This is a love story of a quilt pattern and a collection of fabrics that were meant to be.
If I buy a fabric collection as a whole it must be special. I’m more of a picky type with my fabric purchases: I’d rather buy my fav prints in yardage than spending money on a bundle where I only really love half of the designs. But when Alexia Abegg’s current line Printshop (for Cotton + Steel) came out this summer, I knew I needed to have all of those colourfully stamped fabrics, every single one. And when the bundle of yummyness arrived there was no way I was going to pull it apart.
So I had this bundle stashed away in a save place in my fabric cupboard, to be admired from time to time. I had thought about using it in a special quilt with a special design for a special occasion…. you see it wasn’t going to go anywhere anytime soon. But then one glorious, sunny day (enter Prince Charming) Julie Hirt’s Hexie Tiles came along and swept me off my feet. Now this was a pattern worthy of my precious Printshop fabrics!
The paper piecing template for the Hexie Tiles consist of two pieces, which sewn together form a hexagon with a fan like center. There are more ways to combine the two pieces to form other shapes, too. Some of these are shown in her pattern. And as I was playing around with colour placement I found another arrangement that forms wide flying geese made up of two stacked triangles.
I love this variety of patterns the templates offer and would have loved to combine them into a sampler style quilt. Unfortunately I ran out of the Essex Linen I used as the background, which left me with not nearly enough material for a quilt. However I have enough to make two pillow covers from it. I decided to make one panel with the original hexie arrangement and one with the flying geese formation.
Currently I’m pondering how to quilt both of them respectively. I think about maybe only quilting the background, so the coloured parts pop like gem stones. Does this sound any good to you?
This post is linked up to Handmade on Tuesday, Fabric Tuesday at Quilt Story, Let's Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts, Needle and Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation, TGIFF this week at Rainbows, Bunnies, Cupkaces, Finish it Up Friday at crazy mom quilts and Modern Patch Monday at Modern Cologne Quilters.
veni vidi vicky 
Das ist ja wirklich eine spannende Form mit so vielen Möglichkeiten. Ich würde auch nur den Hintergrund quilten und den Formen ihren großen Auftritt lassen. Bin gespannt, was Du daraus machst.
LG Mareike
Danke liebe Mareike. Ich hatte auch die Idee, im Fächer immer nur eine der Sektionen farbig anzulegen, dann könnte man filigrane Bänder legen. Das muss ich bei Gelegenheit vielleicht auch noch mal probieren.
you are right – perfect pattern with perfect fabric
Agreed, Maggie! And Alexia and Julie are two talented designers!
These are soo Pretty! I love the different take on hexies!
Thank you Amy. Yes, that pattern in genius and offers so many options.
Na endlich zeigst du sie hier. Uuuuaaaaah sooo toll. Awesome. pretty, I love it.
Judith
ich häng ziemlich hinterher mit den Blogposts, gell. Instagram ist einfach viel zu schnelllebig ;-)
Wow!!! Whatever quilting you chose for these quilts is going to make them shine!
Haha. I feel like there are too many Options right now with all the different angles and shapes.
What lovely fabrics for such a special quilt…I like both of them for their unique designs of the hexagon block. Can’t wait to see how you quilt them up.
Aw Karen, thank you for visiting my blog! I’ll make sure to share the finished pillows here and on IG =)
What a great pattern. Looking forward to the quiltie finish;)
Thank you, Katie! I hope to finish over the Weekend =)
First time visiting from Sew Fresh Quilts – wow what gorgeous cushions you are going to have. I haven’t seen this fabric or pattern before – it is lovely.
Hello Abigail, thank you for the visit and your lovely comment. Both the fabric and the pattern might be current obessions of mine ;-)
Such an interesting and ingenious pattern, and the fabric is perfect, so lovely
Thank you so much, Kate. It’s really a great pattern and it’s free even!
This is a gorgeous fabric collection and you have chosen the perfect pattern for it!
Yes, isn’t it so cheery and bright? Thank you for your lovely comment, Deborah?
What a great paper piece pattern! I love when there are more than one way to use templates…beautiful! The fabric is amazing and I can see why you waited for the right project!
I love those patterns most, that come with a variety of arrangements and the possibility to make them your own. Thank you once again for your lovely words, Jayne!
Both layouts look beautiful! Those fabrics really are perfect for those tiles.
Thank you Leanne. I agree, the printshop fabrics work best in a pattern that bundles the beautiful spectrum of colours!
These fabrics are just a natural fit with the denimn essex linen. I don’t buy bundles either, but these fabrics look really great together. Great idea to have two different versions of this… have fun with the quilting!
Thank you Allison. I guess aI was also drawn to this collection as it is basically just blenders, which are the best fabrics to work with when you mix and match Designers and collections. I know your stash is full of those Kind of fabrics, that’s why I love it!
Oh I’m in love with this – it’s so cool! Great job.
Thank you Carrie. I hope to get the pillows finished over the weekend =)
Love the variation you discovered!!
Thank you Mary! I like it, too and have been dreaming of making a big quilt in this pattern.
Oh yeah, that fabric is perfect for those blocks! I love the grey background too…it allows your prints to shine. Great job!
It’s prbably the combination of those three things that make the fit, isnÄt it? Thank you for you lovely words Summer!
Oh, it would be too difficult to choose a favorite! The original reminds me of Dresden Plate fans. And your Flying Geese–wow! They are going to make fabulous pillows! I can see a few different quilting ideas working really well, so go with it and have fun!
Thank you Mary! Now that you say it, I see Dresdens, too =) I hope to finish These over the Weekend, have a good one!
Nice pictures! And great to see how you came up with the second layout. I just couldn’t figure it out on instagram, always asumed it was a one-piece tile, now it makes sense :) Your pillows will be great any way you quilt them.
Danke Melanie. Dadurch, dass sie zweigeteilt sind, muss man keine y-Nähte nähen. Sonst hätte ich mich auch garantiert nicht dran getraut ;-)
Is the Hexie Tiles pattern for sale now? It is marvelous. I can see so many possibilities for it. Pure genius! Mary
Hey Mary, this is a free pattern by Julie Hirt. You can find it on Craftsy. Just click here: Hexie Tiles . I would love to see what you make! =) xx Vicky