I might name this “The Project That Went On Forever” quilt. I started this in 2015 as part of the international CQJP group, the Crazy Quilt Journal Project. The idea was to make one block each month and then post the finished picture to the group. I kept up for the first 4? months and then life got in the way. If you go back to the post of 10/31/2016 you’ll see some early on pictures of how this project began. Slowly but surely I worked my way through all 15 embellished hexagons and 31 embellished equilateral triangles. Both the hexies and triangles are constructed in the same manner, backing fabric that wraps around to the front to form a 1/4″ white border/frame making each of the 46 fully finished stand alone pieces. I hand stitched them right sides together in the fashion of EPP (English Paper Piecing) using a thin strong white thread making tiny whip stitches.
The hexagons vary, each one completely different, the white triangles are uniform in appearance. This hexie above, while 6 sided is made by sewing strips to each of the 5 sides of the center pentagon.
This piece features a vintage embroidered flower spray doily with an ivory hand crocheted edging. The remaining embroidery was done my your truly to enhance the vintage work. Look closely and you can pick out the ivory Dresden Plate.
Beautiful purple/lavender flowers crown this hexagon. They were cut from a seriously damaged vintage table-topper I found at an antique shop in Huntsville, TX. Visually they are very strong and needed a softer base on which to sit. The band of ivory trim separating them from the soft flowers beneath give the eye a place to find comfort.
An old pink and white edged doily became the focal point for this piece. The dressed up ivory butterfly is a new piece but it blends in nicely with all the other old things. This piece is visually “bottom-heavy” with the large pink flower commanding center stage. All the pieces above the flower serve to compliment and draw the eye away after it’s had enough pink!
Here’s another example of a center 5 sided pentagon fashioned into a 6 sided hexagon with the addition of side panels. The green ribbon leaf vine is new, from a craft store.
Battenburg lace, white wedding handkerchiefs, commercial new and vintage white trims provided a wonderful base to be embellished with beautiful spring green satin ribbon, new silk roses, tiny glass lavender/green and white flowers. The tiniest little multi color flowers with the size 15 Ceylon white beads are sequins!
I added lots of hand embroidery to this piece. I used a strong pink to couch the dark blue lines of embroidery, added the yellow wheat looking sprays, learned how to do a bullion stitch (never again…..) added the spring green leaves and the yellow french knots to the flower centers. See all the other embroidery? I did that too. This piece needed a lot!
The above hexagon is one of my favorites! It’s just jam-packed with visuals in each of the 6 sections.
Have you ever worked with Lucite flowers? They were in the jewelry section of my long gone favorite bead shop. They add such depth to a piece!
Speaking of symmetry, this piece is the epitome of! Both the heart and the butterfly are new pieces I embellished.
I don’t know what to say about this piece except I love it!
Above, the butterfly is new, the flowers are part of a vintage table topper.
This orange and blue hexie took forever but I feel it was worth the time and effort. I’m not a blue or orange person but after having worked with this for so long I came to understand how they work so well together. The crochet flowers were saved from a very damaged doily.
I think in almost every project I have a fav and a not-so-fav… The above is the latter. This piece just never spoke to me. I spent hours on it, gave it some serious attention but like I said, it fits nicely, just not my fav…
And finally, this is Kim’s wedding jacket, or at least parts of it cut up, re-positioned and embellished. This piece was entirely ivory before the bead explosion.
While this hexagon is not part of this particular quilt, its a good exploded example to show you the 5 layers to each of the 46 pieces. 1. the front to be embellished 2. white cotton muslin 3. white medium weight machine embroidery cut away stabilizer 4. white 50/50 cotton poly quilt batting 5. again, white cotton muslin. Just so we’re all on the same page, please know that the stabilizer is cut away, not tear away and it stays in the hexagon sandwich. As you embellish the front of your hexagon you are stitching through the front, the muslin and the stabilizer.
The embellishing is done through the first three layers. Once the final do-dad had been added, a layer of batting and the backing fabric are set in place.
The backing fabric is cut 5/8″ larger on all sides. It is folded once to meet the raw edge of the embellished hexagon and the final fold will take it over the edge to the front where it frames the hexagon nicely and is hand stitched in place.
The triangles are done in exactly the same manner. You might notice this little piece has no tiny white beads… At first I felt that embellishing the triangles would draw attention away from the hexagons so I made all of them without beading. Well, I changed my mind so I had 31 of these little babies to bead after they were basically finished! Oh well… these things happen…
This final hexagon picture collage is in honor of the fully finished piece I lost while speaking to a Guild. I was carrying my project (before it was stitched together) on a display board from my car into the hotel when a huge storm hit! A gust of wind sent everything flying. It wasn’t until a few days later I discovered I had not recovered all the hexies. I was heartbroken 😦 sob sob…
All stitched together this giant triangle of embellished pieces measures 47 1/4″ on each of the 3 sides. So is it finished? No, I still have to attach a label and the sleeve, might just very well happen next week!
Thanks for reading this far! Let me know if you have questions!
Blessings to all and Happy Quilting,
Rhonda
Rhonda Dort 
When I grow up, I want to do work like yours. Simply fabulous!
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Aaaaawwwww! Thank you! 🙂
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I have never seen a hexie quilt so beautiful.
You are truly so talented.
I would like to try something similar but I am hesitant as I know it won’t look anything like yours. Confidence is needed.
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Thank you!❤️
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I have been #oing hand embroidery since I was 3 and a half. I have never seen anything so elaborate and elegant.
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🙂 Thank you!
