Sunday, April 29, 2007

Hollyhocks

Some time ago I swear that I saw a small quilt somewhere on the net with a hollyhock appliqued down one side and sort of Chinese coins on the other and I was thinking it would be a neat thing to try on a doll quilt. I thought I had saved a picture of it. I found that I had not. What's a girl to do but make one up herself? I searched Google Images for hollyhock pictures and used them as inspiration to draft a simple version.
Now, it would have been nice to do hand applique on this because I like the slightly raised effect it gives and the softness of it but ...

(a) the design is way to complicated for a novice like me to hand applique
(b) even if it weren't, it would take me weeks to complete it and my whole raison d'etre for trying doll quilts is that I might even finish a few.
(c) the idea of sewing by hand is I fear, just not for me

In my usual copy-cat mode I really liked the tiny machine stitches Jane used in her Trumpet stars quilt so I thought I would give that a go instead. Here's my progress so far, I fused all the fabric and I've zig-zagged the lighter leaves and stem and I'm liking how it's going up to now. I might do a bit of freehand machine embroidery on the tops as this is very similar to doing fabric postcards. I had fused some yellow centres on the flowers but the colour was too bright so I ripped them off and I'm going to substitute a more subtle hue. Hoping to work on it in the evenings this week (work permitting).
I like hollyhocks, the garden of a house near my son's school is full of them in early summer and they look absolutely spectacular. Never had any success growing them in my own garden, they either don't come up or when they do they are the spindliest plants you've ever seen with one solitary flower. I'll make up for it with my fabric version.

10 comments:

CONNIE W said...

They look really nice...I love hollyhocks too, I think because my mother was telling me that my great grandmother was so fond of them...that made them special.
I tried to click on your photo to enlarge it but it didn't enlarge and I have noticed that happens sometimes on various blogs, and I don't know why. I am learning things about blogging all the time that I didn't know when I started. I have a long way to go too. :)

Unknown said...

Fiona - your hollyhock design looks superb - btw the crocs are great - SoccerWorld or whatever do a cheap imitation 'Skechers' or something but they don't have the bobbles on the inside and so I think your feet might slither about in them if they get hot

meggie said...

Wow, very impressive! I love those Hollyhocks. You have done them beautifully.
I find blanket stitch applique is fairly quick to do.

Tazzie said...

Ohhh Fiona, it looks spectacular, you're doing wonderful things there!
*hugs*
Tazzie
:-)

YankeeQuilter said...

Isn't it funny that sometimes planning those little projects can take as much time as a bedsize quilt! This is coming out great...

Libby said...

I think you have hit it right on the head - the wonderful thing about quilts is they can be your garden . . . one where anything grows *s*

Teodo said...

Fiona, it's wonderful i think that you will do a spectacular work.
ciao ciao

Linda C said...

Fiona, that hollyhock is gorgeous! It really looks like a picture of an actual plant.

Tracey @ozcountryquiltingmum said...

They are one of the things that I grow really well for a year and then don't see come up again but I love them I have seen the design you wanted but I wouldn't know where to look and you seem to have managed extra well without it. When I am making things that will possibly be washed often I always machine applique-it holds much better in a tough situation, Regards, tracey

Sew Create It - Jane said...

Your applique looks great...and thanks for mentioning me :) I also love your tip about the rubber no-stick mats in your previous post. I've been using some cheap garden gloves, but they can get quite hot. I like your idea better. I've got both a thick and thin version in my cupboard so I'll have to try them out.