Good Morning, Kelly. I have mine out ready to take on vacation with me, but I think I'm really to the point where I'll need to decide how I want to connect them now. I have WOW around every block.....maybe I'll just connect them and be done with it! I have the 22nd block almost completed and they measure 14" X 17" finished.

Kelly, I am so envious of you to be able to make one of these wonderul quilts. I would love to be able to do it but alas I cannot do hand sewing because of pinched nerves and numbness in my fingers.

There is something similar that might interest those who do not want to tackle the real thing. It is on my list to make. http://www.mccallsquilting.com/golden/mg32_pattern/

here is another link you might enjoy visiting. enjoy: http://www.doodle-head.com/quilt/gfg/ I love the old fashioned prints that makes a new, but old fashioned looking quilt. Enjoy

June in Cincinnati

Funny you should ask! Mine just came out of hiding yesterday. It's next up on my incredibly long list of UFO's. I'm going a different direction with mine. Each section is appliquéd to a background..next will be sashing and a border.
Bon
:)

Mine has been moved to the back burner. I was making it for the PR (public relations) committee at work to raffle at Christmas, but they have disbanded the committee so it will not be needed now. I do plan to finish it, but have others that will be needed first.

beverly

The top of mine is finished, need to get it out and start the hand quilting process.

Some of you may remember, MIL brought this quilt here last August when she came for a two week visit. She had pieced the top, but discovered after she got here that she had put a double row of the white hexagons between each flower. She and I disassembled the entire quilt top, took out the extra row of white, and put the top back together the correct way. We completed the entire task during the two weeks she was here.

Sadly, MIL passed away the end of November, so this quilt holds special meaning for me. I'll get it hand quilted maybe this winter, and will treasure it always.

Wow Kathy, that is a treasure.

Eventually, I will get mine back out. I really don't have much to go. I ran out of paper hexagons and have just not cut anymore out to progress any further. I'll get back to it eventually!

Rebecca

Kathy tx and Geezerfolks, those are both just beautiful! A classic pattern that will never go out of "style", and each one I see is just a little different. I'm still plugging away at mine. It's half-pieced together, and I have 3 more rows to connect, then add all the rows to the half that's done, and I'm starting to think about what to use for the backing. When I get to that stage, I know I'll finish it. (Then I'll have to find another hand-project to take along to events I just sit at.)

What incredible patience you ladies have! Those quilts will be works of art to be proud of. I did ONE block - using Eleanor Burns easy method - in a class I'm taking. I could never put one together the way you are - I'm very impressed.

Bonnie

How beautiful! I haven't had to nerve to start a hand piecing quilt.

Kathy, you are so lucky to have spent that time with your MIL doing something you both enjoy.
Carolyn

I have no idea if mine made it through the cleaning process. It's in one of six boxes labeled material.

I have mine that I started in '96 ready to go on vacation. I'm hoping to get enough done for a wall hanging. LOL

I have the one my grandmother started bak in the 40's. When she passed in 1992 my uncles packed up everything that resembled quilting or crafts and gave it to me. She had finished piecing the flowers but not all had the row of white around them. She had cut out all of the white hexegons though. I have been plugging away for over a year and have almost finished. Next I will cut hexagons for a yellow path to connect the flowers. There are about 40 flowers. I'm afraid it will be a WIP for a long time!

Mary

Wow those are really great!

Whate size hexagons did all use? Also share your techinque in making them.bonnie_nmi is there a name to Eleanor Burns
method?
Red

I was also going to ask about the Eleanor Burns method. My hexagons are 1-1/2" flat side to flat side. I use hexagon templates I make with my paper cutter and flat yogurt lids. I remove them when the third row is done. I have done only the middle and two rows centers so far and not gone to the next row but we're only in the middle of baseball season so may have a wall hanging by world series. To be honest (and with this group I can) I haven't decided for sure what to make next row. Fabric shopping, fabric shopping!!

Love all your examples and what a wonderful keepsake Kathy.
Linda

Here is a cute GFG not-traditional quilt...enjoy
You all have me interested in GFG, but I'm not really a handpiecer. I do love Redwork though.

Gwen

Here is a link that might be useful: quiltwoman

Would anyone be willing to post a template that I could copy off and make some from plastic lids I have at home? I would really appreciate it. I have been setting here trying to make one and it's just not working. Could you also give the basic directions as to how to make them and put them together, or is there a site I can go to to get all this information? Thank you so much.

Hey everyone!

Nice to see your pictures, Sharon and Kathy. Kathy, I remember when you were working on that quilt with your MIL. I know that you treasure that memory (and that lovely quilt).

