This was my Olympic challenge from last Summer. The middle is all sewn by hand. I love the Olympic Games but like many quilters don't like to sit without doing something else. So most of this was pieced whilst cheering on our athletes. It was last shown on my blog looking like this
It is a pattern called 3D hexagons and each hexagon is different - basically a charm quilt. Each fabric is from my stash - I bought no charm packs for this. I think there are nearly 600 fabrics here.
Once this bit was done it has sat for a year waiting for attention.
So I appliqued the edges onto some lovely marbley fabric I have had for a while. I love this fabric and talked myself in and out of using it quite a few times - silly woman lol ! I used long strips to applique onto and then mitred the corners and trimmed the back.
Then by far the worst bit was removing the papers ( It is English Paper Pieced ) I had paper and thread EVERYWHERE. . . .
Next a couple of borders and here it is.
_edited.jpg)
_edited.jpg)
I was going to baste this today but have decided to wait for a couple of weeks. We have a Finishing Off day with my quilt group coming up and I have high hopes of persuading a couple of my friends to give me a hand. I want to baste it with thread and this takes ages. I may bribe them . .
Some of these fabrics I have had in my stash since I started quilting ( about 7 years I think ) and are quite ugly to say the least. When I first started stash building I wasn't as choosy as I am now and this shows in some of these. But it's all good fun and I am really looking forward to quilting it and remembering the fabrics - where I bought them, which other quilts I used them in etc. It will a nice record of my stash. I may even make another during the next Olympic Games in 2012 which will be held here in UK - then again - maybe not !!!!
I have also been working on stuff for swaps but of course cannot show that yet.
I am hopefully off to a quilt show tomorrow and have a bit of cash burning a hole in my pocket . . hurray xx
25 comments:
What a lovely quilt and what a great way to remember the Olympics.
In a scrappy quilt, even the "uglies" have charm and make the quilt more interesting, and in this case, really nice. Good job!
Wow - that is truly beautiful! 600 different fabrics? Wow, again.
Definitely a long-term project. Do you hand-quilt many of your quilts?
wow...the applique on the edges must have been a real pain...but it looks wonderful! what a fun project to showcase your collection of fabrics :)
fantastic job on the hexagons...........the borders look great around the quilt........
Wow, it is beautiful and so many fabrics. Wasn´t it difficult to applique it to the border?
What an Olympic marathon effort. Well done. The borders make it look quite different.
Strange that some of your ugly fabrics may be someone else's delight.
How are you going to bribe your friends?
Ooooh, love your hexagon charm quilt. It's lovely!
Looks great Andrea, those borders finish it beautifully. I hope you fine someone to help with the basting.
Looks fantastic...what a great project for the winter.
Looking good! Because of you, i bought the book this pattern is from!! You really are a bad influence on me!!!
wow....well done..it looks amazing! I have an "Olympic" quilt I hand appliqued during the 2000 Olympics.....I hand quilted it over the next few months....I enjoy watching events like the Olympics but need a project to do while I am watching....!
Beautiful! And you must have known that you were saving that border fabric for a special someday quilt because it is perfect together! Cheers! Evelyn
(Sorry - deleted previous comment by accident...)
What a great quilt. I love EPP and am part way through my own marathon project. Might even finish it in time to quilt during the 2012 Olympics! :)
Wonderful ..... a beautiful top and a reminder of the olympics.
It's great. I love the little turtle in the last photo by the way.
Love and hugs Gina xxx
Your quilt looks fantastic - the light blue border really brings it all together.
I'm looking forward to removing the papers from my hex quilt. I think it will be quite satisfying!
Great charm quilt! It will be really fun to quilt! Good luck with the basting party!
This is a "charming" quilt. So many fabrics--such an accomplishment.
I've been going back through your blog, and I've found hexagons and English paper piecing throughout. I'm trying to do more hand piecing, and I'm in love with your Castle Walls quilt. One post was July 16, 2007, but I found photos here and there. Which Australian P&Q issue has that pattern? I just HAVE to do it and hope I can find that issue somewhere.
I've found other versions of the block, but not with those unique connector block. That's what caught my eye. Thanks for any help you can send my way.
How do you pick your borders? They just seem to work on your quilts. I often seem to get stuck on adding borders and can never seem to find just the right thing.
Well if there are ugly fabrics in that quilt they certainly sing now. Looks gorgeous.
What a fabulous quilt top and a great project for long winter evenings.
I arrived here by Googling for quilt as you go - great instructions. Thank you.
I've been looking back through some previous posts and feel quite inspired by everything I've seen.
Margaret
Andrea, this is just gorgeous. As usual, your choice for the borders is just perfect!
Oh, I love this one, it's very beautiful.
Post a Comment