Morris Hexathon 7: Avebury Stones

Morris Hexathon 7: Avebury Stones by Becky Brown

This week's hexie is three pieces, a hexagon, a diamond and a half a hex or tumbler.

Avebury Stones by Bettina Havig

I named it for a neolithic monument

that fascinated the young William Morris with its connection

to England's Druid past.

The Avebury Stone Circle, the largest found in Europe, is now a restored prehistoric monument similar to the better-known Stonehenge.

The village that grew up around the upright stones was recorded in 1723.

In the distance St. James Church, built about 1000 AD.

When Morris was fifteen or so he first visited the Avebury Stones, writing to his sister of "a Druidical circle and a Roman entrenchment both which encircle the town." He returned to make a study of the Norman church. The combination of ancient myth and medieval architecture became a life-long interest.

In 1876 he wrote wife Janey of a visit he and daughter Jenny made:

"We had a delightful drive to Silbury & Avebury on Saturday through a stormy afternoon...not many of the huge stones are left now..."

The particular block has a BlockBase number 241 and the rather uninspiring published name of Three Patch, given to it by the Laura Wheeler/Old Chelsea Station pattern company in the mid 20th century.

Pattern for an 8" Hexagon

(4" sides)

To Print:

• Create a word file or a new empty JPG file that is 8-1/2" x 11". 
• Click on the image above. 
• Right click on it and save it to your file. 
• Print that file out 8-1/2" x 11". The hexagon should measure 4" on the sides. 
• Adjust the printed page size if necessary. See this post for adjusting information:
• Add seams when you cut the fabric.

Avebury Stones by Ilyse Moore

Here's the same block in an early-20th-century hexie extravaganza,

recently sold at Gildings Auction in the U.K.

The maker used the block for a ring around the center.

If you made all six diamonds red you'd get the look.

See a large photo here:

http://www.gildings.co.uk/blog/clothes-fit-for-a-dragon-king/

One could fussy-cut hexagons from striped fabric and get the same effect.

Above early-19th-century patchwork that looks like a 

half-hexagon but it's cut from a stripe.

Megan at Canoe Ridge Creations

Or make your own stripes by cutting from half-square triangle blocks.

http://www.canoeridgecreations.com/2012/02/half-square-triangles-hexagons.html

Mid-20th-century postcard

The Avebury Stone Circle, restored in the 20th century, is now a National Trust Site. 

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/avebury/

One More Inspiration

Half a hexagon in a Cosmati floor mosaic 

Inner City by Jinny Beyer, 1980