I have a heavy plastic hexagon template that I bought on sale a long time ago. I trace a whole bunch of them on the back side of my fabric, then cut and trim. After I pin two right side together, I use 1/4 inch tape from Joann's to give me my seam allowance to sew on. (I'm not as good as eyeballing that seam yet as some of you are here). I reuse the tape until it doesn't stick any more. I have been thinking about appliquing my flowers on black backgrounds to cut down on time (as Bon seems to be doing) but probably will not. Scraphappy and grammy P. (and some other kind folks here) gave me lots of help when I first started this project. I agree that this is a project that is so great for times when I am plopped in front of a baseball game on tv with my guys...I get something done while spending time with them. (And if I don't prick my fingers when my DS yells: Yah! Yah! then it's a good night all around) lol...

Anyway, since I promised I would, I need to get off of this computer so I can dust off my little tin box where I hold the supplies to this project. I don't believe I've worked on it since last fall.

Have fun!
Kelly - NH

Oops!
I hope your project survived, glass. I remember when you were working on it at the hardware store...

Gwen- thanks for posting quiltwoman. I enjoyed that different way of using hexagons etc.

tupper-you are lucky to have something like that from your family's past...

Enjoyed reading all of your posts.
Cathey- I hope someone can help you. You can also use the search at the bottom of the list and put in Grandmother's Flower Garden and see other ideas. I think that someone posted a tutorial a while back.

:)

I would also like the basic instructions and pattern.

Vicky

Kathy what a great memory of your MIL, the quilt is beautiful.
I have been contemplating dragging mine out. I have started hand quilting it, but it is awful, it has wool batting & kona cotton on the back....a what was I thinking moment!!
Talked to some gals about having it machine quilted with it sandwiched & most said don't do it.
Next thought is to finish a central area with the hand quilting & then maybe switch to using a colored pearl cotton & a utility stitch & make it appear as if it was planned that way? Even that will be tough going.
Judy Hopkins uses this on most of her quilts & they look beautiful.
So this is why it's packed away & I just loved too, so very sad. Jill

Here's a link to directions. For Cathey6815, I'd be glad to send you one template to copy if you want to e-mail an address. Tell me how big you'd want it.
Linda

Here is a link that might be useful: Flower Garden directions

I found a really easy way that fits me to a "T". I made a bunch of templates from soft spread tops & yogurt tops the size of the finished hexagon. I also made a template the size of the cut fabric - hex plus a generous seam allowance.

I cut out the number of pieces I needed for each flower. Then I made 'yo-yo's. I did a running/basting/gathering stitch about 1/8" from the edge of the fabric, put a template in the middle and pulled the thread. The fabric instantly turned into the shape I needed. ta da!! I did a whip stitch on the back side to sew them all together with extra care paid at the corners so I wouldn't have holes. I left all the plastic inside each petal until it/they were surrounded by more petals. So the outer most edge was stiff but the inside was just fabric.

To remove the template I just snip the basting stitch. No ironing or worry about correct cutting as long as the templates are done carefully.

When I cut the hexs, I just cut a WOF strip the width of the template then fold the strip til it's the size of the template, pin with a flat head pin in the center, then using a small ruler, rotary cut the hexagons in that whole strip all at once. I've cut up to 12 at a time without a problem. I don't use paper or plastic, I don't sew in strips, but make the individual flowers in rounds using a running stitch with a 1/4" seam. Everyone does what works best for them.....

Aunt Net, You have 2 years on me.....I started mine in 1998. @:) I probably should take another picture with the rest of the flowers I've made.....

SharonG/FL

Linda, I use template too. I use the sides of milk cartons for mine. Do you put yours together by row or complete the flowers then put them together? I found it was easier to do them by row.

I gotta get a better picture. The flash really washed out the colors. They are supposed to be poinsettias.
beverly

I sew together in circles one flower at a time. I don't go clear to finished circle yet but have centers and a green surround done.

I baste only the six corners with a little stitch folding the mitres down with a finger press so it goes fast. I baste a lot ahead and then sit and just stitch at other times. I have a hole in center of each template so can pop them out with my scissors or a chop stick. when I get one quilt finished I'll post a picture. Now that I see Red's pattern, I'm not sure if I won't try something different with my hexagon flowers. Hummmmm!

I am working on one for my mother. I cut out all the hexagons last summer for 76 flowers and just started putting them together this spring. I only have a half dozen done so far and have had to set this aside to finish other projects. Hope to pick it up again this month. I tried to do the quick piecing method from quilters cache, but did not like the way the rows went together, so now I am sewing the individual rows by machine and then joining them by hand. This is my first hand project and can't help but wonder if my stitches will hold?!

I posted these pics before and I can't find the thread where we talked about this in the past.

