1970s Hexie Love

c. 1970, Oregon

Great Hexagon quilts do not come along every day, but it is not completely unheard-of to find one made around the 1970s. Hand work was groovy. I've got a few 1970s Hexagon quilts, and one of the particularly memorable examples is this Hexagon Diamond design, plucked from a flea market in Tigard, Oregon for a song. The quilt is 78" x 80" and is 100% polyester double knit. Hand quilting is done along one edge of each color row, allowing the other edge to puff out;  and a three-dimensional, layered effect is achieved.

c. 1970, Alaska

The quilt from Tigard is directly across from the other Hexagon quilt in the exhibition, the Honeycomb Hexagon from Alaska. The two quilts seem to call out to one another.

c. 1970, Texas

reversible Flower Garden, c. 1970s

There are two other 1970s Hexagon quilts in my collection, both made of polyester, but they are not on display at the museum. One is a Tumbling Block Star with green diamond path, and the other is a reversible Flower Garden with an irregular edge, Both quilts are phenomenal.

There are just a few more days to get some 1970s hexie love as part of "Modern Materials, Quilts of the 1970s" at the Benton County Museum in Philomath, Oregon. LAST WEEK - THROUGH SATURDAY!! For more information about the exhibition, location, hours,  and other venues showing quilts during Quilt County 2015, click here.