This has been one slow September on the Quilting front even though this month to me went by very fast. My Downton Abbey Patchwork Throw is my only second finally finished for this month and if it weren't for the movie opening on September 21st, there was a strong possibility that it might not have gotten it finished. This throw wasn't even on my radar but while I was once again putting away fabric last month, I came across my small stash of Downton Abbey fabrics and realizing that it would be nice to have this for the movie coming out, I decided I would make this after I finished up some projects. I considered this to be my September DrEAMi Come True project and it was finished by the time I saw this movie with my DIL and my darling Granddaughter this past Tuesday.
Since I only had two charm packs of the Lady Sybil and Lady Edith fabrics and 1/2 yards each of the blue/green print from the Lady Rose line and the Downton Abbey logo I came up with a simple pattern of plain squares with rail blocks once I added the blue and green prints. In order to make this work, I added the Nancy Gere's "Carolyn" print (red arrow pointing) for an alternating plain square.
As luck would have it, I was four squares short of the Lady Rose blue/green print but was able to use the four squares of the same print in orange/green which I wasn't going to use at first since it didn't look right when it was next to the blue/green print. I was able to place these squares in the center rows of the quilt away from the blue/green print which worked out very well.
This throw measures 44" x 68" and is backed with a gray chenille plush which is one of my favorites to use when making throws. I normally machine quilt minimal vertical lines but this time I decided to do grid quilting which to me made this throw a little puffier and not as flat if I would have quilted it less. It's still nice and cuddly. I barely had enough of my Missouri Star Quilt polyester thread (not an affiliate link) to finish this quilt and need to order more since this sews so well with the plush fabrics.
Well this throw was ready for me to snuggle in while relaxed in the wonderful reclining movie chair, but it seems that my darling Granddaughter had other plans for it since she decided to take a nap with it after the movie started, thank goodness. Doesn't she look embarrassed to be eating her popcorn not so properly out of a cardboard box. She is watching Downton Abbey after all. I'll be taking this throw back home with me since I do plan on seeing the Downton Abbey again, this movie does not disappoint, with my other son whom I am pretty sure won't dare be seen snuggling under it at the movies. There is a promise that this throw will one day be Micah's. I do plan on making another since I do have a charm pack of the Lady Rose prints and I did break my fabric fast by purchasing some yardage of the logo print after I saw the movie.
I thought I would explain now why I have not been posting as much this summer. My dream of a second home with views of the mountain or by the lake has been somewhat realized in June. Instead of views of the mountain or lake I will have now have views of my darling granddaughter since we bought the fixer-upper next door to her. I wasn't sure I wanted to do this but Hubby insisted that he did probably with me always being MMM-spired by Sandra, he caught the building bug with me telling him about MacGyver's remodeling feats. I have to admit I am pleasantly surprised with all that he has done and Hubby recently told me that there are clothesline hooks in the backyard, so I'll have a place to hang quilts for photos. Also, the inside lighting is very good since there are a lot more windows at this house. I'm now at the stage now where I can set up my studio in the back one third of the dining room next to the windows which sure is nice because I don't see sunshine when I'm in the basement studio at the other house. I managed to sew some strips, in between granddaughter visits, which I had with me since I did some beaucoup strip die cutting when I was home in preparation for sewing at the second studio. My plan is to have ready to sew kits to bring since I don't want to have to do any rotary work while I'm here until I figure out how to handle the granddaughter getting into things since we are having a bit of decor versus toys showdown. My two wooden birds once decorating the hall table are as good as hers now.
Now that September is almost over which also mean the 2019 Online Quilters Meet & Greet is coming to an end. I hope you had the chance to visit the Quilters participating, which I am one of them. There's an opportunity to win some great prizes. I realized that when I wrote my post for the Meet & Greet that I said that next month would be the start of my third year of blogging which I was wrong, it's going to be my fourth. My how time flies when you're sort of having fun. I love reading and being inspired by the many posts I read and of course the friends I made but not so happy with the technical challenges of this blog. Once again, my blog is acting up and my comments are showing up in two separate areas which is hard for me to keep track and the frustration I have with not being able to get help from Blogger. Also, I really wish Bloglovin' will allow you to block certain people since this month I picked up a handful of what I called "Undesirable" who have no interest in Quilting. Am I the only one who thinks making my Blog private is the way to resolve some of my fears of being hacked? Thanks for letting me share my blogging thoughts and I'll keep on dreaming.
Linking up with: mmm quilts' DrEAM
