Winter Solstice Quilts


In 2019, the winter solstice for the Northern Hemisphere occurs on Saturday, December 21, at 11:19 p.m. EST.

I'm getting ready and want to let those short days of Fall know that I'm not going to take it any more. I want more of the sun and I'm going to get it!

You've seen this quilt here before when I first blogged about it in 2015. I quilted it last month and it's ready to hang and wag it's finger at those dark days. And shine and shine from it's place on my wall.

Winter Solstice Quilt: Here Comes the Sun! 26" x 28-1/2"
Do you remember when I showed you how this was pieced so that there are NO y-seams? Just because it's a hexagon does not mean I have to have set-in seams. Everything was cut based on that center hexagon from Paula Nadelstern's Fabricadabra collection. That hexagon was cut using my multi-sized 60 degree triangle ruler. It will finish to 10-1/2".

No y-seams here!
Those triangles are based on that finished height of 10-1/2". See? You do NOT need a set of specialty rulers or templates. The 60 degree triangle ruler is magical; that's why I call it my Power Tool. Last rows joined in pic below. Again, straight seam sewing!

More triangles and a few diamonds
The block is 15-1/2" (high) x 18" (wide). I squared it up with 30 degree triangles and then added borders.

I had another version of this in my series I call Double Hexie Star. But I did NOT like the borders.

Double Hexie Star
I took the borders off and quilted it on Monday. Binding on Thursday. What do you think?

Double Hexie Star Variation
Same size center hexagon. This time I used large triangles (the blue) and then sets of 30 degree triangles which appear to be 120 degree units, but those would require a set-in seam and you know how I feel about those!

I finally figured out how to put my label on the back so it is captured in that 120 degree angle. It's easy to do with a 90 degree angle (a regular quilt), but I had to put my thinking cap on for this one. I used the end of my Rose Star template to trim it and then lined it up on the raw edges with the binding grabbing it all very neatly!

Rose Star template has a 120 degree end
I've been doing my quilt labels like this for 15 years. No hand work!
Neat label in one of those 6 corners!
I'm thinking of doing a tutorial on binding, labels and rod pockets in the next coming months. All by machine. NO handwork. Interested?

Happy Winter Solstice to all in the Northern Hemisphere!

Comments

  1. Love the double hexie star without the border! And, yes, please do the tutorial. Merry Christmas!

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    1. Hi, Sandy. Yes, I do hope to have that as a tutorial. I always share these tips with my workshop students and you all are just as important as they are, right? Stay tuned!

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  2. Hi Debby! Yes, I am absolutely interested in your series on binding, labels and rod pockets completed by machine. That sounds right up my alley. Happy Holidays to you and your family. ~smile~ Roseanne

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    1. Hi, Roseanne. Yes, I do hope to share those tips. I even have the photos! Stay tuned. And a Merry Christmas and Happy New year to you and yours!

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  3. Beautiful and so inspiring.....

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    1. thanks! Be gone, dark days of Winter! Here comes the sun.

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  4. No handwork, it sounds great! I enjoy seeing all your quilts. Thanks for all you do for us. The hexie would make a lovely table topper.

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  5. Hi, Darlene. Yes, no handwork on those finishing techniques. That hexie is currently on my living room coffee table with a lovely pointsettia arrangement on top.

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  6. The blocks are beautiful, and I love the new triangle edging. I finished a gift table runner just before Christmas, but have yet to do the label, and I love the simplicity of yours (it isn't huge like some either), it provides just the right amount of info - so if you have a posting on labels I would be very interested. Plus I am going to look at your original posting for the blocks. Thanks for sharing Debbie, and Happy New Year!

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Thanks for stopping by Debby Kratovil Quilts! If you had a question and don't get an answer from me, please feel free to email me at: kratovil@his.com