Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Hexagon Hype


There seems to be much interest lately in hand piecing, and especially the tried and tested hexagon shape.  My interest was sparked by this post on Katherine's blog:  http://katherinescreations.blogspot.com/2011/05/hexagons_31.html   I have always liked this shape, and it's usage in quilts, so am pleased it's making somewhat of a comeback.  I wanted to share the quilt above with readers.  I was given this not yet completed quilt top by someone.  It had been started many years ago by her mother in law, but she did not like it.  I knew the maker very well [she passed away a number of years ago].  My only brief was to try to finish it and perhaps give it to the local aged care home - probably putting finishing touches to it the day I'm admitted!!! 

You can see some of the fabrics used in this slightly closer photograph.  There really isn't much left to do.  It covers the top of this double bed.  I have some older fabrics of course - a legacy from MY mother in law.  I would need to buy some beige polycotton for the joining hexagons.

I've also included a photograph of one little mistake, which I feel I will rectify.  The lady must have had a bad day and attached two brown hexagons where beige ones should be.  Now, I am not trying to make fun of this lady's work.  I merely put this in because it's there!!

The lady who made this was very nice to me when I first moved to this district.  She was a 'crafter' and showed me much encouragement and support, despite our great age difference.  She was the first to take me under her wing, and gave me the opportunity to judge at local shows, showing me what to look for.  I look at this quilt with fond memories of her, and many ladies who gave me nothing but help and encouragement with whatever stitching I tried to do.  For that I am extremely grateful.  I would not have had the courage without their support in the early days.

I've been grappling with a difficult knitting assignment at the moment, which is probably the impetus for this post.  I have been telling myself for ever so long that I CAN knit following a graph, so I found this design in an old [1983] ANNA magazine which I thought looked 'simple enough'.  I knew I understood the way the pattern was formed so might know what to look for in my progress.  I found the graphs to be a little 'confusing', but I have continued on my merry way, ignoring the graph where I felt justified, and in the end I think 'my way' will be correct.  Perhaps I am being unjust, and it's simply that I don't understand how these things are graphed.  

I can't help but wonder and marvel at the patience of some people to work on something until it's right.  At the moment I have quite a bit of time to sit and nut this out, but what about those who don't.  Is it any wonder some people throw things in the cupboard and shudder every time they think about their aborted effort.  Over the last few years I've seen lots of errors in printing, etc., and thankfully, have the courage to challenge 'the pattern'.  I really feel for those who have not come so far, and just give up.   I don't think I'm anything more than extremely lucky, right place, right time, that sort of thing.  Where stitching is concerned, life has been good to me.

11 comments:

michelle said...

Hi Linda, so nice of you to drop by my blog always lovely to hear from you ! I love the crochet in your earlier post and this quilt will be beautiful when finished, i am sure the owner would have been thrilled knowing someone so talented and thoughtful as yourself has given the time to finish it. good luck with the knitting ! x

Anonymous said...

The knitting looks lovely Linda. Laurel

Frances Leate said...

Good luck with the hexagon quilt - if anyone could finish it I am sure it is you. I am not fond of following a graph when knitting and have usually written out the pattern in the more traditional form and I have been known to make my own interpretation. I used to love to knit but only seem to do so on long car journeys now and then mainly craft items and not the jumpers and cardies I used to make. Take care.

Juliettecherry said...

As I only enjoy handpiecing, I like hexagon quilts and I am pleased they seem to be becoming popular again.

The lady who originally started it would be so delighted if she could see you completing her quilt.

As for knitting charts, I like them for fairisle knitting, they seem clear enough for that, but anything lacy has me confused however the instructions.

Radka said...

Oh, I so love quilts with a story!
As for your knitting, like most things, practice makes perfect, that is to say that someone who knits from a graph all the time probably doesn't have any problems. I knit very rarely, specially from a graph and it takes a while to get use to it and a lots of patience, which I don't always have. It is not the one to watch television with :-))

Anonymous said...

If this gets through blogger I will be one happy camper. Although I am not holding my breath either LOL. I love the hexagon shape too and really love a quilt with a story too. Makes them worthwhile to finish. Katherine

Anonymous said...

My god it worked LOL. Now I am going to be annoying as see if I can log in and do it. Well no it still doesn't let me sign in for you or a couple of others but at least I can be anonymous LOL! Katherine

Karyn said...

Isn't it wonderful when we have someone to hold our hand and give us help with our craft. It is a gift and thankfully it is a gift you have given me more than once!
The quilt is going to be lovely. It is hard though, picking up something someone else has started. I have no doubt you will do a great job with it.

Dianne said...

The lovely thing about crafting and quilting is the people we come into contact with and how we help each other and share. The story behind the hexagon quilt was lovely to read, Linda. She would love it that you are finishing it off for her. Recently I found a mistake in instructions for cutting pieces for a block. Luckily I had more of the fabric to cut the correct size!! Next time I will peruse it first!! Good luck with the knitting, it looks lovely and soft. Di.

Anonymous said...

Linda the quilt has such a lovely story behind it. Isn't it wonderful when an older woman befriends you in such a way? Even nicer that you received her unfinished quilt. She will be watching as you complete it for her and will marvel at your skills.

Your knitting is such a pretty lacy pattern. Hope that you share a photo when it has been completed.

Hope you are keeping well.

Cheers, Linda A

Anney said...

Goodness me Linda,I was delighted to read this article about hexagon quilts and now feel so pleased to be able to join in properly with a real story of my own....I have a hexagon quilt on the bed in our spare bedroom and it goes back to the 70's when I was doing my nurse training!!! I suffered a lot with tonsilitis as a young nurse and until I had them removed was kept in 'sick bay' for a few days to recover because I was living in the nurses home..I became bored and started to make a hexagon quilt out of all sorts of scraps from dresses I made when doing my A level dressmaking exams when I was 15yrs old.
I intended to make it into a bed quilt,but never did so...years later I just doubled it over and stitched around the edge..since then it's been used as a 'throw' to protect a spare bed...as it's about 40yrs old,some of the hand stitching is coming undone,but I can mend it of course.I look at the quilt at times and remember what style I made out of which fabric..also wonder at times whatever possessed me to buy such a design..ah well..memories eh?