Guess what? It’s time for the Blogger’s Quilt Festival again! And this post has to do precisely with my entry for that virtual quilt show.
I’ve been quilting for about 15 years now… and have literally made dozens and dozens of quilts during that time. And each one I work on turns out to be my favorite. At least at that particular point in time. So how to choose which one to share? Well, today I thought I would share my Grandmother’s Flower Garden Quilt. It is one of my earlier quilts, and one of the three large pieces I have sewn entirely by hand. Yes, that includes both the piecing and the quilting.
It was 1999, and I was traveling extensively that year. We could still carry scissors and other sewing notions on airplanes, so a carry-along project like this one really helped pass the long hours spent flying and of waiting in airports. At that time I didn’t even own a rotary cutter and mat, so I first spent many evenings at home drawing my hexagons onto the back of my fabrics, and then cutting them out with scissors. I would then pack the hexies in baggies: enough for one whole flower in each bag. Depending on the length of my trip, I would decide how many of those baggies to take along.
It took me all of eight months to complete this king-size quilt. The flowers were all made while traveling, and joining them took place whenever I was home (I didn’t want to lug large pieces around). In addition to being my first *portable* project, after four years of making quilts for every loved one in my life, this also was the first quilt I made for myself. As you can see from my bedroom pic, it was also my *blue* period…
So what is the twist, you ask? Well, wouldn’t you know… it’s completely reversible!
And no, this is not English Paper Piecing, but an entirely different technique, where each hexagon is assembled and quilted before being joined to the next one. The funny thing is I actually have step-by-step instructions for this method on my website, but have never shown the quilt that inspired it! If you’d like to give it a try, then hop on over to my website for my Reversible Hexagon Tutorial, including a free project to practice on!
Thank you so much for visiting! Now run on over to Amy’s Creative Side and check out the quilts posted by all those other bloggers participating in this fun festival. And don’t forget to enter a quilt of your own. This is not a juried contest… so everyone is invited to participate!
I am a self-learner. I taught myself to sew and to quilt. And I taught myself how to draw. I am learning how to dye my own fabrics and am dabbling with mixed media. I am a quilt designer and teacher, and design and publish my own line of quilt patterns. With this blog I would like to share the bits and pieces of my life.
47 Comments
I cannot believe you made this quilt in eight months! I am doing a charm hexagon quilt-along and I have like 19% done out of 1,173. Yikes! This is amazing. And reversible? Double amazing!
Next stop, off to see how on earth you did this! These quilts usually take years and years and years and on top of that, your is reversible – I love it and I’m intrigued!
That is just amazing! I admire you so much for making so many and finishing the quilt. Don’t get me wrong I finish quilts but this one may still be slowly moving forward it I was making it. I can’t believe its reversable. Off to check your tutorial.
¡¡¡¡Qué hermosa!!!!!! Me voy a ver el tutorial! Saludos! Me encanta también el tapiz sobre la pared.
Beautiful quilt. I have a GFG that started as my “waiting for kiddo to finish _______ practice” that has also started to double as a take-along project. You must have spent a lot of time in airports, I’ve been working on mine for 3 years and am no where close to being done! Thanks for sharing.
Precioso trabajo y muy bien aprovechado los tiempos de viaje!!!
Me gustaría hacer una colcha así…voy a ver el tutorial.
Un abrazo!!!!
Amazing quilt! Enjoy the festival .. Marina
That is a lot of work. Its so big. Great job!
Beautiful! I will have to check out your tutorial too!
I have been working on a grandmother’s flowergarden for YEARS. How can you make one in 8 months?? Very impressive.
I am always humbled by these hand stitched masterpieces! Beautiful!
Amazing how much work can be accomplished with planning and travel 🙂 The quilt is fabulous and I’m almost tempted to try hexies 🙂
Wow! That was so much work!!
I love that it is reversible. I will definitely check out your tutorial!
~ Meagan
Now you had me at completed all blocks while traveling, but my jaw fell open at “and it’s reversible. Now that’s dedication there. Beautiful is like the tip of an iceberg doesn’t even come close to all you’ve put into that quilt. Good for you.
love your hexies!! i am working on a travel hexie project too, though not as big as yours!!
Love a Classic, great quilt !
Oh my gosh this quilt totally blows me away. All by hand, in 8 mos, and REVERSIBLE??? It is so, so gorgeous!!! And I love the little wallhanging above your bed, too!~
wow!!! this looks really gorgeous!!!
Very beautiful. Jo Anna
Love this quilt Angie! Amazing you finished it so quickly but then again…your work always amazes me!
Eight months! Wow! I want to see how you do this. Going to check out your tutorial.
How did you do this in 8 months? There is so much work!
This is a lovely quilt!
I found your tutorial very easy to follow. Thank you so much for that.
Fantastic quilt, front and back! Happy quilting, Sue (Australia)
Wow! The quilt is terrific and the technique – well, WOW! I’m still in the middle of my first GFG – 8 months has long since passed I’m afraid – but I love the process and will certainly play with your technique in a future project!
Grazie per il link al tutorial, proverò sicuramente questo esagono reversibile!
Il quilt è molto bello!
Ciao Domenica
I am still in awe that it is reversible?! That is awesome.
I’m amazed that it’s reversible! Beautiful!
A reversible hexagon quilt ??? Never heart of something like that before – but it is gorgeous. I used to say – me, a hexagon quilt ??? no way. But you could get me tempted with your tutorial -thanks for sharing!
What a great quilt story to share! Your first project for yourself is pretty darn spectacular, “blue period” and all. All that time on planes and traveling you filled with stitching. Keeping it up is the most amazing part, I think, with cutting and packing as you went along. What a treasure. Thanks for sharing your quilt’s story 🙂
Angie,
I think grandmother’s flower garden quilts are fabulous- yours is beautiful. I have made many quilts over the last 15 years but have never hand pieced a quilt. I am a machine girl all the way.
Thanks for sharing your lovely quilt.
Enjoy the festival.
Regards,
Anna
Wow! The love, skill and time that went into this….you should be very proud.
This looks great! I might have to come back to check out that tutorial!
Fantastic! I’ve never thought of making reversible hexagons like this – and the idea of quilting them before joining them is priceless!
Beautiful quilt and great ideas! Thanks for sharing!
Love that it is reversible. You did a beautiful job on both sides. Thanks for sharing.
Come visit.
You did such an amazing job on this wonderful quilt! I am so in love with hexagons that I am making sure to bookmark the tutorial you have. Thanks for sharing!
Oooh! I love a pretty hexagon quilt! Amazing! 🙂
Very pretty. I’m so impressed by those who hand piece! I just don’t have the patience.
This quilt is gorgeous!!!! Love it!!!
Beautiful! I love your tutorial. I don’t think I have ever seen that method before. Thanks!
Amazing! Such a lot of work! And the quilt is awesome!
Wow, so much hard work went into your quilt. Amazing job!
great quilt and just fantastic that you did it all by hand. lovely that it’s reversible, too. thanks for sharing and have a great day.
This is great! Amazing that you were able to finish it so quickly too!
I’m impressed that you were able to put this beautiful quilt together in only 8 months. It’s a treasure, for sure.
reversible? How clever!
Holy cow, that is an awesome quilt! Such patience, it amazes me.
I am going to try your tutorial some day. I have one hexi quilt top done which is not traditional at all. It is a house, flowers, fence, and sunshine. I have another from a past round robin that needs assembly. Once they get quilted I may have to try this.
Thanks for sharing and your quilt is beautiful!