batting by Hobbs, and I plan on using it again when I get around to quilting Jeff's hexie quilt as well.

This one was made for my son Jason, but it won't go to him quite yet as he lives in a small studio apartment in Vancouver, Washington.  He doesn't have room for extra things. I'll keep it for him until he is settled and ready.

I do not plan on writing a pattern for this quilt.  Sometimes quilts are made just for personal reasons only.

When will I start hand quilting Jeff's?  I have a half-finished Oak Leaf & Reel that needs to be completed.  That will come up next in between other bindings and things.

Let's just say I need a break from hexies for a while!


Close up of quilting texture.

I'm going to measure some walls at Quiltville Inn.  I may find a way to display it seasonally there until Jason is ready for it.

Which means I'll need a hanging sleeve - I do usually add a sleeve to any finish that may be hung at any time in the future - because once done you never have to worry about it.

But for now I'm taking a break from this one.


I moved right into this one -

Boy, straight edged bindings are so much easier!


Yesterday's 66 degrees on December 28, 2021.

These hardworking guys have done so much in making my Christmas dream a reality.

They've gotten to where this long straight stretch turns the corner to the unloading zone.

I know we are racing the clock with this weather weirdness, but we are SO CLOSE to having this done.


Zoey napping in the sunshine.


It's looking so great, guys!

I didn't notice the rainbow above The Hubster's head until I uploaded this photo here, but he kind of deserves a halo, doesn't he?

The thing hanging to the upper right - the back yard tree swing is getting a "granny seat" for easier and more comfortable swinging. LOL!

That old wedgie board just had to go.  'Nuff said.

Zoey's tether is currently attached to the swing.  It allows her a lot of room to roam, without getting wrapped around anything.  In this photo she is actually next to me where I am sitting on the back porch steps.

The string project got SOME progress made yesterday.  There is still so much more to do and it is fairly repetitive so I've been digging into some audio books while at the machine.

My sewing area at the cabin is a complete and utter disaster as I dig through bins of strings to find the right piece, with all of the overflow landing on the floor around my feet and beyond.

I'm loving it!

With this rain today - Walkway work is put on hold.  I may just play hooky from the QPO today and stay home and sew strings.

How are things looking for your Wednesday?


Quiltville Quote of the Day -

There are only a couple days of 2021 left.
I love to end the year on a high note and think of all of the positive things that have happened this past year.
Yes, it's been a hard year of Covid and other upheavals, but I am so grateful for all of the experiences that 2021 has brought and look forward to the next adventure!⁣
I love this interesting quilt that looks like spinning tops, or are they upside down trees? Boats? Any ideas?

However you spend this last Wednesday of 2021, may it be a good one!


 

39 comments:

  1. Your hexie quilt is spectacular! An amazing finish!

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  2. a monumental quilt and finish...so many blessings this year in spite of annoying and resrictive covid...

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  3. Congratulations on the finnish! It looks amazing and I am overwhelmed just imagining all the hours of love that went into it! Happy New Year!

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  4. Your travel hexi quilt inspired me to try my hand. I only work on my 1" hexi's when I travel, and in October & November I was able to get several of my double diamonds done. I love your diligence with the knife edge finish and think a hanging sleeve is a great idea. It is a beautiful project, and I do hope that years from now it will be spoken of with love for GREAT GREAT Aunt Bonnie!

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  5. Kudos on getting your hexie quilt done! I'm closing in on finishing a 25 year quilt that I had planned to be a 5 year quilt. Well, you know, that's how it goes.

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  6. Lovely hexie quilt. I'm curious as to how heavy it is, how much does it weigh?

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  7. Your hexie quilt is so beautiful!!
    The weird weather we're having (I'm in NE TN) seems to be a gift to you guys from Mother Nature to complete your walkways! Have a sewtastic end to 2021!

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  8. Way to go! Looking fabulous. Happy New Year to you and yours. Marilyn Marks

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  9. It can be admired by all at the Quiltville Inn. I wonder how that extra 1 fit in there? Must be the center hexie, eh? That walkway is beautiful Dave does need a halo. And your son too. Their backs will be thankful for the rain. Just Snow here and I'm almost caught up for the mystery. Tried a few layouts, but am totally waiting for the Aqua on Friday. It needs more Garnet also. IMHO lol fun to see the progress on social media. I miss the link-ups.

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  10. Perhaps that quilt is dreidel inspired? Love your capacity for finishing long term projects! Thanks for sharing your progress.

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    1. i was thinking dreidel as well... Cats in CArlsbad, CA

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    2. I was thinking the same thing but couldn't remember what it was called. Glad you two ladies reminded me of what it is called.

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    3. Yes, or arrow heads perhaps.

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  11. The hexie quilt is stunning! You give everyone hope that they can finish their 'lifetime' project. Happy New Year!

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  12. Jason's quilt is gorgeous! Such a treasure!

