Tag Archives: Hexagons

Big Block

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This is an enormous block for me – 18″ from side to side and about 21″ from point to point. I’m going to make two of them and then turn them into — well, I don’t know yet. I might just add setting pieces to turn them into large rectangles and use them as the covers of a stitching book. It’s made with the Inklingo 18″ Rose Star collection. I used  the 3″ hexagons and one-third of the 3″ hexagons from the 3″ Hexagon collection for some of the shapes as well as the kites in the Rose Star collection. I fussy cut the large centre hexagon. Had I used all kites, I could have had an entirely different effect.

The back after grading the seams and pressing.

A new small project was added to the list. Enough was printed on fabric for 12 blocks and I’ll hopefully have the first one made sometime today. It’s going to be a small quilt made up of only the 12 blocks and a border. Some fussy cutting and printing to make a couple of trial blocks for the Pickled Ladies pieced border was the major thing I wanted to get done on the weekend and I did. Now to make a couple of those blocks and decide if I like how it looks.

Baxter loves the top tier of his kitty tree during the day.

And, as shown in this Baxtertoon, he also loves it at night.

In fact, as I was writing this post last night, his paws were dangling mid-air as he snoozed in that top tier.

Five of One, Half A Dozen of Another

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Yes, I know the saying is six of one, half a dozen of another but only five of the little Drunkard’s Path units were finished so …

Yesterday there was a question about the matching/registration points on the 2″ Drunkard’s Path blocks. As a picture tells the story much better than words could, I took this picture of the back of two pieces showing just how many matching points there are. You can really see them if you click on the photo to enlarge it. Those matching points are the secret to perfect curved piecing. Pin, stitch to pin, move pin, stitch to pin and so on. And the curves are perfect every time!

The half a dozen?

Half a dozen of the red and white Texas stars. Remember them? Last time I showed this project, an entire row wasn’t yet done. Since then it has grown to three complete rows (I’m joining them as I go) and with these six and a couple more I’ll soon have the fourth row done and attached.

It presses beautifully. I realized as I pressed the six that I haven’t been grading the seams on this one as I went so some time will be spent on the weekend doing just that. I don’t want to take any chances on the deep red shadowing through the white on this one.

This is our long Victoria Day weekend and the weather forecast couldn’t be better. Hot and sunny. Who could ask for more on the first long weekend of the season?

Baxter on “his” quilt. He loves to sit up there in the evening.

Whimsical Stitcheries

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This idea has been in the works for a week or so. Mr. Q.O. draws some fabulously fun creatures, so I asked if some could be drawn for the little hexagon quilt. So far he has drawn four or five and I’ve then traced them on to 2″ hexagons, which I had already printed and cut out. Three got stitched last night – a turtle, fish and frog. There are other fish and various other creatures who will show up periodically as I turn them into little 2″ embroidered hexagons.

The final layout of this is still far from decided, but I’m thinking it will be a small cot quilt when it’s done. It’s fun to do a few stitchery blocks from time to time.

We ran into a former neighbour who had some really exciting news. She has been accepted into the Nurse Practitioner Ph.D. program at Yale. Mr. Q.O. knew, before I said it, that I was going to decide she needs a lap quilt to take along with her to remind her of her time in Toronto. I think a fair amount of time is going to be spent on the weekend looking at possible design ideas.

Mr. Q.O. captioned this shot, “The Critic.” The minute we start setting up to take photos, Baxter’s right there.

Cheerful Hexagon Blocks

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Close to half a dozen more of the little hexagon blocks were added to the group on the weekend. As each of these hexagons measures 2″, the quilt should grow fairly quickly. That said, for now it’s only weekend play stitching as I’m going back to work on the red and white piecing during the week.

We had a beautiful Easter weekend with mild temperatures and lots of sun. And, unfortunately, lots of allergens in the air. There’s a lot of sneezing going on in this household.

This week I’m hoping to go through my quilt books as I know there are a number that should go to new homes. They’re taking up a lot of shelf space and are books I know I won’t be looking at again. What do you do with quilt books which you longer want?

Then I’m hoping to attack, once again, my fabric and try to get it organized in a better fashion. I need to figure out a way of storing it that doesn’t involve large containers as they’re too heavy for my hands. One idea I’ve had is to empty a bookshelf or three and use them for the fabrics I most often turn to. That way they’d be out where I could see and easily access them. But that would also put fabric within reach of a certain kitty who just loves nothing better than to get a piece of fabric.

Saturday night I failed to put all the little hexagon blocks out of reach and Mr. Q.O. woke up Sunday morning to find two of them on the bedroom floor. There was no damage done and no teeth marks. Baxter just likes carting them around.

Mr. Q.O. captioned this one, “You woke me … for food?”

