It's Wednesday!

That means it is time for the Hexagonquilt “La Passion” Facebook group to post updates on the progress of their La Passion quilts.  For me, most Wednesdays are usually a bit of a let down.  Everyone else is making such fast progress, and here I am, still plodding along, more than two years after starting.  I don’t know how some of them do it – if I manage to baste and attach 100 hexies in a week, it is a great week.  They seem to whip out thousands.  It isn’t a race, but I sure hate losing.
IMG_1153Anyway, this Wednesday is different.  This week (this morning, actually) I have completed round 9, and I am ready to get started on round 10.  I thought this meant I was in the home stretch, but thanks to Turid, I know that I am still less than half done.  (You can see Turid’s La Passion in greens here.)  She has done some counting or math, I’m not sure which, and keeps track of how many hexies she has done.  I’m a little behind her, but only by about 400 hexies or so.  I think I am around 8,000, and rumor has it there are 17,000 or so in the finished top.  (I’ve asked my kids to count the hexies for me.  I get the eye roll, a polite “no thank you” and then they disappear.  I have trouble counting past 10 without losing track, so it is a lost cause.)
La Passion started out almost as a joke for me.  I was finishing off a 10+ year 1″ hexie project, which ended up crib sized.  I loved the design, and I was not put off by the little hexies.  These are 1/2″ per side, which makes growth really slow.  I assumed I would do a little, maybe a round or two, then give up.  Not so.  As the quilt gets bigger, each step takes me a lot longer.  I get a little put off, but the Wednesday updates are critical.  Seeing everyone making progress inspires me to keep up, and it gets more beautiful with each piece I add.  You can see Grit’s original La Passion, which she has so generously shared with us all here.
Now, it is time for me to pick out a new purple for the background.  I was planning on using the darkest purple I have been using, but I can’t find it anymore.  This is the danger of working with batiks and not buying the entire bolt.  I’ve purchased a few different options online, but nothing is exactly right.  I have a few more rounds now that are just stripes of one color, so I am okay, but the panic is starting.  Once I settle down on the next color, it will all go together perfectly, I am sure.
IMG_1151These are the fabrics I have selected to use in my La Passion.  Only two purples have enough yardage to complete the top, but the others will get worked into diamonds and flowers.
IMG_1158I also have this luscious orange purple swirly thing that I’ve been hoarding for more then ten years.  I have a little over a yard left from my original ten yard purchase.  I think this will be put in as the orange round in step 10.
IMG_1155One thing I did notice as I was looking at the photos, is that the colors are terrible.  I took the fabrics outside for a better comparison.  Lighting is important.  One of the pieces I thought was purple is totally blue outside.  Interesting, and now my selection process has gotten easier.
IMG_1159Now, here is a little tip for anyone just starting EPP, or experienced quilters who are frustrated with their stitches showing.  These are the stitches in the middle of my quilt, from when I thought I had experience, but really I was a novice.  I was using white thread with my dark hexies.  I try to avoid doing that now.
IMG_1161These are the stitches on my dark hexies now.  This is two years and thousands of hexies later.  I have three or four colors of thread I use – light, medium and dark grey, and also I try to have something orange or pinky to go with the oranges.  If my stitches show, it is definitely harder to see them.
IMG_1148Finally, here is Oscar.  He is a fantastic companion on my La Passion journey.  He is very supportive, and not heavy enough to damage the quilt.
Okay, enough show and tell.  I have to quickly do the minimum allowable level of housework and get back to stitching.  Maybe this month I can catch up with Turid and her gorgeous greens.

13 thoughts on “It's Wednesday!

  1. Your La Passion is just shining, and I love it. Yes, you have about 8000 hexies here. Every round now is about 400. I find that now it’s going faster for every day. I try to make 100 a week. And I’ve calculated that this will give me a finished top in March 2018, just in time to quilt it before the exhibition in 2019. You’re welcome to visit my blog, where you can find all about my LP.

  2. Oh, my goodness, this is so amazing! I dabble in EPP, but it is the sort of thing I grab when I don’t have a traveling hand quilting project, so my progress is very slow. You must get so thrilled every time you complete a round now that your project has grown so large. Definitely don’t waste time trying to count those little guys! You’ve motivated me to put a little more concerted effort into my current EPP quilt.

  3. Hi Jennifer, it is so amazing seeing your quilt growing. I still have 1/6 of the “star” to do, but can’t wait to see mine as far as yours is. And you’re right, these are appriox. 8000 hexies, the complete top has 17 215 hexies. When finished step 10, you have passed the first half, so stay on stitching 😉
    Happy hexie stitching greetings from Belgium
    Petra

  4. I love hexies too..they are so relaxing and portable. I have a Milliefiore I am working on and a flower garden. Your quilt is just amazing! Love it!

    1. Which Millie are you working on? I have the pieces and a collection of Tula Pink for La Passacaglia. I have controlled myself and not started yet. I want to finish La Passion first. I have done some of Katja Marek’s Quilt as you Go as well. Not her first Millie yet, but maybe some day.

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