I first posted about this quilt back on Sept 13/2014, or rather posted about the pieces that my cousin gave me, from a pile of tops and pieces, that belonged to her mother-in-law and her husband's grandmother. You can visit that post for all the details, but basically many of the pieces were in the shape of a hexagon diamond with a centre white hexagon.
By Nov 18/2014, after working with my cousin's other hexagon quilt tops, with florets and diamonds, I came up with a plan for the quilt that I wanted to make, which would honour the original maker. You can read more about it in that post. From there, throughout various posts, I talked about the process I went through to prepare the hexagons. By Nov 29/2014 post, I was preparing the grab and go tin that would be with me for a very long time and go with me everywhere.
This quilt was not meant to be finished quickly. Afterall, I was assembling this quilt all by hand. So throughout the time from Sept/2014 until now, I would work on this quilt, on and off. It turned out to be a fairly large quilt. Almost a queen size, but I consider it to be a large double size.
Now, fast forward to Aug 15/2025, when I finally put in the last stitch to finish the top of this hexagon quilt. That is almost nine years in the making, as it traveled with me wherever I went, and was worked on whenever I had bits of time. I can't even explain how I felt when it was done. I guess the feeling was an astonishment. Shock and happiness all rolled into one.
I held onto the top in that state for a while. I knew I wanted to quilt it freehand on the longarm, but also knew that it would take a long time to complete. By Nov 21/2025 I had the top on the longarm and was in the process of quilting it. Taking my time, as I have to be careful not to exert my hands. Each pass of the machine (16" depth) takes 2 hours to quilt, so that too, takes time.
So now, I can call it done!!! Still have the binding to do, but when the top is quilted, I consider it to be done. I am so surprised, happy and shocked at the same time that this quilt is done! Nine years!!! Wow!!
Unfortunately, this is not the longest standing quilt that I have.......lol. I'm embarrassed to say it, but I still have the one that I started back in 2011. The Gathering Flowers quilt, however I am trying to remedy that, as I have recently been working on it. There is a theme though going on......all my longest quilts are handwork.....slow sewing for me is REALLY slow......lol. But I do enjoy the whole process of handwork. I'm just not fast at it.
Take care everyone. Don't forget to take some time for yourself.
