Wednesday 29 January 2014

"When Stars meet Hexagons" and Ann Randoll progress

Well - I really should be machine quilting my 'Simon' quilt but arthritis is being, literally, a pain in the neck at the moment. Sitting at the machine seems to aggravate the neck and shoulder ache, so I will have to wait awhile. 

Ann Randoll quilt :  I completed the hand pieced border around the centre. For some reason it fitted best with only 23 of the 24 diamond sections that are in the pattern - so that is how I joined it! Hand piecing has never been my forte. Unless I use papers I seem to be woefully inaccurate. The end result looks fine so no problem I think...
Pieced border pinned in place
Next to cover the seam with an appliqued bias strip, then trim back the brown background:
Bias strip appliqued over seam
Appliquing to the cream background with another bias strip - and that completes the centre ring: 
Centre ring complete - appliqued to cream background
Next step is a tiny saw tooth border and corner feature - to be appliqued. In the workshop we prepared freezer paper templates for the applique, as this is Rhonda's preferred method. Here they are :
Freezer paper template - decided not to use this method

But...I am not confident in this method,  so I decided to do my saw tooth border by back-basting prep for the applique. Here is the prep done ready to needle turn applique:
Back-basting prep done
I tried a little of the needle turn but am not happy with my thread colour - it showed too much when I used a neutral beige shade. Ideally it needs to be a dark brown to be less visible - which I don't have. Bit of shopping needed ...

"Stars meet Hexagons" - this is the name of a lovely little red quilt in Petra and An's book - 'Promenade in a Dutch Garden'. I saw their quilt at Quilts in the Barn 2013 and absolutely loved it - knew I had to make it sometime. 
Picture of the quilt in the book Promenade in a Dutch Garden
I know I have only just finished an EPP star quilt (my Mary Leggett Star Bouquet repro) and that  classifies me as having a truly sad case of EPP addiction! But some of you will understand?

This time I am using 1" stars, hexagons and triangles. The pieces in the book are 7/8" but I happen to have 1" templates and papers already, so am going that tiny bit larger. 

Just for comparison with my 'M L Star Bouquet' quilt: this new quilt will have smaller pieces, different construction, and a lot more creative variety in fussy cutting. Here is the start of 'Stars meet Hexagons' alongside the 'Star Bouquet'.

It is great to find use for a couple of red Coverlet collection repros. They have been lingering in the stash. I bought them years back because I loved them but then never found the right project. I think they are wonderful for fussy cutting but am going cautiously, mixing them with others, because I'm afraid there is only a very fine line between terrific and tacky in fussy cutting....and am hoping I haven't crossed it!


Two fold mirror reveals all sorts of possibilities

Whoa, reining in !  time for something more subtle.

I'm not using glue for this - just paperclips.
Stitching through the fabric only - so the papers pop out easily for re-use.


Progress so far
I'm stitching the stars and hexagons together as I go - in an ever expanding blob piece. By adding fabrics in this way I can hopefully, keep the colour, pattern and values balanced. Such fun!

I couldn't resist this little pot of Lisianthus - cheaper than a bunch of flowers and going to last so much longer. And what do you think of the container (if you can read it)? Wrong spelling but the right word!
Hope you are all coping with the world temperature extremes at the moment - whether too hot or too cold. We had a few days of blissfully cool weather here and I frantically worked in the garden, but I think the heat is heading back :(

33 comments:

  1. What a fun new project!! I love your red "blob" so far - it's lovely! It's amazing what you can do with fussy cutting and it feels good to use fabrics saved in your stash :0) Your circular center looks very pretty. I can't imagine anyone missing the piece. I especially like the brown print you've used to make your bias. It will be fun to watch both of these projects progress.

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  2. I love your center, and it's unique because you made it work with 1 less piece. Your new project is wonderful too, fussy cutting can be so addictive! I hope your arthritis settles down and you're feeling better soon. That cool day was bliss and perfect for tackling the weeds that have gone crazy.

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  3. Hi Hilda,
    Your Ann centre looks great! I'm a little jealous, although I did manage to get all the petals appliquéd. Cherree has started back at work now so I'm thinking hers will be put aside as well. Lovely to meet you at Summer School. Keep up the great blog.
    Leanne.

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  4. Swoon!!! Love your Ann Randoll centre circle, it's just beautiful and your version of When Stars Meet Hexagons is just stunning. Fabulous use of fabrics, definitely nothing tacky here! I hope your arthritis improves - stay cool.

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  5. Your centre looks amazing. Strange that you used one less piece, but still looks beautiful. I love your new project too. I agree about too much fussy cutting, but what you've done so far really works.

