waiting for inspiration
There is so much to make and so little time to do so... it is driving me bananas. I almost time myself so I can do a little bit of everything.
My hexagon quilt is ready to be assembled into a quilt top I really enjoyed. the hand basting process, which I could do anytime and anywhere with little planning. I have approximately 700 hexies. I could happily make another 700 but I guess at some point I'll have to do something with them....
Richard fixed a large piece of cotton batting to the back wall in my little sewing room so I can stick pieces of fabric on. I call it my design wall, which is rather grand. It may need some improvements as the eyelets hammered into the batting are not likely to hold for very long, particularly with the increasing weight and two little creatures rolling over the too long bits with the office chair. I pinned the overhang up now. Batting is great for sticking on fabric but of course there is very little fabric exposed at the back of my hexies and they don't stick. So much for my grand design plan. I have to pin them on, which is a bit of a pain. I spent a long happy afternoon pinning about 2/3s of the hexagons to the batting. I did as much as I could on the table then hung the batting up, to save myself some backspin later. I am not sure now if I like the assembly. I am now thinking of making a pattern of sorts, flowers maybe? I tried to put a few flowers together on my ironing board but I am not convinced. I didn't plan ahead and I worry that any kind of pattern might frustrate me too much because inevitably there will be a point where I run out of a colour. Rainbow stripes maybe?
I think I may need to give this a rest until inspiration hits me.
In the meantime, I have plenty to get on with. I have finished quilting James quilt. This is now waiting for me to choose fabric for the binding. I am on track for James' birthday, which is good. I need to block a shrug that I just finished knitting. I don't like wet blocking but I think I have no choice, the shrug looks like it has been chewed up by a cow. I am already planning to knit a cardigan. I have plenty of yarn in stash but I am not in love with any of the colours just now... typical really. Dusty pink, dark purple or teal? I really want to make a start on a shirt dress. I am going to a conference in Canada and I might need something hinting towards sophistication and style. I am not sure what the dress code is. Experience tells me that this is probably scruffy to slightly worn out with a hint of grease stains but it is good to have a backup at the off chance of a more formal conference dinner.
Right, I am off to bed. I am dog tired after another really nice weekend. My mum asked me earlier what I did and I could not think of much to tell her. A little bit of this and that and a bit of sewing. It was a quiet one, that's for sure. Have a great week. xx
I rather like the idea of a random quilt with no pattern. I'm wanting to crochet an Afghan, need to get my brain in gear, it's gotten very lazy.
ReplyDeleteBravo on all those fabulous, colorful hexies! That is going to be a family heirloom for sure. A prize winner. :-) I spent this Mother's Day here in Oregon reading a Coastal Living Magazine, making potato salad and orange baked beans while hubby watches over BBQ chicken on the pellet grill. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see more of this. I understand how hard it is to plan them, though; my hexagon crochet is almost finished, but I'm running out of combination ideas and I'd rather not repeat any I've already done if I can help it. My eye was drawn immediately to your purple and orange arrangement. I remember when you told me that you liked purple and orange together because I do too. :)
ReplyDeleteI do love English paper piecing, the smallness and the slowness of it all suits me very well. In fact looking at your quilt I suddenly have the urge to start one myself. I don't have one on the go at the moment. Maybe it's that time of year when I turn from yarn to fabric. I shall look forward to seeing how your hexagons develop. CJ xx
ReplyDeleteWow Christina! I am not a little tiny detail kind of gal, so it totally amazes me the work that other people do like that. I know that patience pays off, but still... that is a lot of stitches! It will look awesome - I love the bright color scheme. Go with your creative flow!
ReplyDeleteThese look incredible! I love the classic design of hexies, it really means that you can use gorgeous colours and fabrics. This is stunning!
ReplyDeleteHey Christina,
ReplyDeleteI am often stumped when asked by Marc what I have got up to during the day. Full of something and nothing I guess, which is the story of my life ;)
Leanne xx
I really like the idea of random, it does look impressive on your design wall.
ReplyDeleteI tried to do flowers Christina but it’s quite a challenge when you start joining them. I have put mine away for now, but motorhoming will probably make me restart (again). Yours is looking lovely and I have serious envy of your design wall.
ReplyDeleteThe hexagons are glorious! I like the random effect and I like the flowers so I think whatever you end up with it will be stunning.
ReplyDeleteSometimes taking a step back is just what we need.. and boom inspiration
ReplyDeleteI have those days where I am dog tired as you said and I think.. what did I even do today to make me this tired.. and I sometimes don't even know.
http://www.henatayeb.blogspot.com
I love the hexagon wall - it is so colorful!
ReplyDeleteLove all your hexagons. I love random hexies everywhere but flowers are also very cool. Sorry...I am not much help.
ReplyDeleteHi Christina, looking good. I like the flowers on the ironing board. I don't tend to do random so am drawn to those. I googled soap and your blog today as I remembered reading you'd made some once. I absolutely love your soap bars, so pretty. I don't know if I'm brave enough to give it a go. The thought of having a separate batch of pots etc just for soap making... not keen on the hazards either. Though I have used caustic to clean the oven and got burnt on my arm. It stung and itched for days. I checked out the youtube queen of soap links and she does make it sound safe and do-able. Like you, I fell in love with the prettiness of soap and wanted to crochet a washcloth to go together as a present. Sorry I've not visited your blog for a while, my blog either. I think I've just felt lacking in anything to say. I've cut back on social media groups and pages I've liked in the past. I'm hoping to have more time to 'actually make / do stuff' now. I have set up a local knit and natter group meeting weekly in the local pub. That also helps me get on with craft work but again it took time with social media to get the group organized.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Cathy x
I think the hexies are fab. A colour dip effect might be good with a sort of ombre working its way over the quilt - see what happens. Me, I wouldn't go for flowers they would start to dictate what colour you would need next and then you would loose the flow and the portability of it. Your quilt wall is impressive. It is so exciting to have one on the wall. It is one of my mini dreams! Jo x
ReplyDeleteWhile I am not a quilter, Christine, the hexagons do look well on the wall as a wall design, and I'm sure will be even nicer when placed in a quilt project. And yes time does seem to go by so fast especially when we can't recall exactly what we were doing when it did - happens to everyone.
ReplyDelete