Such a Dilemma with a capital D am I having over the layout of my new hexagon quilt. I have cut out 324 templates and tacked/basted 324 pieces of scrummy fabric and now I am ready to sew them all together one by one, with tiny little stitches into something that is pleasing to the eye. The only problem is.....How!
I started by picking them out of the basket in a totally random way....The first half dozen look like this and I wasn't very happy with it....
Next up, just place them side by side randomly and see what happens.....
Don't like this either. Next idea was to put them in piles according to colour and see if that inspires me.... 
Nope, definately nothing happening at the moment. So I know, I will make flowers shapes up in each colour and put them together like that......
This started to make a bit of sense, so I made some coloured piles.... 
The problem with this idea is that I don't have enough different designs in some of the colours to make them up as I have several repeats...AARRGH!Who would have thought that it would be such a difficult thing to do. I just want it to look right and at the moment it doesn't. Maybe it is just a case of laying it all out on the floor and playing with it until it fits. So, where do I go from here? Anyone out there who has made one of these who can offer some advice......Well, I am all ears!
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Now, this quilt on the other hand just feels right. I am making two, simultaneously by the way, because Littlest Fairy also needs a new one apparently!
This time, 308 templates cut out in a slightly different hexagon shape. This one is smaller and more elongated. 
What is strange about it though, is that I am using mostly the same fabrics for this one as mine..and yet this one just looks so much nicer....mmmmm....can't work it out? I have my next quilting group on Tuesday, so will ask for their advice I think.
What do you think?
Dev x
7 comments:
I hope you manage to sort it out so that it feels right. xxx
I think your on the right track with hexagon flowers - think of a Grandmother's Garden quilt....maybe by breaking it up.
http://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/better-homes-gardens/craft-decorating/craft/article/-/5832073/grandmothers-garden-quilt/
hope that helps??
Nina xxxx
Perhaps is as simple as the fact that you know that littlest Fairy will love the quilt you are making her and the pressure is not so strong and you are mixing colours with a much more relaxed eye... however perhaps you are being a little more critical regarding the big quilt which I assume is for yourself and you are giving yourself a much harder time... I love the random colours but I fully understand your dilemma... in my humble opinion you need to step back from the idea of the colour being the bee all and end all and pile your hex's in tones... this will sound daft but when you squint your eyes at a design the darker tones will become more apparent... for example your flower motif picture the orange flower and the pink flower are all in the same tone and the pattern becomes lost... oh I don't think I am making sense! lol
try to balance light and dark and I think you'll be happier in the overall effect...
big hugs and good luck
x Alex
Oh dear, I hope you manage to sort it, good luck . :) xxx
I used to make the flower shapes first, and either had a darker fabric in the middle or the ones surrounding it. Sometimes alternated them when laying it out so that each flower stood out. The randomness didn't work for me, it had to be like the Grandmother's flower garden with some structure.
They are both going to be beautiful, you clever thing. I can't imagine the amount of work in them! Looking forward to seeing how they go x
Ohhh hexagons, lovely.
It depends on what sort of look you are going for. You may find http://hexagonquilt-along.blogspot.com/ useful for ideas.
I was very sad to read about Hamish, but how wondeful to have Hector!
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