Red and White Stars

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The first row of the stars is almost together. Two more full stars and a couple of partial stars and row 1 will be finished. This is turning into the project I want to work on when I’m tired, as it’s a fast and easy stitch. The camera wouldn’t, for some reason, read the red fabric well. I’m going to join rows as I stitch so that when the stitching is finished, the top will be finished as well. Once a couple of rows are together, I think we’ll take this out to the roof garden and see if we can get a better shot outdoors.

You may have noticed I’ve been changing the blog around a lot this week. Finally, I’ve got it to the point I’m happy with it. So no more changes for a while.

Baxter was 3 months old on Saturday and we got this shot of him. He’s definitely getting longer and I think we’ll soon see the wonderful Maine Coon tail.

Another One-Flower Wednesday

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The missing container of hexagons was finally found.   The photo only shows about half the hexagons that are actually contained in there, all .50″ hexagons.  So after what seems like weeks, I was able to make one little flower to add to my garden for One Flower Wednesday.

The back:

This time I tried a different stitching sequence than my normal and found that it’s much faster.  Linda Franz posted this video on stitching hexagons on her blog last week and after watching it, I figured I’d try that stitching sequence.  It definitely makes a difference.

The pieced blocks for the baby quilt are finished.  As soon as I finish some work today, I’m going to lay them all out with the sashing elements and get started putting the top together.  It’s pretty clear now I won’t finish it by the end of August, but I’m still going to try for by the middle of September.

Was something going on with Blogger blogs on Tuesday?  I was able to leave comments on a few blogs early in the day but then had difficulties later in the day leaving comments.

The following two photos are of Queen’s Park — a park near our provincial legislature which is also called Queen’s Park.  It’s a beautiful park with lots and lots of lovely trees and just a short walk from here.

A view north towards Queen’s Park, the legislature building, from University Avenue:

Another view, as one goes further north on University Avenue:

I noticed that some of the leaves on the trees on the roof garden are turning yellow and falling already.  It’s still quite warm, but the light is definitely changing.

Smudge is getting into cooler weather mode, I think, wanting lots of lap time.

A rather soft focus shot of Lester:

Pincushion Fun

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Among other things, I made this little pincushion on the weekend.  I used some of the 1″ hexagons from the Inklingo POTC collection and 1″ squares to make it.  Stitching the two little blocks took no time but stuffing it and then stitching the last seam closed took a while.  It’s a great size for a portable stitching kit.

The opposite side:

Do you have a favourite fabric you try to include in many of your quilts?  I have these two.  These fabrics have both have been in many quilts I’ve made.   I bought 3 or 4 FQs of the little squares one, and am getting close to the end of it.  I think some of it will show up in the Spring Circles quilt I make for us while the almost solid pink may be my second option for the outer edge pieces of that quilt.

We had fabulous weather on the weekend.  A bit drizzly on Saturday but after that it was just gorgeous.  Monday was nice and hot with a humidex reading of about 32C or 90F and it’s supposed to be even hotter today.  The first heat alert of the season was issued on Monday.  Our long-range forecast looks like it’s going to be warm for the whole week.

I’m going to extend my break from blogging through until next Monday.   My hands have been bothering me and I’m trying to limit the time on the computer as much as possible for a few days.  Mr. Q.O. may pop in with a post or two, though.

My sewing machine went in for service on Friday and I got it back on Saturday.  One of my goals for the next few weeks is to try to spend at least half an hour every day using the sewing machine and getting used to piecing on it.  All because of the  hand issues — so I’d like to feel more comfortable about using the machine if I need to.

This is a rather rare shot of both kitties curled up together.  They get along and have, at most, mock battles, but they do not generally curl up together.

Hexagon Blossoms

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I haven’t worked on this little top for ages so decided to add another blossom to it with the surrounding green path last night.  That’s a dime on top of one of the little hexagons to give an idea of size.  Each side of the hexagons finishes at half an inch.

I initially printed a few thousand of these small hexagons, almost all on 5″ charms, thinking I’d make the Insanity quilt seen here.  I quickly decided I didn’t want to make that quilt and now have all these tiny hexagons.  While I’ve started the little top shown above, I know that is going to end up as a small doll’s quilt.  I’ll use half and quarter hexagons around the outer edges so that I have straight outer edges to the little quilt.

As long as I finger press these as I go, it’s very simple to press the top.  I do press after I add each blossom.

More of the blossoms are ready and I have enough of the green surrounding hexagons printed to surround these plus a few more.  Once that’s done I’ll assess if I want to make the little top any larger.

Our forecast for the weekend is fabulous — sunny and highs of 7 Celsius both days.  The whole week has been wonderful with sunny days that have been relatively mild, considering it’s early March.

Lester looks like he’s thinking about spring and watching the birds and squirrels from the window.

Smudge, on the other hand, is showing off his sprawling capabilities.