I've finished faffing...I think!

Long, long ago (well, 13th August 2011 - it feels like a long time ago!) I started piecing hexagons, along with many others, as part of Lynne's hexalong, which was inspired by this fabulous quilt by Lizzie Broderie.   I decided to go for a 'Miss Marple's garden' look for my quilt - a sort of typical English cottage garden look and all which that phrase brings to mind, without the dead bodies! 

It's been quite a while since I last laid out all my hexies, when I had pieced 101 of them, so I was really looking forward to seeing them all again and finding out if the quilt was going to work.  On Monday I laid them out (on a blanket on the front room floor) and I think I'm finished faffing with the layout.  At least, I am unless you all have changes to suggest!

It took ages to lay them all out.  I had to start somewhere so I started with the hexies that had seams going anticlockwise, so I could put them together and surround them with hexies without seams at the corners (to make the piecing easier)...

The first few - I was feeling quite overwhelmed at this point!

Then added others around them...

At this point I thought I'd be there all day!

At one point Archie woke up and discovered he'd been asleep longer than he thought:

What's going on?

When did this happen?

Any chance you're almost finished?  Or fancy a biscuit break?

And still I added hexies:

I think it's starting to work...

Hmmm...there's a long way to go!

Until I was done...

Phew, I made enough!  I was beginning to wonder if I'd missed counted!

...and Archie realised he was stuck:

Stranded.

So I built a doggy walkway:

Now he knows where he's allowed to walk instead of staring at me and looking pitiful!

I must confess that I had a little wobble when I saw all the hexies together.  I often fall slightly out of love with a project at this stage, I think it's because I've got to merge the image in my head with reality.  One night I decided that design R stuck out like a sore thumb and should be culled so I shared the photo with three wise friends who told me not to consider it!


After a couple of days I got a bit sick of looking at it and wondering if it was right so took Sarah's suggestion and covered them with a sheet - such a good idea and one that I'll remember for the future.


After a bit more faffing, this is how it looks now (six days later):

A multitude of hexies.

Some close-ups of each section:

Top left

Top right

Middle left

Middle right

Bottom left

Bottom right

If you're wondering about the fate of the hexies that were under threat of hexicide...one of them made it.  (It's in the photo of the bottom right section.)  The other one is in the box with the others that were culled long ago and may, one day, be turned into mug rugs, dusters or similar!


If you spot any changes that you think I should make/consider making, please shout!  I would like honest opinions, please, so if something smacks you between the eyes and yells 'Move me!' (or even 'Cull me!') then please say so!


Once I'm certain of the arrangement (I'm about 80% sure at the moment) I can make my map and start organising the hexies into labelled piles, ready for stitching.  I'm not the only one who can't wait to get the front room carpet back:

Any chance all this will go soon and I can have my bed back under the big radiator?

(I'd gone out and left him curled up under the little radiator (you can't see it in the photo, it's on the wall to his right) and didn't want him doing the bed dance across the hexies so made a barrier, it's not normally like that!)


Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got some finishes from my FAL to admire (yes, finishes - more than one!), some zips to buy and a dog that thinks it's teatime...