Saturday 7 June 2008

Summer Charm Quilt.

Since I started quilting 5 years ago I have always admired charm quilts. I think the true definition is one where every fabric is used only once. However I believe it is common to use one fabric twice for a bit of fun and to see if anyone can spot it.

About a year after I started making quilts I decided to make my own charm quilt - I chose the thousand pyramid design. Because my stash was a bit puny I began to buy charm packs from sellers on Ebay and started piecing away mostly by hand. This is the result


I love this quilt and use it a lot when I'm reading alongside one of my cats on top of the bed. ( I know my cats are clever but it is me reading and the cats trying to sit on the pages- lol ! ) Anyway I like looking at all the fabrics and remembering what other quilts I used them in. Patrick who is 11 likes doing this too but would rather die than admit it in front of his mates :-) Now because I bought a lot of the fabrics in packs especially for this quilt there are loads of them ( nearly all ) that are JUST in this quilt and no others. Do you see what I'm getting at ? To cut a long story short ( you'll be glad to hear - lol ) I now want to make a charm quilt with fabrics that I have in my stash only with no extra charm packs bought in. As my fabric collection has increased a little since a few years ago ( here's the bit where my DH chokes on his coffee - lol !! ) I think I will be able to manage a nice size quilt quite comfortably.



I bought this book a short time ago and it contains patterns and templates for 36 different charm quilts. Everything you can think of - squares, rectangles, tumblers etc. I had to pick one. Eventually I decided on one called 3-D hexagons. It is basically a shape which when joined together in groups of 3 makes a hexagon like this...




I have gone through my scrap box and fat quarters and yardage and cut a bit off every one. This took a bit of time let me tell you but was great fun. I cut out the basic shape on freezer paper and pressed them to the backs of all my fabrics. I have piles of these all over the place but am slowly getting organised. I am tacking these over the papers and putting them into a box according to colour like this. I am trying not to repeat any of the fabrics but I'm sure one or two will get duplicated.


I couldn't resist sewing some up.


This is a great project to do in spare moments - nice and portable. Now and again I'll rip off a bit of freezer paper and cut some templates and leave them next to the ironing board along with my little piles of fabrics and press a few ready for tacking. Now when I say this is my Summer project I don't mean I will get this done THIS Summer - lol ! I'm sure it will be a long term thing.

It was great going through all my fabrics and chopping bits off - fun, fun,fun !! I would recommend this to everyone if you like hand work. And the book is a good one.

Other news is I have started the Summer round of the 4 seasons quilt swap but this time there will be no pictures as I KNOW the person reads my blog - lol !
Have a great weekend and stay tuned for next post - I am getting excited about this.






39 comments:

sewkalico said...

You are always up to something great! 3D hexagons, now those sound interesting.

Love your pyramid quilt, it's gorgeous. What size are those triangles? (thinking of your stash idea and future future future spare time projects - as if! OK, just forget I asked I don't think I'll ever have any spare time LOL)

Sew Create It - Jane said...

It's going to be stunning. I love the shape you've chosen..original.

Vicki W said...

I really love charm quilts and this one will be awesome!

Fiona said...

Gorgeous quilt - and the hexagons will look spectacular - don't forget to show it to us as it progresses!

meggie said...

I love the triangle quilt! Also the new one is going to be spectacular. I have a top I have never backed that I did by hand... I still can't believe I had the patience!

Unknown said...

I adore scrap quilts, you always see a different fabric every time you look at it. Your pyramids are stunning, and those hexagons are adorable. Hope you'll keep us posted with your progress on these.

*karendianne. said...

Unrivalled! That's all I can say.

Well, that and I'm inspired, you're so talented and I MEAN THAT.

Oh well that and how does one make one of those 3d Hexagons? (dont answer that, its probably way out of my league).

Summer Charm and Love, *karendianne.

Kieny The Dutchlady said...

Your pyramid quilt is gorgeous, I really love it. I have one planned somewhere in the future. Those hexagons look great too, very nice colours.

Kristie said...

Wow! I love your pyramid quilt! That is one that I have wanted to make for years, but just haven't got to it yet!

Now those hexagons are interesting! I think that is something that I would like to do. I have been trying to think of some little hand project to do. I was taking yo-yo's with me everywhere but now after 2 yo-yo quilts I am tired of them. I think I may have to find this book!!!!
Kristie

Anonymous said...

I love your pyramid quilt, have admired them from afar. My stash had never been big enough for that type of undertaking, I may have enough now. Did you use a template or pattern?

Sarah Nopp said...

Wowsers! I love it, and I am going to be watching your progress. I went to a sew-in day at the library today and a bunch of us were talking about the triangle type quilts- yours looks great :)

Cathi said...

