It all began innocently enough. Last Saturday I rejoined the Chattanooga Modern Quilt Guild. First let me just say that this is one fun group of ladies. They even handed out goodie bags from their visit to Quilt Con in Austin, TX. In my goodie bag was a little package of precut 3/4" hexagon patterns and 2" inch squares of fabric, along with instructions on English paper piecing. At the top of the instruction page was the warning. "Addicting and Contagious!" Yeah right, I thought to myself. I do not. hand. sew. anything. anymore. Way too slow for my lack of patience. But then, as I was sitting in front of my sewing machine, contemplating how to proceed with the quilting on my totally machine made tree quilt,
I was somehow distracted by that little package of hexies.
I was somehow distracted by that little package of hexies.
Okay, just for the heck of it, let me just see what the internet hoopla is all about.
Before I could blink twice, I was hexed!
Before I could blink twice, I was hexed!
I quickly checked the instruction page to find out how to order my own set of precut hexie patterns. Being the impatient person that I am, I proceeded to google hexagon printable patterns. To my delight, there were all sorts of available patterns. Instant gratification, almost. I still have to patiently hand cut all those little hexies. So why not increase the size. Easier to cut, to sew, for faster quilt finish.
But those darn 3/4 inchers are so darn cute.
After printing out a couple of pattern pages, I patiently and precisely as I possibly could, cut out the paper patterns. After a night of watching "Call the Midwives", "Mr. Selfridge", and "The Borgias", practicing patience has paid off.
I must say that no matter how painful my arthritic hands might be, the mental joy, calmness and satisfaction outweigh that pain. Patience, is indeed, a virtue that I need to practice more often.
It seems a strange coincidence that I opened up my email box on Tuesday morning and saw the latest newsletter from Robert Genn regarding patience.
Time to slow down and smell the proverbial roses, methinks.
For now, back to the machine quilting.
I just cannot wait to make more hexies. I may be "watching" more TV in the coming days.
It's a never ending battle in my mind . . . . .
To me, as you probably already know, hand sewing is a very rewarding activity. The slow pace, the patience, the endurance of the long run are precisely what appeal me the most. The journey and all the thoughts through it, that is what I like. It is a sort of meditation.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to your results with those tiny darn hexagons!
I don't do hand sewing either.
ReplyDeleteBut ...hexagons! ah, hexagons, I spent the 80's making thousands of hexagons, small, medium, large. I loved everything about them, cutting out the cardboard templates and fabrics, sewing the fabric to the template, stacking them up into similar piles and even sewing them together. You're going to have fun!
Your tree quilt looks fantastic close up.
What a treat to see your tree quilt! I KNOW you have lots of patience when you're working on this type of quilt. You can see your contemplation, your feel for your subject. That's why they have such an impact. The hexies look great in black and white. Leave it to you to do something unique. I often say, "I wish I'd thought of that" when I see your cleverness.
ReplyDeleteI love your term "mental joy". I have sewn up a bunch of hexies but put them away. Now I need to go downstairs and see how many I have and do I need to make more!
ReplyDeletemental joy, calmness...indeed that's what i feel when i hand sew. and you can do it anywhere:watching a movie, chatting with friends...
ReplyDeletecan't wait to see where you take these! and thanks for a peek at your tree quilt. looks amazing.