Improv Echoed Hexagons

 I recently had the pleasure of testing a pattern for Rossie at Fresh Modern Quilts.  I had a blast making this quilt top.  I really enjoyed laying out the colors trying to figure out where to place different hexagons.  Her pattern tells you how to piece the inset hexagons without any Y seams.  It is up to you to determine the lay out.  This worked really well for me as I am always changing the pattern in front of me. Currently the pattern is available only at the Modern Quilt Guild to current and new members.  It is my understanding it will be available later in the year.

 Here is the first block I did.  I used Bella Grey for my background and my striped fabric is Michael Miller Free Style.  All of the other solids you see came from my stash.

I changed my layout several times and kept adding hexagons.  Once I was happy I began working on putting everything back together.

 

I took this picture behind the quilt because I just loved how all of the light was filtering in.  This weekend I am going to finish piecing the back.  I have figured out the design I want for the back,  I just need to execute my plan and hope it turns out how I have it pictured in my head.

I will then face my next fear - free motion quilting all of the negative space.  I hope to do several straight lines and echoing in it.  I am hoping I do not spend the next month ripping it out and I have made myself a promise that I will not do loops.  I may or may not need a lemon drop to begin the quilting process.  I promise to report back of my success or tell you about my "learning opportunity" 

I have finally finished my EPP pillow.  I am sending it off this weekend and I hope that my partner for the Modern She Made Swap enjoys it. 

I have also joined the Supernova Friendship Block Swap over at the Late Night Quilter &  One Million Stitches I have teamed up with Jennifer who blogs at The Quilted Cat  We are going to be making our quilt with Denyse Schmidt's Ansona Fabric.  It is not too late to join - your first blocks are due on June 15th. 

Thanks for stopping by - I am linking up with Amanda for Finish it up Friday. 

Color Blocks ~ Blogger's Quilt Festival Spring 2014

I am participating Amy's Blogger's Festival  - I am entering my quilt in the Large Quilts category.  I love this quilt now - however, it was not the quilt that I originally wanted to make.  As soon as I began seeing Tula Pink's Saltwater fabric come out I knew I had to make a quilt for my self.  I quickly decided that this was the quilt for me.  I ordered the kit, I was so excited when the kit came, I opened it and discovered 1008 neatly cut hexagons - Oh!  I had planned on making a queen size quilt.  I did the math - I needed 3 more kits... then I began to read the instructions, English Paper Piecing  (EPP)- I realized, they think I am going to sew this by hand.  Several swear words came out.  I placed the kit under my desk and began to look for a new plan.

 

The pattern can be found here.  I did make the quilt bigger than the pattern called for.  For the back I used my left over pieces of fabric.

 

Back

 Close up of the front

All over quilting detail

And here are my irritated quilt holders - the sun was not cooperating so this was the third time I had taken my son out to take pictures of the quilt.  My son took pictures the first two times and he was either taking partial shots of the quilt, or of the running water - "in the interest of making it more interesting" He did take the 3rd and 4th picture as well as the pictures of running water below. Clearly he knows how to use the camera better than his mom who has not yet taken it out of automatic mode. 

 

 I recently did a swap in the theme of hexagons - I tried EPP for the first time and I found myself actually enjoying the process - I will admit that hand sewing and enjoyment are not yet used in the same sentence with me, but it was not as awful as I thought it would be and it helps pass the time when on an airplane.  I have since dragged out my kit and I will be slowly working on making the original quilt I wanted - just don't expect to see it completed anytime soon.

 

Quilt Stats:

Pattern and Fabric:  Tula Pink

Sewn by:  Me

Quilted by:  Loretta Tibor

Size:  95X96 or 382 inches

 

Thank you for stopping by - I am off to get a diet Dr. Pepper some chocolate and continue looking at all of the wonderful quilts on display at the Bloggers Quilt Festival.  I am sure I will find some new inspiration and a project or two....