Quilts Etc!: Brick Series #8 - A Long Time Coming!

Hello again dear quilting friends!

(I found this post partially done in Drafts. I've finished the 8th quilt and will post that tomorrow...but this was supposed to come first!)

You are sick of this photo if you've been following me on this project but for any new viewers, this is the original top.

You may recall the story of this c. 1910 'bricks' top that I bought many years ago.
I decided to take it apart and see how many small quilts I could make out of it. I've written 10+ blogs on this particular project. The first was in May of 2011. (You can find that along the right sidebar by year)

I'd resisted suggestions that I do a hexagon quilt - over papers British style -but I finally decided to challenge myself. I felt it would be a good addition to the series and would use up most of the larger pieces.

I created the paper templates and basted the fabrics over them until I had over 100.Then I began thinking about a layout. I needed a small portable "design wall."
Flannel and batting didn't work because of the paper behind each piece. I tried double stick tape on a piece of cardboard I got by cutting up a big box. The pieces fell off as I tried to work with them too many times. FRUSTRATION!

As it might be used for display

the sticker on the back

Then I came across something in office supplies. This Tri-Fold cardboard display board looked perfect.

It was just big enough for the size of the piece I'd planned. I used applique pins to poked the pieces into the cardboard. I was able to move them around, pin still in each one, until I decided on the layout.

After considerable playing I decided on a layout. Remember, I am using only fabric from the old top. There weren't enough larger pieces left to enable me to be fussy about color choice.

I used the usual method of putting two hexagons face to face (right sides together) and whipping those edges together.

Then I saw a post by Barbara Brackman suggesting laying pieces side by side, flat, and whipping them together as they lay flat.

Click here for a YouTube video showing the process.

I tried it. At first it seemed clumsy but I ended up liking it. (I did not use tape or clips...just put the pieces on either my thigh or a pillow to raise it up and ease along matching corner tips as I go.)

I assembled it in three sections

This shows all but the last couple of hexies in the bottom section sewn together.

Once the sections were done, all I had left was to sew those two long zigzag seams.

Back of the piece
PS leave papers in until all sides have been sewn
The papers along the outer edges will stay in place for stability until the piece is appliqued to a border