Happy Dancing!

Sorry, no pics of me being an eejit and actually happy dancing, but I am so delighted to finally be able to tell you that my hand-stitched hexagon quilt is now finished! Yes, really!

It has taken three years from start to finish and has been entirely pieced and quilted by hand. In August 2010 I took some little hexies on holidays and started to fiddle with granny flowers. I had been itching to start sewing again and spreading my creative wings a little after the years when my son was very small and I hadn't really had time to have a hobby. During that holiday I decided to start carving out more time to pick up on my stitching and crocheting. I whipped up a circle of 7 granny flowers while on hols and decided to just keep going and see how far the fabrics I had found buried in a cupboard would take me. When I came home I signed up to Judith's new classes, learned to patchwork and quilt by machine and haven't looked back since. Admittedly, during the three years this quilt spent many, many weeks and months in a basket at the side of the sofa as I pursued other projects.

This little quilt has played an important part in my stitching history and I think it will always have a special place in my heart. Although sometimes I wish the fabrics I had found in the cupboard were a bit more modern, I do love this quilt and its cos warm colours and have thoroughly enjoyed all the stages. I'm glad I opted to keep the hexagon shaping at the borders and not square it off in any way, and of course I'm pleased that I changed my thoughtlessly machine stitched label for a hand stitched one to maintain the quilt's hand made authenticity.

I cannot imagine that I will ever make an entire quilt by hand again, not because I didn't enjoy it but because it takes sooooooo long! There will be more hand-quilting ahead though, as I have really enjoyed the process and love the effect even though mine needs a lot more practice!

If you fancy having a go at hand making a quilt yourself, I really would recommend it. Just allow yourself the time required rather than insisting on a quick finish. I guarantee you a certain satisfaction when you look at your finished quilt and know you did it all with your own hands! And, of course, it doesn't have to take you quite as long to finish one as it has taken me!!

 

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