Do I really need another project? and measuring hexagons

Need another project, no. But want is an entirely different matter! In perusing the pages of my copy of Country Living's Country Quilts I came across this picture.

Here is a close-up of the quilt in the picture.

The picture in the book inspired my quilt Chop's Pick.

 

I used the same gold fabric in the centre of each diamond and I used a striped fabric for the border. However unlike the original I set my diamonds on point whereas they are horizontal in the original. I think this gives a very different look to the quilt. I am sorely tempted to make another but with the diamonds set horizontally!

If you are making a hexagon quilt from a photograph you will have to decide the size of hexagon to be used so that the finished size of the quilt is what you want. To make the decision you need to know the diameter of the hexagon (the measurement from corner to corner) and the height. 

The height, width and size of a hexagon are three different measurements. A hexagon is a six sided shape and the length of each side is the same. When we talk about the size of a hexagon we are referring to the measurement of the sides. Thus a 1" hexagon has six sides each of which measure 1".

Size of hexagon indicated by pink arrow

The diameter is an easy calculation because you simply multiply the side length of the hexagon by 2. The diameter of a 1" hexagon is therefore 2", a 3/4" hexagon is 1 1/2" and a 1/2" hexagon is 1".

Diameter indicated by pink arrow

To calculate the height of a hexagon there is a formula and it is more complex than is necessary for my purposes. So I simply pull out a ruler and measure the height of my hexagons. What I've come up with is that the height of a 1" hexagon is 1 5/8", a 3/4" hexagon is 1 1/4" and a 1/2" hexagon is 7/8".

Height

The measurement of a diamond set on point which is made of eight 1" hexagons (as indicated by the pink arrow) would be the sum of the diameter of three hexagons (top, middle and centre) plus the size of two hexagons so the formula is (3 x 2") + (2 x 1") = 8". The measurement of the width of this diamond (as indicated by the blue arrow) would be the sum of the height of three hexagons so the formula is 3 x 1 5/8" = 4 7/8".

The measurement of a flower made of seven 1" hexagons (as indicated by the pink arrow) would be the sum of the height of three hexagons so the formula is 3 x 1 5/8" = 4 7/8".  The measurement of the width of this flower (as indicated by the blue arrow) would be the size of two hexagons (outer hexagons) plus the diameter of the centre hexagon so the formula is (2 x 1") + (1 x 2") = 4".

If you plan on using a path between your hexagons be sure to include the measurement of the path when calculating the size of your quilt.

I came across an interesting quilt called the Vignette Hexagon Quilt by Leanne Beasley. There is a blog, The Vignette Hexagon Quilt where members post stories and pictures about their progress on this quilt. The quilt combines flowers made of hexagons with little white hexagons that have flowers that are hand embroidered. A few of the members have also posted pictures of other hexagon quilts that they are working on so if you are addicted to hexagons, this is a lovely little blog to peruse!

Time for me to make a cuppa and then decide what I will do today!  One project is a super cute tiny world pincushion which I will finish today and show you tomorrow! So until I post again, happy sewing!

Okay, I made some hexagons. Now what?

I hope you've had a chance to look at my hexagon booklets, Easier Than Pie - English Paper Piecing for Beginners and Easier Than Pie and Beyond - Where Foundation Piecing Meets English Paper Piecing. There will be at least one more to follow! I've showed many friends how to English paper piece and I think there is agreement that it is addictive. But then the question is "what do I do with all of these hexagons"?

It helps if you have an idea of what you want to make. In Chop's Pick I knew exactly what I wanted to make - a quilt of diamonds surrounded by a striped border to create the effect of a Persian carpet. And I stuck to that plan.

Chops (he was a really great cat!)

 

This is what happens when you use a design floor instead of a design wall

 

I had previously written about my friend Barbara's quilt "What the Hexagon". Barbara made a stack of hexagons and she had another stack given to her. While it would be possible to assemble them all into one quilt, connecting them to one another would involve a lot of work and planning and Barbara didn't want to invest that kind of time. So the solution was to cut squares of fabric and appliqué the hexagons to the squares. The squares were sewn together into a quilt top and the odd sized hexagons were appliqued over intersections. This is a great option for beginners and it works up relatively quickly and easily.

What the Hexagon. by Barbara C,  2011

Most of my hexagon quilts do not have much of a plan. In one quilt I drew inspiration from a fabric. I really love the print fabric I used to make Flora and Fauna and I thought it would be great for fussy cutting diamonds. And I did just that. Once I had a stack of them and arranged them on the "design floor" the design plan gradually evolved into a quilt I called Mom's Flower Beds. I haven't shared the quilt with you yet but will do so in the future.

Yet another quilt started out as an idea and as I started making the pieces the plan changed. The original plan was to make a large assortment of hexagons and then just join them together randomly. Again once they were arranged on the design floor and looked at them, a new plan evolved. I called the quilt Hexagreens. I've not yet shared the quilt but will do so in the future! I really can't show you everything at once!

 

I am currently working on a quilt that is made up of  hexagons and stars that are appliqued. The inspiration is an 18th century folk art quilt that was displayed at the 2010 Chicago Quilt Festival.

I love the muddy colours in this one but had seen some variations of this quilt made by others and they used bright colours. I decided to go the bright route and fussy cut fabrics to make the stars and hexagons so mine will be made of bright colours.

The outer corners of the folk art quilt are pieced blocks but I decided I wanted to repeat the flower baskets.

Other quilts start with no plan in mind. I just make a hexagon block from fabrics I like and work out from there. This one is a work in progress. I love the fabric in the centre. I used my foundation pieced hexagon method to make the star and then started adding to it.

There are loads of antique quilts and modern quilts to inspire. Have you dropped by The Great Hexagon Quilt-Along, a blog dedicated to hexagon projects? If not you should! Google "hexagon quilts" and you'll find all sorts of delightful images to tickle your fancy and give you ideas.

Get yourself some design sheets (you can download them for free at www.PaperPieces.com) and pencil crayons and start doodling and drawing and colouring. You might just come up with something fun and interesting!

Or just make one REALLY spectacular hexagon piece and applique it to a lovely square of fabric; it can become the feature of a medallion quilt. Add several rounds of borders and you are done!

Until I post again, happy sewing!