Dolly Madison Throw

Spent the day adding one background diamond to the bottom of each of the stars. Have stitched 32 so far ... My thumbs hurt!

Dolly Madison

I've decided on the seeded cotton for the background. I had to order more of the fabric though, hadn't bought enough first time round! 

Dolly Madison ...

I've now completed all of my stars. The next step is to decide on the fabric for the background diamonds.

Dolly Madison ...

Went out this morning, on a very unproductive trip to the bank ...  Still full of the flu. But much better than I've been, and it's been really nice to be able to do some more stitching.  I've started on the lighter stars, and I think the yellow centres look quite effective! 

My first 10 stars. Another 47 to go ...

The main reason I've started with the paler stars is because I wanted to make sure I liked the yellow centres with the lighter coloured stars, but also so I don't have to keep switching between different coloured threads to sew the pieces toghether.

Dolly Madison ...

So I decided I'd go with the yellow poplin for the star centre hexagons after all! For all the different shades. If I decided I don't like the pale yellow with the paler stars, I can always cut centres from another colour. 

And here is the first of the completed stars -

Dolly Madison in Texas Throw

It's the Monday of my week's pre-retirement leave ... and I have the flu! I want to be sewing and "doing", but instead I'm sitting on the sofa feeling sorry for myself!

I got the fabrics I ordered today. I'm not sure about the yellow for the star centres - the fabric is thin, and I'm worried you're going to be able to see the seams from the front. I think I'll make up one hexagon shape, and see what it looks like when I remove the card from the inside. If it doesn't work I'll just have to buy some more fabric! I wish I could just pop into a fabric shop and buy off the shelf ...

I've ordered got some seeded cotton for the background diamonds, but, again, not sure how that's going to work out. It will be fine next to the darker stars, but maybe there won't be enough contrast next to the lighter coloured stars. 

Plus I got some yellow flannel which I want to use for the backing. That one at least looks like it's going to fine!

Dolly Madison in Texas Throw

I've decided to make a smaller sized throw. I have my 67 stars sewn up, minus their centres. I got my background fabrics earlier this week, but the "plum" fabric is a dark purple. The picture on the eBay listing showed a yellow fabric (which I think was "lemon"). I've now re-ordered the lemon yellow and will wait until it arrives to see how it looks as the centre for my stars. I'm not sure about the chocolate brown for the background either, so I've also ordered a seeded natural coloured cotton. I wish I could go to a local fabric shop to choose my fabrics, but instead I have to ordered online and hope the colour is what I expected. 

Dolly Madison in Texas

Arrived today - just in time! I need them to go on with my "star-making" ...

Dolly Madison in Texas Throw

Have bought a yellow fabric for the hexagon centres of the stars, and a brown fabric for the background diamonds - and maybe also the outer edges (which are green in the original quilt.) Can't wait for my fabrics to arrive, so I can see how they work with the rest of the fabrics. 

Dolly Madison Throw

I've bought a new layer cake - Snowman Gatherings III - to go with the fabrics from Snowman Gatherings II! So, instead of mixing and matching fabrics from my other jelly rolls, I had to go and buy more fabric ... I think these new fabtics are going to look much better together. 

Dolly Madison Throw

Some progress. My first 15 stars.

Dolly Madison in Texas Quilt (or throw ...)

Have finally started a new project. I bought a pattern from cosyproject.com, called Dolly Madison in Texas. It's for a double bed quilt, but I'm making a lap throw instead. I'm using Moda jelly rolls. I've started with fabrics from Snowmen Gatherings II, but since there are 72 stars to make, I will have to delve into one of my other Moda jellies!

I'm taking early retirement at the end of the year so will have a lot more time for stitching from now on!

New Book

It's finally here! "quilting on the go ... English Paper Piecing" by Sharon Burgess. I've only had a quick look through the book, but I think it's going to keep me busy for ages! 

