This is the last I will post on this project to be fair to the people in the workshop, but I will share an image of the quilt with you when it is completed.  For those of you in the workshop, I will have a fabric kit available on site as a separate purchase if you want one.

I am posting these preliminary images just in case there are those of you who would like to choose your own fabrics for the project.  I will know if I will have a few extra kits available after the workshop has been completed for those of you who have been asking for them.

I am very excited about the color palette and I am trying to stay true to the Italian Majolica colors.  The Stonehenge fabrics are going to play a very prominent role and will really set this design off. 

I am keeping track of  the Aurifil thread color numbers I use for the applique so it will be easy for you to match threads to the kit fabrics and not have to bring every color of thread you own to the workshop.   This goes for the embroidery threads too.

Everyone in the states have a really nice Labor Day weekend and I am really looking forward to having the kids back in school next week and my quiet working time back!

Since I have had many questions regarding my little hexagon project……..

I still do not have a completed design idea in my head exactly how I am going to use these, but I know I want to use them as a background for some applique and/or hand embroidery.

Horrors of horrors I am hand piecing.  I can hear you muttering, “but you hand applique what’s the problem?”.  Hand sewing seams for repetitive piecing is a whole different animal in comparison to the constantly changing designs in hand applique.  I am not good with repetition.  At all.

Having said that,  I am enjoying piecing my hexagons in the evenings while I watch my television shows.  I think the main reason it is working for me is that I took the angst out of it.  How, you ask?

Boy do I love computer drawing programs.  I drew out the size of hexagon that pleased my eye (no measuring as I am geometry impaired), then created a template on an 8.5″ x 11″ rectangle that would go through the printer.  I can print the cutting line AND sewing line perfectly and I have no marking to do later and no guessing on where to stop and start my sewing.  All I do is sew and make sure I start and stop at the corners and they go together perfectly.

Cut fabrics 8.5" x 11" so they can go through the printer

Face fabric right side up and iron the freezer paper to the *RIGHT* side of the fabric. Feed the fabric/freezer paper unit through the printer so you print on the fabric (wrong side)

 

Cutting and sewing lines are printed on the back of the fabric and make for easier piecing. I cut them out with scissors.

See how they line up on the backside and are easy to stitch? woohoo.

As my little gift to you, I am including a PDF for my grandmother’s hexagons for you if you want to create your own as well. 

If you can figure out this formula:

for measuring the area of my Hexagons (Frances-<grin>) then you will know the size.  I will tell you that one finished side length of the Hexagon is 1″.  I will leave the math portion of this there.  The seam allowance is a scant quarter inch.

I want the colors to be soft because for my project, I want it to fade as a background.  The applique will be the contrast.   I am also making this as a utilitarian quilt and I like a softer palette because it reminds me of my grandma’s quilt I grew up with. 

I had been waiting on the pattern covers and they came yesterday.  Houston we have a problem.  They were dark and way OFF and there was no way I was going to use them.  Fortunately, the problem was not on my end and unfortunately, that would have meant delaying the release to you until the corrected print run and shipping was completed. 

I know some of you have been waiting on pins and needles so I printed new covers for this print run of patterns and will use the corrected covers on the next run.  The pattern is now ready for you on my website under the products tab.

This time I also included the Cosmo embroidery color numbers that I had used as well as a DMC floss substitute for your convenience.  Remember that your fabric choices may require you to use different shades/colors for some of them in order to stay cohesive with your project palette.  The pattern includes a color embroidery instruction booklet and a numbering guide as well as the full size pattern.

Because the process of making this block was covered on the blog, you can also go back and type in the word “goldfinch” in the search box above right and you will be able to go back and review those posts if you desire. 

I really wish you could see this block in person and I can’t wait to see it quilted when it will fully come to life.  In the meantime, have fun making your own version and follow along.

Now I must get busy on the Asilomar project.

Now that the Goldfinch pattern is complete, I need to get bustin’ on the Asilomar project for….2011!  Yes, I have to start this early.  In fact, I should have started earlier!  It will be done and ready for everyone I promise. 

I thought those of you who signed up would like an update if you are contemplating your own fabrics.  I am buying extra of any fabrics I am auditioning so I will have enough (hopefully) for fabric kits to be available those of you who have requested them.

I am waiting patiently impatiently for a prospective background fabric I have ordered.  I was going to go check that situation out this morning come to think of it. 

I eliminated the flying bird in the upper left from the preliminary sketch due to a scale and composition issue.  The pattern would have to be prohibitively large for it to balance and I had visions of students with these over-sized patterns taking up all available space and that of their neighbors.  I have “personal space” issues and I am sure there are others out there too. 

I will add a butterfly in place of the flying bird which will also add more color and interest to the composition and give an example for more realistic butterflies instead of those gnarly appliqued ones.

The bird is going to be beautiful.  I chose the Gnatcatcher because of its coloring and cuteness.  Yes, this bird does have a big white circle around its eye giving it a whimsical appearance.

For those of you who look at this and panic…DON’T!  I will walk you through it and you will think, “why was I so afraid?”.  Then you will go home and impress all of your friends and family.  riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight?

I have been asked to come back and teach at Asilomar for 2012 and I have agreed.  Oh dear, I better start brainstorming on that project so returning students and new students can have a choice.  We don’t want anyone getting bored now do we?