Did you think I was taking a break?
Nope. I’ve spent the past two days adding the additional columns of hexie flowers at left and right. It’s laborious. It’s fiddly. It’s, dare I say it, booooorrrrinnnggg. But it’s done. The front is finished. I’ve even taken out all the papers except those at the extreme edge. But it looks exactly like the last version I showed you, so no photo of that.
Once it was all in one piece, I counted up how many hexies I’d need for the facing on the back. Turns out it’s 78, or 39 each of the spot and floral fabrics. I’ve made a start, so I thought I’d show you what I plan the back should look like:
What do you think? I find it fresh and pretty, and a quiet antidote to the riot of colour on the front, without being dull. The backing fabric will go right up to the edge of the front hexies, and then be trimmed back just a little so the edge is nice and flat rather than thick and bodgy. Where the outside edge of the front and back hexies meets, I’ll whipstitch them together, edge to edge. Where the inside edge of the hexies meets the backing fabric, I’ll hem them down onto the backing. Does that help to explain the plan?
Because these edging hexies will also need to be quilted, the facing has to go on before quilting, so that’ll be the final stage. It’s going to take a fair while to get there, so don’t hold your breath.
Next steps: finish making the facing hexies; piece together the backing; trim out excess fabric on the reverse of the quilt top; cut batting and spray baste the quilt sandwich; trim away excess backing and batting; stitch together sections of the facing, press hard, remove papers and whipstitch to outside edge. There will be some easing required, I think, so I won’t be hemming down the inside edge till right at the end. And then it’ll be time to quilt!
Now, excuse me, I have an appointment with another 44 hexies.
The back will be gorgeous and well worth the time.
I agree 🙂 Sometimes, you just have to put the hours in…
Looks boring to most people, but I think it looks intriguing. I don’t know how to make quilts and I am curious to know how its done.
By the way, I am a new blogger and I just recently, I made a challenge to myself. For the next 21 days I will be visiting blog put its blog link on my blog. I hope you can support me this.
I also followed your blog.
Vanessa, I wish you success. I fear we have very little in common in our lives, beliefs, interests and family circumstances, so I won’t be following you in return, but your challenge will hopefully bring you new friends.
While it is a massive amount of work I agree with you and think it well be so worthwhile. I had so many moments of disappointment when I finally finished crocheting an intricate throw pattern to find the back was clearly the back of the work and to be hidden at all costs. I have learned to choose which patterns to make to avoid that issue and consider the extra hours that entails to be well worth the effort. I think the black back with the splash of colour around the edge reflecting the colour on the other side is a wee flash of genius. ❤
Pauline, I suspect it’s your screen that is making the dark colour on the back look black; it’s actually navy blue and white. The leaf fabric is a soft French navy, and the spot fabric is a very dark, almost indigo, navy. Black would have worked beautifully, as you suggested, but I’ve learned that en masse it looks very ‘dead’ by comparison with navy, and I wanted the back to be quietly lively too!
Going to look gorgeous and much better than my idea! My hexie quilt is now packed away, waiting for the day when we finally move whenever that might be.
One day, you’ll be able to take it out and work on it in a well-organised work area in your new home….
Wow! That’s an impressive ton of work, but I know it will be so beautiful when you’re done! 🙂
Parts of it will happen quickly, others will take a while, but it will be so worth it in the end…
Another heirloom quality piece from you. I’m not sure, when I decide I’ve made enough hexies to do something with, I’ll have enough patience to go down the same road but will, of course, be watching with interest as ever.
Well, of course it’s not necessary to do this, I’m just making it a bit more fancy! Most people would fill the notches to make a straight edge and then bind it as usual. Or you could appliqué the whole outer edge to a straight border. As for making enough hexies, you could assemble the ones you’ve got, and then stitch them onto a wide pieced border and call it a lap quilt! I suspect that’s what I’ll be doing with the Days Gone By quilt in the end…
AbFab as always … I’ll wait patiently as it progresses ❤️
Thank you, my lovely 🙂 Tonight should see the last of the facing hexies made. After that, I’ll piece the backing (two lengths stitched together side by side), and then comes the nastiest bit: doing the quilt sandwich with such large pieces. It’s fine, I’ve done it before, it’s just messy and sticky!