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  13. Your Hexie Quilt is so beautiful and doing the binding just makes it more special. Enjoy a little straight binding.

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  14. Your hexie is beyond amazing. I am working on one as well. I call it my forever quilt. It is a joy to work on and I pull it out when I need a lift. Keep on doing what you are doing. We are all inspired by what you do. Thanks. Happy New Year to you all.

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  15. Absolutely beautiful. Congratulations on completing such a wonderful quilt.

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  16. The quilt is an amazing accomplishment! I also made one from Jodi at Tales of Cloth called Alexandria - bigger hexies - over 2600 of them. Wish I had seen your binding technique as I lopped off edges and bound. I love to use glue on my papers - wish I had the patience that you have to do the hand tacking - imagine it makes papers come out much easier. Thanks for sharing!

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  17. Is it weird that I got a little choked up this morning over your finish? So very happy for you! The quilt is so lovely, truly a masterpiece. Have enjoyed your updates on it over the years. Thanks for letting us come on that journey with you.

    Yay for more walkway progress! The antique quilt w today's quote is so pretty.

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  18. Your top quilt is not trees nor tops, but houses with a short walkway in front!!!

    I am happy to say that I think I touched that quilt on the way to a foreign destination...not sure which one! LOL.... Amazing work! :)

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    1. Love your 'houses with a short walkway' LOL.

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  19. Your top quilt is not trees nor tops, but houses with a short walkway in front!!!

    I am happy to say that I think I touched that quilt on the way to a foreign destination...not sure which one! LOL.... Amazing work! :)

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  20. Thanks you for all you do for your reader, Bonnie. May you have a blessed and prosperous 2022. My husband and I are enjoying a few weeks in Arizona.l We wanted a break from Iowa 's winter weather. Until yesterday Iowa was experiencing much warmer than normal winter weather. Because we flew down here I was not able to bring but 1 quilting project and I completed it. This break from quilting will make me really ready to hit it again when we get back home.

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  21. Such a wonderful Hexie quilt! Just a beautiful finish! Congratulations on a labor of love well done!

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  22. The quilt at the end, either a May Basket or Dreidel quilt are my guesses. A large flat under the bed storage box on wheels may help you rummage through the scrap bins easier. You have a lot of beds at the Inn, you could start a need a scrap/ leave a scrap system this way.

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  23. The hexie quilt is absolutely stunning...what a blessing for Jason to receive such an amazing gift.

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  24. Maybe they will call it "Gramma Bonnie's" quilt.
    Sharon

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  25. Jason is one lucky dude. What a beautiful heirloom he will be getting from his mom.
    The vintage quilt looks kind of like large album type blocks cut in fourths and set with plain alternating squares.

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  26. Such a stunningly beautiful hexie quilt! Well worth the wait!

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  27. Thanks for the idea that the block in quote quilt is a Dreidel. Makes sense. Thought it an expanded arrow, and it was upside down. I like Dreidel.

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  28. The hexie quilt is beautiful! I can imagine the joy as you completed that last stitch! You have inspired me to finish my English paper pieced Grandmother's Flower Garden and I am in the process of hand quilting it now. I started in the mid 1990s with a take-along project! Thanks for all your tips and techniques I was able to get it sewn together as a top during the last couple of years. Hope to have it finished by the end of 2022!

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  29. I love your hexagon Christmas quilt. It is so beautiful and the knife edge is a great finish. I have saved all your information about making it. I want to get into my stash and pull all the greens, reds and backgroud fabrics out to get ready to start cutting and sewing. I love hand sewing and hand quilting. I made a grandmother's flower garden years ago. I have templates for making the patches. When I made my grandmother's flower garden I cut strips of fabric leaving enough room on the strip to have a seam alloance on each side. Then I marked around the template with pencil the all the way down the strip leaving enough seam allowances. on each side. Then I could cut a hexie of which ever color I needed and sew the pieces together. Thank you, Bonnie for being so generous with information about how you made your hexie.

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  30. OMGIGOSH... I can only dream. My VERY LARGE hexies were started in 2015. Looking forward to the journey. The vintage quilt? wow. something that spins! I am agreeing with a couple of those, spinning top or dreidel hmmm ?? Did you plan the rounds on YOUR hexie quilt as you went or did you graph the quilt ahead? Always interested in the process. Thanks. Wishing you and your MANY BLESSINGS in the coming year <3
    Karen

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  31. Your hexie quilt is a true heirloom! Stunning! I immediately thought "dreidel" when I saw the quote quilt. Wishing you and yours a Happy, Healthy New Year!

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  32. I must think like Tammie. I immediately thought those figures were large arrows!

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  33. Love your hexi-quilt. It is stunning.

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  34. Wow, Congrats on that last stitch on your hexie star quilt! That must have just been surreal. I remember when you started that❤️ Brava!!

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