Sometimes, when I finish one quilt, a quilt where I loved the pattern, the fabric, and created no drama for myself start to finish, plus throw in sewing with friends, a project like Nantucket, it's sort of hard to start something new, something that will be as fun, as rewarding, and as satisfying as the last project. I don't think I'm going to have that problem this time. This is going to be my next project, "Starlight" by Camille Roskelley for thimble blossoms. (
click here for pattern)
This quilt is my new favorite size, 67" x 70". I've found that quilts around that size are easy to work with, and can either be hung in my living room, thrown over a couch, or centered on my bed. You can either make a template to cut the pieces for this quilt or use a 60 degree ruler. I bought one of those 60 degree rulers ages ago and have been looking for a reason to use it, now I have one.
Of the two quilts shown on the pattern cover, I'll be leaning more towards this one, the lighter one.
Besides using that ruler for the first time, I'm also going to be doing something a little different as far as the fabric for this top. This is the print I'll be using for those large setting triangles, the green dot triangles in the pattern.
It's a Liberty of London print that I actually picked up at the Liberty of London Department Store this summer. I'm fussy about my florals, as a matter of fact, I don't even wear florals, I wear stripes or solids. Some florals to me are "too granny", some are "too whimsical", others are "too cartoonish", but I thought this floral was just right and so me, pink and red, what's not to love! I thought Starlight would be a great way to showcase that floral fabric. Those setting triangles are 8 inches top to bottom, a nice size.
The problem is that this is the only Liberty of London print I have, I don't even know if this was part of a family, and obviously I need more fabric for this quilt. I almost always work from a family of fabric, sometimes, if I'm feeling really crazy, I may combine a couple of lines from the same designer, but unless it's some sort of super scrappy pattern, it's one fat quarter bundle or layer cake getting me through a project.
So I got out all my happy fabric bins and started pulling fabric. Luckily for me it was a sunny day, good light was a big help.
I just laid the Liberty fabric next to my fat quarters and started selecting fabric that I thought was a good match. The floral print has the following colors; dark gray, pink, orange, orange red, deep red, and a light and dark gray green. Not a lot of colors really.
So after I pulled fabric that I thought matched the floral print, I made sure that all the reds, pinks, oranges, greens, and grays played well together, which eliminated some of the prints. The greens were the hardest. I also paid attention to the volume of the prints, I didn't want a large majority of the prints to be too bold, so bold that they would overpower the floral triangles.
So this is where I am, totally outside my comfort zone by selecting all this fabric. I hope I got it right, time will tell! I'll be heartbroken to cut and use that fabric and then not love the finished project. I can hardly wait to get that fabric cut and few pieces up on my design wall. Unfortunately it's that time of year when getting any real time in my sewing room is a rarity. I've started my holiday chores, getting the carpet shampooed, cleaning out the spice cabinet, getting the lawn and trees ready for winter, and the septic tank ready for company. I've had more people coming and going around this house this last week than I've had all year, plus my lists now have lists, but things are shaping up, maybe I'll squeeze in some sewing time this weekend.
Keep your fingers crossed that it all works out for me!