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  6. I love both projects! wonderful use of fussy cutting, can't wait to see them develop

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  7. Your center looks so wonderful and a nice new projekt.

    Greeting, Maneula

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  8. Your center block is just wonderful. I just love visiting your blog. So many absolutely wonderful projects.Yes, EPP is addictive! I love working on my self mystery project and thank you for inspiring me. Sometimes I wish it would move along faster, but then other times I just enjoy the stitching.

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  9. The center section of your Ann Randoll is stunning!
    Your EPP work is beautiful as well.
    Thank you for sharing your work with us - it's truly inspiring!

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  10. I love everything but as you know I am seriously addicted to fussy cutting and to hexagons so your Stars Meet Hexagons has me drooling. Your Ann Randoll is going to be yet another bobby dazzler! Promenade in a Dutch Garden has been on my wish list for some time so hopefully this Spring it will be in the budget!

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  11. Serious envy about your Ann Randoll, so sad I couldn't make it to Summer School this year for this quilt.
    Would have been lovely to meet you. Stars meet hexagons leaves me speechless.

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  12. I love your Ann Randoll block - it is so pretty - for the arthritis in your neck have you tried stretches? I have the same problem and I find that if after 30 to 40 minutes of sewing/quilting I stop and do about 5 minutes of shoulder/neck exercises and stretches - it has been helping me along with heat wraps around my neck

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  13. Love the center of Ann Randoll, I like the idea of using bias to cover the seam. I have done a little EPP and really like it, why do we love alll the hand projects, my favorite quilts lately all need to be done by hand :)

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  14. I just love reading your posts. Your attention to detail, everything! I love your center circle of the Randoll quilt, it's going to be a beauty.

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  15. Your blog is just so inspiring and you do such lovely work. The center of your Ann Randoll quilt is just perfect. Thanks for sharing your work in pictures.

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  16. And again... beauitful work !!! ;)

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  17. I'd much rather the cold than the heat. My hubby is the opposite, though. Your centre ring turned out beautifully. I am constantly amazed at the hexagon phenomenon. Personally, I would never make one but I do appreciate those who do. Your fussy cutting is very interesting (not tacky at all.)

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  18. Wow, another great post. Where to begin- love that center medallion with such pretty fussy cutting. And those red hexagons are just beautiful. Your blog is truly one of my favorites!

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  19. I would have gone with back basting for my border, too. It just works for me. Interesting how you said the odd number worked best in your circle. I am guessing that is the explanation for some of those old compass blocks with something other than the "usual" number of spokes.

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  20. Both of your projects are lovely but the Ann Randoll center is especially so! Is there a pattern for this quilt? I'm guessing the fussy cutting for your EPP is a lot of fun!

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  21. Wow! I say that every time I visit your blog. I love seeing the progress on your beautiful quilts.

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  22. Your Ann Randall is looking quite fabulous! Glad the diamonds worked out for you. My hand piecing isn't super accurate either. Hopefully experience will take care of that.:) Your fussy cut hexies are looking wonderful!

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  23. I'm soo glad I found your blog, through Thimblestitch's blog. I love your work!!!!! I love EPP too!

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  24. Lovely work. You have a gift for color.
    Thank you for sharing.

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  25. pretty pretty block. I like the illusion of the black star.
    wonderful hexagon project! Great that someone made the necessary templates.

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  26. Hilda, there is way to much loveliness in this post!! I really like seeing how you assembled that block step by step. It is beautiful!!
    Your EPP projects are stunning!!

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  27. The circle of your Ann Randoll quilt is really beautiful!
    Greetings,
    Floor

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  28. Bedbreakfastenquilts.blogspot.nl and www.martinejannaas.blogspot.nl are two of my quilting friends.
    The first blog is from karen. She makes the redstarsquilt you started too. Martine loves the same patterns and antique quilts as you do. I think you will like the two blogs.
    Do you read or understand Dutch ?

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  29. Your projects are really lovely . . . makes me want to add several more to my to-do list.

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  30. Your circle block is wonderful. A very intricate look and must have taken a good deal of time to create.

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  31. Do you use glue when basting your hexies/diamonds? I'm a newbie to EPP and hexagons and am working on a Texas Star and a Martha Washington's Flower Garden (in a tumbling block setting). I use paper clips because I'm a hand quilter and am concerned that the glue might make quilting too difficult.

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  32. I've just been going through your blog posts - you do beautiful work!

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  33. Hilda, you are so inspiring - it is all mouthwateringly beautiful!

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