Too hot at the moment to do any sewing ... or anything else. After summer's come and gone I want to start on Sharon's Tenderness Quilt, but knowing me I'll probably want to start something else (maybe from this book) at the same time!

Fat Quarters

And, as if I didn't have too many fat quarters already, I bought these from The Works in Liverpool. Mmm, some of these may look good to go with the Jelly Garden leftovers ...

Magazines

I'm back from Liverpool (arrived yesterday). I bought two magazines in Manchester Airport. The Complete Patchwork Pack comes with a pack of hexagons and templates (below).  Lots of projects in the magazine. Have just had a quick look through the magazines, but I think I will try a few of the makes. I particularly like the hexagons quilt on the cover of The Complete Patchwork Pack. It's made from hexagons using the Sissix, but I suppose I can just use the hexagons which came free with the magazine! 

I haven't taken the Pretty Patches magazine out of its plastic wrapper yet, but there are some cute projects on the cover. Oh, and those buttons ... 

Jelly Garden Leftovers

I finished all my (leftover) flowers last night, and now they'll probably sit in a box somewhere, until I decide what I want to do with them. Off on holiday in a couple of hours' time, and when I get back I want to start on the Tenderness Quilt ... so it will probably be a while until I get back to these. 

Jelly Garden Leftovers

A few more flowers to finish. Still no idea what I'm going to make with these. I'll probably need other fabrics to mix in with these. 

Tenderness Quilt

I'm so happy - I received my Tenderness Quilt pack, and the Pondicherry layer cake today! I go on holiday the day after tomorrow, so I have a few days to go before I even think about getting started on this quilt ...

Jelly Garden Leftovers

Some progress since last night.

Jelly Garden Leftovers ...

Whilst I wait for my new pattern to arrive I got out my leftovers from my Jelly Garden throw. I had lots of covered hexagons, plus some extra fabric strips. Have spent most of the day getting the rest of the hexagons ready. No idea what I'm going to be able to make with these - I don't have a huge amount of hexagons to play with. 

Tenderness Quilt

So much for that ... I bought a Moda Pondicherry Layer Cake. All I'll say in my defence is that the fabrics are gorgeous!

Tenderness Quilt

My next project is going to be the Lilabelle Lane/Sharon Burgess Tenderness Quilt. I bought the pattern, plus plastic template and the papers I need to English Paper Piece the quilt, on Etsy. 

Haven't decided what fabrics I'm going to use, but I'm determined NOT to buy any new fabrics ... I like the idea of using muted colours - beige, cream, pale yellow, pink, brown.

I was hoping to have started on the quilt before I left for Liverpool at the end of the month, but the pattern is coming from Australia so I doubt it will get here in time. 

Jelly Garden

Have finished my quilt top. We'll see how long it takes me to do the actual quilting ...

Jelly Garden

Making more progress ...

Garden

Some progress ... I like the way the flowers work together.  

Jelly Garden

We'll see how this works ... 

Jelly Garden

I now have 3 different flower combinations - 8 of each. But I'm stuck ...  I'm trying to come up with a pattern that works.  I may make 8 outer rings from the gingham ... or try another fabric. Or make extras of one of the 3 colour combinations I have so far. 

Jelly Garden

My flowers are coming together.  Still loads more to go ...

Jelly Garden

A tinful of pieced rings ... more to go.  I've made a few more today.  I hope to have all 32 outer rings completed by next weekend.

Jelly Garden

I now have a tin full of the inner flower rings, and I'm working on the outer rings. I'm going to use the four lighter fabrics for the outer rings.

I have to go easy though because I have sewing injuries on my fingers!!  

Jelly Garden

I haven't worked out the combination of fabrics for the flowers for my Jelly Garden quilt, so I've been trying to piece rogether as much of the background as possible. I'm hoping to do something about the flowers this weekend though.

I set out what I've pieced together, and the throw is larger than I thought. (This is the Consultation Room at work - during my 20 minute lunch break.)