Messy or not it has to be done … and when the end is so near it will be all worthwhile 😍
Meanwhile I’m progressing very well with 2 quilts now !! The first is becoming very heavy and cumbersome so taking it slowly as it’s doing my wrists in .. the second is all in pinks and purples and I’ve got one panel left and then need to head to spotlight to get the backing … so lots to look forward to 🥰
I give it exactly one quilt before I convince you that QAYG is the way to go when you have sore joints…
I’m almost there … I want to work on a small piece to get the hang of it first
I love the idea of hexies on the back to edge it, and having just had to make 12 mini hexies for a quilt block I’m in awe of anyone who does a whole quilt 🙂
This one hasn’t been too taxing because the hexies are large. I sleep under a queensize entirely hand stitched hexie quilt, I have another (Worldwide Friends) hanging on the wall. I love the process, the peacefulness of it.
sneaking those roses in really does give the back a surprise pop. And I bet that makes it less tedious work -I love the subtle combo of the spots with the (almost Willliam Morris) pattern though.
Having pretty stuff happening on the back of a quilt is like wearing nice underwear: it’s hidden, but it gives you a sense of personal satisfaction! The Morris-y leaf design is also a secret subversive, with those animals hiding in the undergrowth. My personal favourite creature is the bear doing ‘Dad-dancing’….
you might have to take an extreme close up to share that gem.:-)
🙂
A labour of love but Oh so worth it!
I agree! I find it very rewarding; the patience it takes is part of the process, and shows, I feel, in the finished result.
You really do a bang up job of your projects. I agree that it’s good to have the back look as good as the front. Most times you can’t hide an untidy back. It will be a stunner.
I think it will be one of my funner quilts. So many of them are for a good cause or to give away, it’s enjoyable to make one just for myself, exactly how I want it (as far as my skill allows, anyway!).
I think it will be glorious front and back.
The front will be loud and joyful, the back will be quiet(er) and textural. Both good!
…and joy and glory are sometimes quiet 😊
They are indeed 🙂
Hexi love!!! You are at the point when the excitement is over and the doldrums have either begun or you are swimming in the midst of them. I am sure that your determination and and wonderful creative genius will pull you through to a stellar finish. Go Kate go!!! You can do it!!❤️❤️
I have made all the cheerful pink floral border hexies, now I have to do the ‘serious’ dark blue spot ones. And then, there’s a short time of hard work making the quilt sandwich, and then I can start hand stitching again 🙂
This is going to be a very pretty quilt when complete. My screen made the fabric look black, too. (I like that option as well). Navy matched with the rosy color (and a hint of yellow) goes very well together. What patience you must have. 🙂
Thing is, it doesn’t feel like patience. I break the job down into sections and just ‘eat the elephant one bite at a time’. My hands are getting stiffer and more sore with the years and arthritis, and I want to get as much hand stitching done as I can, while I can. Once I can’t do it any longer, I’ll have to stick to machine piecing and quilting, and I’ll miss my adventures with hexies.
Long live our fingers to enjoy these simple pleasures ♥️
Bring on the fish oil, the hot water baths and the Aspiring & Arnica!
Gosh yes !!! I love my Aspirin & Arnica
Just WOW…
(sorry behind with reading, yet again…)
It already looks stunning !
Thanks! I’m really happy with how it’s turning out.
That does clarify your plans! It’s going to be fresh and pretty, as you say.
Eventually! I still have 10 spot hexies to make, and then the final assembly begins.
Today I started with your latest post and now reading this one I think I understand how you are thinking when you are gonna stitch the pieces together 🙂
It’s not difficult to do, just difficult to explain!