Heritage Stories: HEXAGONS

I am sure most of you have seen a Grandmother's Flower Garden full of hexagons from maybe the 1930s or 40s.

I had too in shops and online and they were never my favorite.

Then I was given a bag full (40+ flower heads) from

a new client that her mother had hand pieced while

working in a textile company.

 

This woman had been searching for almost 10 years to find someone to complete her mother's legacy with many twists and turns.  When she met with me (a total stranger), she handed me the bag and was ready to leave them with me.  I asked whether she might want to wait until I wrote up a quote, etc.  She replied no because I was her last hope and if I couldn't do it, they were just going into the trash.  I almost cried and I didn't even know the full story at that time.

We discussed ideas for her abundance of hexagons and she told me that she really wanted to share the wealth with family members.  A table runner and twin quilt for herself and stockings and mini pillows to share with others.

I set out figuring the best way to approach this project.  Many others had turned it down because the edges were too frayed to work in the traditional English Paper Piecing but I am an excellent appliquer (if I do say so myself:) and those edges could be tamed in that technique.
We agreed that hexagons would be appliqued to squares and set with sashing...Easy:)

Hand Quilting Detail

Finished Table Runner

As we go through the post, note all the fun colors of flower heads I was given to work with.

The stockings were a lot of fun to make once I drew out my template and decided how and where to utilize the hexagons for maximum design effect.

That red and black one to the right was hard to part with:)

Mini Pillows

Hand Quilting Details of borders

 Ta-Da!! Last but not least, the Twin Quilt just for her.

 

This story brings tears to my eyes and it is why I Love being a Heritage Architect!  Every stitch I put into this project brought me closer to the quilter and mother that made these

precious pieces and gifted them to her children. 

Now her children and grandchildren can enjoy these heirlooms for generations because they are being taught the importance of appreciating what has been made by hand.

Keep Quilting!