I love these quilted placemats by dinino68. There’s no denying the huge impact that can be achieved by interlocking hundreds or thousands of hexagons, but don’t let’s forget that one can absolutely do the trick.
February 17, 2010
February 16, 2010
hexy idea #2: baste the rainbow!
Yeah, I know – bad pun.
Good quilt, though. Seriously good flippin’ quilt, made by Kindred Crafters and found in the Doll Quilt Swap Pool.
Looking at the way the colors have dictated the size of this quilt, I’m having a major now-why-didn’t-I-think-of-that moment. To my mind, rainbow quilts are always huge, stripey extravaganzas. I need to rethink that.
I love this layout. Almost the simplest one possible, when you think about how hexes fit together, but the way they stagger, sweetly, adds so much life. As do the seven different prints in each flower – so much scrappy goodness!
I would love to see this in a kids playroom. If you can think of better way to teach colors, please share!
February 15, 2010
Hexy idea #1: Supersize it!
Happy Presidents’ Day! Are you still in your pajamas, too?
All hexagons quilts look cheerful to me, but this one from ReannaLily Designs seems to have a little extra sunshine. I think it’s the size of the hexes, combined with the wonderful use of white space. The springtime palette certainly isn’t hurting, either 
The quilter used a half-hex method of piecing, which can be done on the machine – great if you’re feeling gun-shy about attempting English paper piecing.
If you’re feeling gun-shy about making this quilt altogether, but absolutely have to have one, Handmade by Alissa has a queen-sized one for sale here.
And, finally, half-hexing doesn’t always involve lots of white space. Check out the photos from ComfortStitching’s Half-Hex Quilt-along!
February 14, 2010
i heart hex
Happy Valentine’s Day!
I fell hard in love with hexagon quilts in the fall, and I’ve been working slowly but steadily (is there any other way to make hexes?) on a bed-sized quilt.
(1% of the blocks I’m working on.)
And while I’m pleased with my decision to make a quilt out of 100 appliqued hex flowers, different variations on hexagons continue to fascinate me.
My alma mater used to celebrate “Sex Week” on the week of Valentine’s Day, and, in the spirit of being true to my school, I’m hereby kicking of Hex Week at A Quilt A Day. Check back for quilts that feature hexagons, but go way beyond the traditional Grandmother’s Flower Garden configuration.
If you want to get in on the fun, I highly recommend making or buying freezer-paper templates, like the ones I use from sewmuchbetter56. These will fuse to your fabric and let you form the hexagons almost as if they were yoyos – no sewing through paper means no hurting fingers! Searching online for “freezer paper hexagons” will bring up a number of tutorials that will explain what I mean.
As far as instructions, I suggest reading through several tutorials, and picking the one that strikes you as most intuitive. It worked for me!
January 13, 2010
A garden of warm and cozy
I’m loving this layout for hexagons. The gingham is a great way to keep the look uniform, but bright and cheerful.
The border is a great idea too, and not just just to cut down on piecing time. I love how it compliments the hexagons and adds to the “flower garden” theme.
This was definitely made by a quilter with a gift for fabric. Check out the cute items in her etsy shop – when you’re through admiring the hexes, that is.