Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Woven Hexagons

Thank you all for your kind comments on my last post.  These make me feel that I have something to contribute, and hopefully will continue to do so.  Getting back to the business of stitching, painting, and experimenting, yesterday I finally decided to try my hand at some more complex fabric weaving.  I initially saw this weaving in an English Patchwork magazine.  The instructions are rather scant, with small pictures for much of the guidance. 

I initially cut some firm woven interfacing, marking the perimeter, and two lines across at 60° angles.  I had no idea how much this project would take, so fused Vliesofix to three different fabrics, each around fat quarter size.  The background fabric size was measured to fit an A5 notebook.  The colours I used are a deep royal blue [almost to purple], a mottled cream/blue/mauve all over print, and a pale mauve.  These were cut into ½" strips.  Again, I had no idea really as to the size strips I would need, as this project was based around the use of those bias making gadgets, manufactured by Clover products. 



The first step was to lay the strips top to bottom in their sequence, ie mauve, print, blue, repeating until they covered the background fabric.  The second step, again keeping the sequence, was a series of over one, under two, which seemed to form this arrowhead pattern.  I have not photographed the third step, as I really have to do another project to get my head around this.  It is not for those who would wish to quit in a hurry, and takes some thinking.  As I said, there were really no instructions for this hexagon, and I had great difficulty seeing how it was done by the pictures in the magazine [even with the use of my magnifier].  I suppose the moral of the story is to go and buy the book and stop being so lousy!!!  I have not finished the bookcover off as yet, but will try to post it when I decide how it should be trimmed.  I always like to put something on what will be the front of the book, less confusing in my opinion.  This was fun, but challenging and time consuming.  I love the colour combination though.  The deep blue and mottled blue/mauve fabric was sent to me as part of a goodie bag challenge I've joined on the CB forum.  The lady sent me so much lovely fabric, I'll be making 'goodies' until Christmas!!! 

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Linda your bookcover is amazing. I would go bonkers working out the weave without a pattern. Good for you! Lovely colours also.

Just so you know I've been reading your blog regularly and love your work and photos. The new additions to your family are adorable. Baby animals are so hard to resist!

Cheers & a happy Spring to you.
Linda A

Karyn said...

Oh wow Linda, that looks great. I am not sure how you did it essentially without a pattern. well done you clever thing.

DIAN said...

Linda, this is so impressive. I am confused just looking at it and am not likely to try this one for a while. Maybe never: but good on you for doing it. It looks great.

Sharne Gregory said...

It has made a lovely book cover, it makes my head spin just trying to work it out.

Iceni UK said...

Linda, I have been looking at all of your work, it's truely amazing to see all of your wonderful designs. This piece of weaving looks very intricate, I'm afraid my eyes would be dancing if I tried this type of weaving :)

Sharne Gregory said...

Hi Linda
The vessel is a hot pink, it has been hard to show it, in its true colours when taking photo's at night. I have enjoyed the challenge and looking forward to seeing how my piece of fabric, that I created has ended up.

Radka said...

Points for having a go, Linda! If anyone can work it out, it would be you:))

michelle said...

You are one clever cookie ! it looks so hard but i really admire you for going for it well done !!! it's fabulous !

Anney said...

Oh my goodness Linda,you are one hell of a clever,experimental lady....I,like some others,found my head spinning with working out how you did it and ,as Dianne said,it's not something I would attempt especially having taken a few years to complete a complicated quilt as my first quilting project!!
Anney x

Anonymous said...

Stunning results Linda. Love your fabric weaving.