Because my little Viking is still in the *shop I have been keeping busy with a new task. It is one I have wanted to try but never gave myself the time.
I love it!
This is my quilting table with my latest WIP creation all laid out.
They are hexagons. Each little disk of cover stock was carefully cut out, hole punched and then pinned to a square of fabric. The fabric was clipped with a generous 1/4 inch + edge for turning under and basting. Each of the basted hexagons were then trialed into different arrangements until I decided on this one.
After I complete the right side of my layout I will be making half-hexies to allow me a smooth edge for binding. Then I will be painstakingly sewing the little bits together to make a whole.
The finished item will be approximately 16 inches wide by 48 inches long.
Looking from this angle I am suddenly reminded of the pattern on the Diamond Back Rattlesnake. This, of course, was unintentional. Bees also use this shape for construction of their honeycomb! I find the patterns in nature to be awesome. Don’t you?
A Diamond in the rough…
~*~
*I’ve called three times regarding my little Viking and the repairman (I use the title loosely) says he’s still waiting for a bulb. 😦
And although I am holding out for the repair of my old machine I am facing facts, and have begun a search for a new Viking with these criterion:
- It will be a fair price.
- It will use my presser feet collection ($$$!!!)
- It will be a newer model (from China, I know, but what other options do I have?)
I simply can’t abandon all the money I have invested in specialty presser feet. So, if I must replace my old machine I will want one that is lightly used and substantially less than the sticker price of a new one!
They are out there. I just need to keep my eyes open.
This one would certainly be nice… Click on her to see what she can do!
Life on the Farmlet 
I admire you for the patience to do these hexagons.
Thank you, Lillian! These are about 2.5 inches from point to point. I think that is about my limit…
You will NEVER-EVER see me working on these. 😉
Good LORD! Seriously?!? CheezWhiz, Yours are small enough, as it is… (It’s been a while since I did any quilting; is this Dresden Plate?)
Good luck in your search. I know there are sometimes trade-ins at our local Husqvarna shop; perhaps you’ll get lucky there? ‘Specially if they know ahead of time that you’re looking. To me, having a dependable mechanic is invaluable and going a little farther is definitely worth it, over the long haul, and it sounds like you’re more than ready to ditch this guy; ). Good luck finding someone who deserves your business and can earn your trust (& loyalty: )
Deb, they aren’t too small. They measure about 2.5 inches from point to point across the mid-line. I have something in the works… we’ll see how it all turns out next week!
Oh yes, and this is not a Dresden plate. Dresdens are made from paddle shapes sewn into fans and circles. Hexagon patterns are ruled by the order of geometry. Do a Google search Hexagon or Hexie quilts and prepare to be amazed at the complexity of patterns that can be made with this simple little six sided shape! 😀
With you on the mini hexies! I’ve always found hexies to be a soothing and peaceful way of getting some hand sewing done to pass the time, and the ways they can be arranged to produce pleasing results are endless, Mr Diamondback being a case in point. You are making yours the ‘proper’ way, with template, fabric cut to size and basting thread showing on the back only. I am a much lazier person, and I cut strips of fabric, squares from those strips and simply fold and baste the squares over the templates, stitching through the card. It adds a *tiny* bit of extra bulk if you’re hand quilting (which I do with hexie quilts), but not enough to notice if you machine quilt.
Kate, I hate to admit this, but must confess, that is exactly how I did mine. The shape cutting was done after I pinned the squares onto the cards. As for the stitching I basted through the cover stock too. I just took a closer look at the photo (clicked on it) and the clearer image gives me away. LOL! I actually thought this was how it is supposed to be done. 😉
I don’t bother trimming out, I just leave the excess there. My excuse is that it makes for a cosier quilt… Other people seem to be able to baste just through the corners on the back but I find it impossible to get the fabric taut enough…
Kate, I was just trying to do the basting without going through the card… Impossible! My arthritis won’t allow the dexterity required for that! 😛
No matter, I can pull all the basting later. 🙂
I agree! I find the fabric too baggy unless I actually fix it to the card instead of just over it. I like a nice sharp edge and corner.
Me too! Makes the finished piece less rumpled looking. 🙂
I hope that your repairer sees the light soon.
HA! Tom, I’ve read your comment about four times and suddenly I see a pun. Was it intentional? 😀
It was. I can’t resist a pun.
😀
I think my grandmother’s flower garden quilt has hexagons, but I’m not going to go dig it out and check. I love the pattern on the piece you’re making. It’s really attractive. What I do know is this — I never, ever would have the patience for this kind of work. (On the other hand, I’ve done needlepoint, which may be just as detailed and time-consuming.) I hope all works out well with your machine — and soon.
Linda, as far as I know, flower garden quilts are made with hexagons. When and if you ever dig it out I would like a peek! 🙂 I never, ever would have guessed I had a latent quilting gene in me either, and yet here I am! It was like someone flipped a switch. Now when I see a quilt I am analyzing the geometric shapes and trying to figure out how it was constructed. I can sit for hours and fill in blocks on graph paper trying to find new ways to create what I want to see in a block. Very exciting stuff happens when I am alone with graph paper.
As for the Viking, well I have something up my sleeve and will know more by mid-week-next.
YES, Grandma’s Flower Garden!
Thank you Linda – that’s the pattern name I was trying to remember!: )
Pretty hexagons, and I like the pattern layout, too. The Diamondback Rattler is a beauty! Though I’d rather not run into one.
Nor would I, Patti! As a general rule, I am OK with snakes, but I have to appreciate the poisonous ones with glass between me and them.