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" ...