There is no applique in this quilt! Which is probably why it was never finished. It takes a lot of work to do this type of quilt. It's made like a traditional grandmother's garden quilt. Here's a recent tutorial that explains the style this one was made in pretty well: http://www.ehow.com/how_2339833_make...den-quilt.html So all the "flowers" are sewn directly to the white path, each and every piece is a circle of fabric folded over on the paper and then stitched on all six sides. You cannot do this in the traditional way by machine, though there are "cheats" out there to get this look and be able to do it by machine. (Google half hexagons)

The one I have is in various states of doneness. I have the one piece with the white that is a good size and put together, then I have a bunch of flowers that are done and ready to be added with white, and then I have a bunch of loose hexies that need to be made into flowers. :)

Once you have made the flowers, you can pull the paper out of the middle pieces, you want to leave it in the edges until something gets sewn to it so the fabric keeps it's shape, but eventually all the paper will come out. All my hexes were cut from a 1 inch square, so they are just smaller than an inch each.

Just let me know if you have other questions!! I'd love to see pics of the pieces you have!

Rachel

Well on the bright side, I bet it made every single quilt you tried after that easy and a joy to do!! :) :) :)

Rachel

Thanks everyone for the kind words, I am actually not usually a fan of the look of Grandmother's Garden, though I can totally appreciate seeing one in person cause you know if all the hexies are whole, it was all hand pieced. But I just never really warmed up to the look of it. But after seeing this one again, I am so smitten with it. I really hope I can get it finished as I would love to see it as a quilt or wall hanging at least!

Rachel

lovely !!!! Good luck in getting these completed. What a "memory lane" that will be....and so COLORFUL !!!!

definitely 40's, and wonderfully preserved. the colors are still so fresh looking. how many do you have?

I know I was so lucky especially since they were just stored in a cardboard box! No yellowing or anything.

There are 24 flowers sewn into the big piece, then I have about 15 flowers already sewn, but not put on the big piece, and enough small pieces to make 18 more flowers. I will need to get more white, which I hopefully can match. But altogether it will make a baby size blanket. I may get more 40s fabric on ebay and maybe sash it different to differentiate, but I'd love it to be a lap size if I could .....

Rachel

what a wonderful present for you to start the year! and a challenge!

You can say that again!! I really want to get it done though, so I am going to try my best!! :)

Rachel

I agree this is absolutely gorgeous and, I too would be interested in how they are sewn together. If the paper is left in? I love this pattern, never gotten the gumption to try one. Love it!!!!

Yes the paper is left in until the hexie is surrounded on all sides with other hexies. Once that happens you can pull th epaper out from the surrounded hexi but you have to leave it in in any hexies that are not surrounded for stabilization of hexies you'll be attaching to it. I hope that makes sense!! So on the big piece I have already put together, only the hexies on teh outside edge have their paper still any, all the interior hexies have no paper. And the great thing it, sometimes as you're sewing you have to fudge a little to get the edges to match up, but once the paper is finally out, it kind of adjust itself to compensate for your fudging and just looks beautiful! :)

I have made 2 more flowers and added 2 flowers to the big piece itself. I am going to focus on getting as much added to the big piece as I can right now, then I will finsih making the flowers themselves I think.

Cheers!
Rachel