My 'New Knee' Project
 

In July I was facing an operation(Total Knee Replacement) and needed to take a project into hospital with me! I do very little handwork and thought the hospital might object to my sewing machine......so I decided...HEXAGONS!!! Never thought I would get so hooked!!![ATTACH=CONFIG]382706[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]382707[/ATTACH]T[ATTACH=CONFIG]382709[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]382710[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]382711[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]382713[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]382715[/ATTACH]This will be a 'longterm' project!!

The quilt is looking beautiful....How is the new knee? A close friend of mine had a new one put in a few weeks ago. I may need them done in the future.

this is beautiful keep up the good work.

Your flower garden is looking beautiful. Today, my knee is killing me. I need a replacement too, but no insurance until next month. I started the hexagons last month and they are addicting. I sit at night with dh and hand sew them. I also take them on appts and to my quilting group. I love them.

Hilary, I hope your need is mending well but I totally agree... Hexagons are addictive. As part of a challenge quilt, the pattern had 12 hexagons included in it, done those no problem and then bought more papers, and now I am starting to get a box full just like your third picture LOL

Your quilt is looking super good already.

Did you really work on these after your surgery? I was so dopey I wasn't much interested in anything. Mostly slept until I life the hospital. I had my TKR in Sept! Isn't it great! I am thrilled with it..(my second one). I can walk like a youngster again! These are a great idea to carry on the plane or sitting at the Dr. office! Thanks for the suggestion.

These are a great recuperation project! Nice job!

Hope the new knee is doing well. I had both done at the same time 4 1/2 years ago. The knees are doing great for the most part! It is amazing how fast we can recover from the surgery, although I had major memory issues for more than a year afterwards due to the anesthesia. I still have some issues with that, but nothing like at first. Couldn't even remember simple words to complete sentences!

Thankyou! The knee is doing ok now but had a few 'set backs' on the way! (Like Deep Vein Thrombosis!!):( 3 more stays in hospital and LOTS of physio!! Now 5 months down the line we are 'getting there'!!!

Ouch!!! Can't imagine having BOTH done at same time!!!! Mine was due to a childhood accident 50(!!) years ago!!! Luckily my right knee is ok!! I would be very reluctant to do have it done again!!!!

Beautiful hexagons! What a lovely quilt it is going to make. So glad to hear you are on the mend now after some set backs!

wow, look what you've done... very nice

you are doing a great job and i hope you get stronger and stronger each day!!!!

Oh my goodness!! You have really made a lot of them. Your quilt is beautiful. Such a good idea to take a project with you to the hospital. Can you tell me if these are hard to make. I have templates that I bought several yrs ago but have never tried making them. Your work is beautiful.

Your Quilt is looking beautiful!! Hope your recovery goes smoothly, Merry Christmas!

You do really nice work. Thanks for sharing pics...even while you are on the mend!

Wow these look absolutely adorable!

It is going to be a beautiful quilt. When I looked at the first picture I thought the chair seam was the scar from the surgery!! Had to take a second look. Was thinking the doc did a great job ..... And I work in a OR!!

wow ... that is a ton of work
nice

Can't wait to see the finished quilt. I would love to learn how to make hexagons.

Love you hexagons!! I have been putting off trying them as they look difficult, however, a friend of mine did a RAK and bought me a ruler from MQCO and it's the cat's pajamas to do hexagons so soon I'll give it a try. I had both knees done years ago (not at the same time !) one is on it's 30th year and still ok. The other one was done in 1989 and it's good too. I must say though it took me a good 2 months on each one before I could walk without crutches. The physical therapy was brutal !!!

I just bought my first hexagon papers to do a GFG. Have been wanting to start one forever but couldn't understand how it was done and read how hard it was to do. However I saw a person in LQS putting some together one day and it didn't look hard. Anyway, I had given up on the idea and then walking out of LQS one day recently saw a book called English Paper Piecing. I decided to look at it and lo and behold the diagrams were done so that I finally knew how to do this. Will start in next few days.

Are hexagons made using the paper piecing method? If so I would like to try that as I like paper piecing. Not so fond of handwork though, but if it isn't too hard I would try. Also, do you cut a bunch out at once by stacking and do you use a rotary cutter?

I'm happy to hear you' re doing OK! I have bone-on-bone in both knees and am wondering whatis the Deion point,where decide it' s " time" to jump in and do it. I'm lousy at sitting.

I'm happy to hear you' re doing OK! I have bone-on-bone in both knees and am wondering whatis the Decision point,where decide it' s " time" to jump in and do it. I'm lousy at sitting.

Glad to hear you are doing better. Sorry for the set backs you had. Love the hexagons. I have been trying to decide on a layout to do for a hexagon quilt. There are so many pretty ones to chose from.

That is alot!!! They look great!!!!

I use the English Paper Piecing method. There is an excellent site www.texasfreckles.com where you can download and print out the templates. I use 1" templates (15 to a page) I usually print 10 sheets at a time then sit in front of TV cutting them out with scissors! My fabrics are all 1930s prints and are cut 21/2" square(mainly from Jelly Rolls or Charm packs) if you look at Pic 5 you will see closeup I don't cut fabric into hexagons.! For years I have steered clear of hexagons/handwork but I have so enjoyed doing it and am thrilled with how its looking! I know it'll take a while but I think I will stick at it and hopefully this will be a finish rather than another UFO!!! That's the plan!! Give it a go!!!!

Thankyou! I had put it off for 10years!! I hit the BIG 70 in April and suddenly decided the time was right!! After all the setbacks I did feel I'd perhaps made the 'wrong' decision:( but 5 months down the line and a lot of improvement I'm now happy!! I'm lucky that I have been very well cared for by my wonderful DH....he even did the IRONING!!!!:thumbup:

So pleased to hear your knee is healing. Your hexagons are looking lovely. Can't wait to see the quilt finished.
I too am looking for a hand project and this may be just what I need. A good way to use stash.

very nice.you can not stop a quilter-slow em down-but not stop them.great way to stay busy

lovely .... another project to put on my to do list

love those hexagons....best wishes for your recovery!

Glad your knee is doing so well. My mom (age 87) just had it done but had a fall and had to have hip replacement done too. She is having more trouble. Love your flower garden. It will be very pretty and colorful when you are done.

Looking good! Great project for the hospital. Look forward to seeing final project!

I love the scrappy look. I just finished a flower garden. It did not have the pizzazz yours does.

Yep, I would say you're hooked! I am working on my 3rd hexie quilt. This latest one will be diamonds rather than the flowers. I see hexies in my dreams!

I do hope you are healing nicely from your replacement. My DH had both his done about 13 years ago....3 months between surgeries. He is still doing very well. I have a bad knee, and was advised that I might want to look into replacement, but after setting thru PT with DH, I think I'll just suffer thru, at least for now.

BEAUTIFUL!.... I hate to hear about your knee surgery. My DH had his total knee replacement in 2010. Our prayers are coming your way!
Penny

Gotta love those 1930s reproduction fabrics! All the little hexagons look fantastic. Every time I see them I want to do them.

I hope you're all healed up!

lovely work

Glad to hear the knee is mending well. Don't you just love handwork. I find it so relaxing. Your hexagons will make a lovely quilt.
Eileen