Thursday, December 9, 2010

Hand Pieced Hexagon Quilt

Let me start by telling you that this quilt top is not my handiwork.  I was however lucky enough to photograph it so that I can share it here with you.
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You may remember that I have previously featured my Mother-in-Law's hand pieced hexagons (here and here), and although my MIL is continuing to work on her quilt top (it is almost finished!), she is also a keen quilter in a sewing group whose members together have hand pieced this particular quilt top.


There are 8 quilters in my MIL's sewing group who have been meeting every third Thursday for more than 15 years.  The average age of the group members is approximately 65 and  they share, amongst many other things, much more than a century of quilting experience and know-how.

One of the group's quilters celebrated a big '0 birthday this year, and the above quilt top was secretly made by the remaining 7 members to present as a birthday gift.  This project was in progress for about 6 months and was a well received surprise for the birthday girl.


The hexagon blocks are made using just one diamond shaped template to cut fabric pieces.  Most  fabrics were carefully fussy-cut to create a repeat pattern in the center star.  The quilt top is entirely hand pieced.

Sewing groups are such a wonderful way to share and learn sewing/quilting techniques whilst sharing friendship, food and the highs and lows of everyday life.  These women are an inspiration for the commitment they have made to the group, their amazing work and their enviable bond.  

Thank you for allowing me to share this beautiful quilt top.

Rita

61 comments:

  1. What an amazing quilt but the community and friendship your MIL's quilting group must have: really amazing!

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  2. Rita what a beautiful story,,and a beautiful handmade top,,what blessings your mom and her sewing friends have made over the years..I wish them many more happy years of sewing..Merry Christmas..

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  3. beautiful quilt! the birthday girl is lucky to have such talented and caring friends

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  4. Fabulous! Such a lovely story. Quilters make the best community of friends don't they?

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  5. beautiful quilt - I thought when I first opened your blog this morning to take a look that you had totally changed your style! such a nice birthday present.
    Karen
    http://karensquilting.com/blog/

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  6. What a lovely quilt! Thanks for sharing the quilt and its story.

    I belong to a group that meets biweekly and it is a wonderful part of my life. I highly recommend it!

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  7. Wow! That is gorgeous. I'm glad you shared it. Quilts are meant to be shared. :-)

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  8. What an incredible quilt and a wonderful group of women!

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  9. What an amazing gift - both the quilt and the friendships secured by all those stitches :)

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  10. what a great quilt. So lively and fresh!

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  11. Our quilting friends are the best! Their gift is so touching.

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  12. Ah, those are just beautiful! Thank you for sharing this top, it's wonderful.

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  13. Wonderful quilt and definitely some serious consolation for an '0 birthday!

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  14. Thank you for sharing this quilt with us. It is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen.

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  15. Gorgeous! What a lucky birthday gal!

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  16. Absolutely gorgeous!! She's going to love it forever!! :)

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  17. Oh my, this is absolutely stunning, what a lucky lady to receive this and what fabulous friends to have made it. Seriously, this is one of the nicest quilts I have seen... Thanks for sharing with us.
    Hen x

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  18. stunning! this is seriously beautiful!

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  19. THAT is absolutely beautiful!!!!
    My grandma is in a quilting club and they do the most divine work! I don't have the patience for such but I wish I did.

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  20. Such a beautiful quilt and very inspiring story. I wish I had a group like that here. Thank you for sharing it with us.

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  21. Если долго смотреть на этот орнамент ,можно впасть в счастливый транс !!!!!!

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  22. It's been fun watching the progress and now seeing it all put together. Absolutely stunning!

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  23. All I can say is wow! Really amazing, stunning quilt and lovely story too!

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  24. I remember seeing your MIL's blocks when you posted them a while back. I was impressed with the fussy cuts and thought they were very pretty. It's a treat to see the top together. It's so cheerful! Suxh a nice gift to celebrate a '0 birthday. :)
    Thank you for sharing the pics and it's story.

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  25. incredibly lovely and how wonderful that this group is still together!

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  26. What a sweet story! And the quilt is fabulous.

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  27. Simply gorgeous. That is one amazing group of friends. I hope they help her hand quilt it too!
    The color choices are phenomenal.

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  28. That's a hexagon of a different sort! Just stunning. Wow, what a lucky group of women to get to play with fabrics and create such beauty. Thanks for sharing!

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  29. Please thank your mil and her friends for producing such a gorgeous quilt, and let them know I am endeavouring to make my own!

    Clare

    ps. what a lovely present!!

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  30. That quilt is just JAW DROPPING! I am *speechless*!!!

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  31. How lovely.. Quilts with a story really are something very special.

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  32. Amazing - what a wonderful surprise. I hope my stitch group lasts just as long and! Quilting friends are friends for life.

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  33. Fantastic! What a lovely gift for the ladies to give x

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  34. wonderful quilt & inspiring quilters !!

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  35. What a wonderful quilt! I can add that to the list of 'quilts I want to hand piece'....

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  36. Wow- that is an exquisite quilt! What a talented group of women!

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  37. what a lovely present to receive. the 'stars'are just beautiful! lucky birthday girl!

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  38. WOW, that is really beautiful!! I've always wanted to do a hexagon quilt, but I'm horrible at hand stitching!

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  39. I'm hand-piecing my first hexagon quilt right now. This quilt makes my heart go pitter-pat! Congratulations to the makers of this beautiful creation!

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  40. What a wonderful story and a fabulous quilt! I remember when you first showed it and I loved it. I am sure that the birthday girl was filled with emotion.

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  41. Thank you Rita for sharing this gorgeous quilt and the story of its creation. You are so right about the joys of being in a sewing group - that is one of the few things I have missed since moving to Perth this year!

    Best wishes, Christine xo

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  42. That quilt is amazing! Thanks for sharing it.

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  43. LOVE this quilt - it is truly gorgeous. I foresee one of these in my future (some day)! I already have the paper pieces - no more excuses.

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  44. stunning! thank you for sharing it and what a wonderful group - I'd love to have a group around me like that!

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  45. Wow, that is amazing!! Gorgeous and such a wonderful gift. What talent and friendship in that group of women! Thank you for sharing.

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  46. what a beautiful quilt, thanks for sharing the handiwork of our greatest generation.

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  47. What a lovely story Rita, thanks for sharing it with us.

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  48. What a beautiful quilt and story! Thanks for sharing!

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  49. Thank you for sharing this beautiful quilt with us. You have inspired me to try it for myself. I love your blog. Everything you make is wonderful.

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  50. Wow, wow, wowwow, WOW!!! BEAUTIFUL!!

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  51. Rita, I am in love with this quilt! Could you please find out the size of the pieces your MIL used? Are the hexagons about 4 or 5 inches? (I have a dream of making one of these!) Does that make the diamonds about 2 inches on a side, or smaller?

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