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You have inspired me to make one! Mine is in purple and maybes. How do you piece your triangles and hexagons together? Do you use a ladder stitch or little overseeing stitches?
I hope mine turns out as beautiful as yours. Best wishes from Queensland, Australia
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Thank you for your kind words 🙂 I stitched the blocks together by hand using a tiny whip stitch.
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This quilt is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen!!! The attention to tiniest detail is mind numbing! Thank you for sharing your process with us!!!
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Thank you for your kind words!
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HOW PRECIOUS!!!!!! YOU SHOULD BE SO PROUD OF YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENT. I HOPE YOU HAVE IT INSURED FOR ALL THE BEAUTIFUL HANDWORK YOU HAVE DONE.
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Thank you!!
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absolutely stunning work…
Hugz
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Thank you!
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Rhonda, this hexie quilt is stunning. How big is each hexagon? I couldn’t find any measurements in your description other than the binding.
Thanks so much! Beth
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Hi Beth, you’re right! I did forget to talk about the size! Each side of the hexagons and the triangles measures 4 1/4”.
And of course, thank you for your kind words!
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Exquisite .. and the use of many treasures of loved ones is in a way honouring them and our love of creativity Thank you so much for sharing.
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Thank you for your kind words!
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Just to clarify, before you add batting and backing and after you’ve embellished you tear away the third layer. Yes?
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Good morning! Remember, the 3rd layer is Cut Away rather than Tear Away. The Cut Away remains in the project once the embellishing is complete. It’s role is to add additional support and stability to the hexagon both during and after the stitching and embellishing process. Please let me know if this helps!
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Where is the love button? This post and project are so inspiring! It makes me want to start one. How big are those hexis? You were able to put sew much into them. Thank you for sharing this beautiful project.
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Thank you! Each side of both the hexagons and the triangles measure 4 1/4 inches.
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Your work is always stunning and this is no exception! I have plans to do one of these at some point. I did save the picture of all the layers. I am thinking you leave the tear away in the sandwich and you don’t remove it. Is that correct? I am understanding you are supporting all that extra stitching with those layers. Thank you for sharing your process photos!
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Thank you! Yes, the stabilizer stays in the Hexagon Sandwich” but I’m going to have to go back and look at what I wrote because it should have said: cutaway not tear away!!
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~ I am always Blessed by your works of your hands. Thank You for sharing with me ❤️. May GOD always bless the works of your hands and keep sharing your works. Taking Vintage things and remake Beauty for ashes. May the blessings always be on your house. In Jesus name 🙏 ~
VANESSA SEAGRAVES
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Thank you for your kind words!
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Absolutely gorgeous! Thank you for sharing
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Thank you!
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just beautiful. how do you keep crochet dollies from raveling when you cut them?
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Thank you! There is not a problem with the doilies, the crocheted ones unraveling, this is not a utility piece and therefore will not go through a washing machine and or dryer. In fact hopefully it will never have to be laundered.
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It is stunning! I am looking for my next project with vintage pieces and I am not experienced with beading but your excellent photos give inspiration!
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Thank you!
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This quilt has a very special place in my heart. I believe it is because I watched it come together from the very beginning. I love all of your work but this one is one of my favorites. I love your creativity
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Thank you sweet friend! ❤️❤️
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The time you spend in the details is like creating beautiful art! Just lovely!
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Thank you!
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Just stunning! Thank you so much for sharing this!
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Thank you!
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Just wow. After seeing your amazing hexis 5 years I started buying things here and there. I fell in love with all the hexis and did start one. Seeing this gets my heart soaring and excited to get going again.I had a bunch of medical issues then. I asked my 24 year old daughter if I have enough embellishments on the one I was doing. She said it was probably too much. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I probably do not have enough. LOL. Thank you so much for sharing more. I just love your sense of humor. I have a question. So do you sew the first 3 layers together before you start sewing things on? I will have to pull my hexi out to see what I was doing.
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I forgot to say how sad you lost some hexis. That would be so hard. My Grandma always said if your sitting keep your hands busy. She did tatting and crocheting. Her tatted stars given to many people were a treasured gift. After my Sister kept reminding me of this I am now trying hard to do it.
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🙂
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Thank you! Yes, you can sew the top 3 layers together before you begin the embellishing if you like!
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Oh my! You have inspired me to open a bureau full of old linens, miles of hand dyed silk ribbon and boxes of beads, rose montees and fripperies. I shall spend my afternoon stitching away after a long hiatus from these lovelies!
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Thank you!
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Rhonda, this is another beauty! I am always in awe of the creativity you display in your pieces. Should I admit that I’m a bit sad, too? Yes. My grandmother was a master crocheter and after my aunt died and the estate was divided, many of Grandma’s damaged pieces were sold at the auction. 😦 After seeing your amazing work, I wish those damaged pieces were back in my hands. This work of art is outstanding!
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Thank you!
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Awesomely beautiful! The patience you must have. I have many vintage pieces and am encouraged to try a small piece. Thank you for sharing your work.
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Thank you!
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This is absolutely beyond spectacular! I’d say I’d give my eye teeth for it but, having had a tooth extracted this week, I’d have to rethink that idea. Haha!!
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Haha! Thank you!
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This so beautiful. My eyes thank you for sharing
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Thank you!
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What a wonderful post!!! I loved looking at each hexagon to see what you had done! The whole piece is just beautiful!!!
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Thank you!
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I love seeing and reading about your beautiful projects, so detailed and elegant.
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Thank you!
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I love your beautiful work. So detailed and elegant.
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Thank you!
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