This is a photo of my favorite pattern to piece. It is a variation on the Grandmothers Flower Garden. Takes a while to do with machine piecing but it is worth the extra time.

You machine piece it?! How exactly do you do that? I have only heard of it being done by hand!

You use a "Y" seam. Start 1/4" into the seam and Stop at 1/4" from completing the seam and lock your stitches. Then add the next piece and use a 1/4 " seam. With each new piece you add stop 1/4" before the end of the seam and lock your stitches. I usually graph out the quilt. Then I turn the graph paper 1/4 quarter turn and piece the hexagons in rows. These will all be straight seams. I still stop 1/4" before the end of each seam and begin 1/4" into the seam. This give you the room in the seam you need for joining the rows. Once all the rows are pieced and laid out in the correct pattern you should join the rows using the same method. It takes some time but it is lots of fun and very relaxing.

that is gorgeous. great work

Very pretty! One of my favorite patterns!

Beautiful Quilt!! Fantastic job!!!!

Foxgait - Thanx for this photo. It reminded me of a quilt that I had stored away. My grandmother made the blocks (she died in 1958). My mother found them and made them into a baby quilt for my daughter. I've saved it for my daughter, Rachel, who may bless me with a grandchild in the next few years. This quilt was machine pieced also.

Foxgait.... how big is your quilt? How many blocks did you make and how much fabric?? I reeeeeeeeeally am interested in making one over the Fall and winter months.... something I can do by hand over my lunch hours at work or when I'm not in the mood to haul out all my sewing stuff onto the dining room table but want to have SOMETHING in my hands to work on!

I love it. It IS gorgeous! Did you top quilt it yourself?

A beautiful quilt with a wonderful combination of colours

seriously now...I have enough projects on my plate without being inspired to add MORE from your beautiful quilts!!

This actually is on my to-do list - I added it about 3 years ago and even purchased the hexagon "quilt patis" to do it!

Incredible job on the quilts

Wow, beautiful. Those are a lot of work!!

WOW - beautiful. Thanks for sharing!

I didn't do the quilting myself - I have a close friend who is 96 that loves hand quilting and I had her do the quilting.

The quilt is a queen size and I have no clue how much fabric I used or how many blocks I made. It was one of the first quilt I ever made and back then I didn't keep track of any useful information. All I know is I worked steadily for quite a while.

You really should make one of these - it is fun and very satisfying. sounds like you have what you need to get started.

If you look in the tutorials section, Patrice has step by step instructions with photos that show machine piecing this pattern.

Beautiful quilt. Lots of work! 96 year hand quilted it.....WOW. Good for her.

well the top is awesome but I must really give a hand to your quilter! That must be why she has lived so long! Old quilters never die, the just get worn around the edges! :D

Beautiful!

Foxgait-you have a beautiful quilt-what a treasure!!

Stunning and the patience of Job

try this tutorial
http://www.quiltingboard.com/posts/list/3419.page

That quilt is really pretty!

gorgeous quilt and now that i know you can machine piece it i might have to make it...

I really admire you for tackling one of those. It is gorgeous.

Thanks. It was not as hard as you might think. It is a very good project to keep on the back burner for those days when you want to sew and don't really want to think. :wink:

Very pretty!! Nice job!

Thanks. It was a fun quilt to make.