I love your pyramid quilt. The hexagons will look super -- I'm really hoping to see it as it progresses!
I love charm quilts and scrap quilts so that book looks incredibly interesting!

Red Geranium Cottage said...

What a great scrap charm quilt. Love it. And those little bitty things your doing there are way cute but oh my, alot of work.

Karen said...

Love your charm quilt. I made the tumbling block pattern charm style several years ago. It is a favorite quilt of mine. That's how my fabric stash started building.

loulee said...

Beautiful, I've never seen that pattern before, it's going to be busy, busy, busy.

Love the 1000 pyramids too.

Ruth said...

Love your quilt! I have always admired that pattern. I'm paper piecing a grandmother's flower garden now - just a lap quilt. But I'm thinking about making a tumbler doll quilt next. Did you paper piece the quilt? I love paper piecing too. It's good to have a portable project to take in the car, etc.

Rose Marie said...

Your pyramid quilt is stunning and those 3-d hexagons are quite intriguing. I spotted some of my fabric in those blocks.

Unknown said...

Andrea - you've stumped me there, there is something new in hexagons. I've often seen them split three ways (into diamonds like tumbling blocks) but I've never seen them split midway along three of the sides to make three pentagons fitting together - I really LIKE!!! might have to have a go at that one because I need a new project like a hole in the head!

Anonymous said...

I've never tried a charm quilt, but yours is gorgeous. I can't wait to see your hexagons progress.

Belvie said...

Love that pyramid charm quilt and I think your new hexagon one will be just as beautiful. Thanks for suggesting the book. I plan to take a look at it.

Ali Honey said...

That will be lovely and I can see it is a great handwork project. Your 100 pyramids are delightful.

Don't ever dob Patrick in, in front of his friends or he will stop doing delightful things that you appreciate!

Ali Honey said...

Make that 1000 pyramids!

Mad about Craft said...

Love the scrappy quilt! I want one!!!

You've started something now, I am sitting here thinking 'hmmm' a hand pieced quilt, something portable.................

The Calico Cat said...

I love charm quilts too - so far I have stuck with squares & rectangles though...

jovaliquilts said...

Wow, what an amazing project! I love the triangle charm quilt you made, too. Have fun!

Chocolate Cat said...

Love the pyramid quilt! The hexagons look really interesting, can't wait to see as it progresses!

Rose Johnston said...

Oh this is stunning!!!! and an absolute credit to u!!! Another winner for me, thanks for the inspiration!!!

Unknown said...

The pyramids are awesome and this 3d hexagons will be that too. This will be a lot of work but I am sure it is worth it.

Unknown said...

Wow, what incredible patience you have. I tried a hexogon lap quilt years ago that was hand stitched, and vowed never again! It took forever, and I need more instant gratification. But I love the results when it is someone else's.
Can't wait to see more of those hex's finished. Please do keep updating.

Fabricmom said...

Great quilt top. The hexagons will be smashing in a project.

Helen in the UK said...

Your first charm quilt is wonderful. The idea of taking a 'snapshot' of your stash with the second is even more wonderful!! How fun for your family or even historians to find it in the future and be able to look back at your whole fabric collection in one place. Be sure to make a great label to explain it :)

Quilts And Pieces said...

Is this the post I guess for the mystery draw. Gosh - I would have to say 185 fabrics cut.

Quilts And Pieces said...

Oh your pyramid quilt is awesome!!!! I love it! I"ve always wanted a charm quilt too, but I never can stick to just one of each fabric! I guess I"m not patient enough.

Amy a.k.a. dragonryder4 said...

Wow this is the first time that i have been to your blog - I just spent the last 2 hours reading past posts. I have so enjoyed your blog and have added you to my blogroll so I don't miss a post :) Your pyramid quilt is stunning !!
Hugs,
Amy
http://www.rattiemom.blogspot.com/

Rebel said...

I'm sooooo impressed with your thousand pyramids quilt, it really works. Don't tell anyone, but I'm working on one myself.... yours is better though, I love it.

julieQ said...

These are awesome! Love these hexagons, so unique.

Carolyn said...

Ok you got me...saw the 3-D hexagons on your blog and went right out and bought the omnigrid 'come quilt with me' template and now i am putting them together...doing the piecing by hand so it can be a patio project
check my blog
http:friendshipstarquilter.blogspot.com

Gamawinkie Renea said...

just found your blog! i am inspired. just a question- can you show the back of the 3D hexagon? did you cut the shape of the finished hexagon out of freezer paper, or each individual piece? i found the book, but it was $1000, yes, one thousand dollars. too much for my pocketbook.

keep up the good work...

java diva said...

Hi! I was wondering if you have an update on your 3D hexagon quilt 5.5 years later...? I just received the template and want to see quilts made with it. Thank you!