I was sorting through my fabric boxes the other day and came across a Ferrero Rocher container full of silk covered hexagons and with great glee I turned the contents out onto my ironing board and sifted through the memories. Several hundred silk covered hexagons begging to be sewn together to form a useful item. The project started back in the 1980's with a small silk sample book of bright colours, and some striped silk that I had some quantity of.
Striped material is wonderful in patchwork as it can be used to create extra shapes and patterns within your work. I am able to demonstrate this below.
Experiment by placing hexagons in different directions on the fabric, vertically or horizontally ensuring the stripe in the fabric corresponds with the points on the hexagons. If you are creating a column of hexagons try to match the medallions so the stripe continues through the pattern.
Unfortunately I only have this small amount of striped silk to demonstrate.
Below shows how rectangles and triangles can be created within the hexagon patchwork. See how the cerise silk hexagon on right below has been surrounded by the striped silk, matching all lines for maximum effect.
Sadly silk does deteriorate and this can be seen in the centre yellow/orange hexagon below, the silk is just beginning to show threadbare signs. This is despite the fact this work has been keep away from the sunlight and has not been used for any purpose.
Below is an image of the piece as it is today. Unfinished. The silk hexagons created from the sample book work so well with the striped fabric. Should I use the hundred or so hexagons planned for the project or should I leave it be.......perhaps it was never meant to be finished. I am tempted to place under glass on my dressing table as it is.
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