I fold down and baste at each corner around the template. I used cut up hanging file folders for my hexagon templates.

Whip stitch to join them in a row.

Whip stitch the rows together

One complete flower!

Here are some of them put together.

I have probably 5 more flowers to join and I will be done!

Rebecca

Thanks you to all that responded to me. I appreciate you all so much. You are such a loving and supportive group. I appreciate you all so much.

I just stumbled on this site today - I've been working on my quilt for two and a half years (off and on) using paper piecing. I've got 108 flowers done, and laid everything out yesterday to discover I need 29 more for a queen sized quilt, so a trip to the quilting store is in order. I sure hope I have enough of my white fabric to finish!
{{!gwi}}
My individual hexagons are 1" on each side.

Welcome Melissa, you will love this group! What a beautiful GFG!!

Rebecca,
Thank You for your pics I copy and pasted them.
Red

Wow. Those are some gorgeous WIPs!

I hope some day I have the patience to sit down and work on a GFG, because they're so beautiful in their variations. Maybe I'll do one with huge hexagons. :)

~ Kit

Each quilt picture posted is more beautiful than the next, but they are all wonderful. GFG is the quilt country I will never go to so I am impressed by those of you who have the patience for it. Thanks for sharing your pictures.

Hi Everyone.....I just joined....Thank you so much for all the wonderful info in this thread. You see...GFG was one of my grandmothers favorite quilts to make. I begged her to teach me (way back when I was a pre-teen) but alas I never got to learn. She has been gone for 27 years now and I have been trying to teach myself....LOL....Now with all your help I will be able to make my Grammie proud. I am going to start out small....ie...Chair pads.I remember Grammie making pillows. Then work up. I want to make one each foe my 2 granddaughters. I have lots of material, just need to get them sorted.

I do have a question or 2.. ;o) If I decide not to put a white border around each flower....what should I use? Light or dark fabric? And does it all have to be hand stitched or can I cheat and use a machine?

Also...do you use the hexes for yoyos? Grammie made these as well? Dont know how to make them.

Thank again, God Bless You All
Sherri

ps....as soon as I get a chair pad made I will try to get you all a pic!!!!!

Welcome to the new members!

Fran- never say never. Grandmother might get you into her garden yet!

I'm going for black around my flowers. Not traditional but looks best with my bright color choices. I love the idea of doing chair pads. I have an afghan that an aunt crocheted for us long ago that is black with GFG like colorful blocks. Maybe that explains my attraction to the black.

Glad to see there is interest in these versatile quilts!
Kelly :)

Hello,
I'm working on a Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt. A friend at school works on one during staff meetings and I decided I wanted to start one also. This is my first experience hand-quilting, but I have 8 more years of teaching (and lots of meetings) to finish it.
I appreciate the pictures people have included!
I wanted to let people know about the way I have created my paper patterns and fabric hexagons: I use Creative Memories (scrapbooking) hexagon punch (one inch) to punch out the paper (thick art paper). At school I use a hexagon die-cut (one and one-half inches)to cut the fabric. I put a piece of paper on top and bottom and around five pieces of fabric inside. Each layer produces 12 hexagons - so with one press, I have 60 hexagons ready to use. It has worked very well!
I have questions, but I'll post them later, since I'm headed off to a class I need to attend.
Rebecca B.
Wenatchee, WA

Welcome, new members! Melissa, that will be one beautiful quilt - love that color combination!! I'm still plugging away at my purple/teal one. Three more rows to put together, then finish the edges with light lavender hexagons, and find the perfect backing for it. Then, I'll have to find a new hand-project. Here's half of mine, quite a while ago.

Scraphappy -
I just love seeing that quilt again. You are the person who got me started on mine!

Thanks to this thread, I have decided not to use black but to use a tone-on-tone cream fabric. Unfortunately I only have 2 yards in my stash so am going to hunt for some tomorrow. I used a flower that I wasn't crazy about (the colors) and tried out the cream. Am using the back side instead of the front...and the seams won't show much at all.

:)Kelly - NH

I'm not sure if anybody is still checking this forum, since it's been about a year since there was a post... I'd posted earlier, working on my flower garden quilt and I just wanted to say that I got it into one piece! 1" hexagons, 134 "flowers", over 4000 individual hexagons, and three and a half years - and it's one piece (roughly 101"x108")!! In the photo I hadn't gotten the "filler" bits on the top and bottom edges to even them out sewn in, but those are attached now as well. Of course now I'm stuck trying to find the perfect border - a row of green, and then the backing so I can get moving on quilting it, but here's for progress. The photo doesn't show the colors as well as my earlier photo, but that's a queen size bed it's on.
{{!gwi}}