Tuesday 30 January 2018

Holly Hobbie Quilt

Hello. Brace yourselves, there's an actual finished item on the blog today!


The patchwork top for this quilt was finished back in June, but as it's quite a whopper (224 squares), it's taken me this long to summon up the energy to quilt it. The majority of squares are Liberty remnants left over from previous makes, plus a few fat quarters picked up along the way from Sewbox. The light coloured 'neutral' squares are cut from another Liberty print (Cathy), which is also used as the backing fabric. 




It's very busy and flowery but that's exactly what I love about Liberty prints. Plus the busyness of the fabric hides a multitude of quilting sins...

Because it's made almost entirely from Liberty lawn (I think there's one non-Liberty imposter in there) the feel of this quilt is different to others I've made. Liberty lawn has a slight sheen and silkiness that you don't get with regular quilting cotton, giving it a really luxurious feel.


The intended home for this quilt is on the guest bed in the loft. Everything is very plain and neutral up there and it adds a nice pop of colour.


However... I was testing it out on the sofa last night and it actually looks great in the front room, so I'm a bit torn. It has magical properties too, I was asleep within about ten minutes of wrapping it round me... Maybe I'll alternate between the two?



As for the name, I've called this my Holly Hobbie quilt as it reminds me of a doll I had in the seventies.


It was probably around the same time Little House on the Prairie was on TV, when spriggy florals and patchwork dresses were flavour of the month for little girls! Anybody else remember Holly Hobbie? Have a good Tuesday. x



39 comments:

  1. It's so lovely! I think you should keep it on the couch so that you can admire it all the time :)

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    1. Thank you. I must admit it would be appreciated more on the couch. If it stays in the loft it wouldn't be seen (and admired!) very often! x

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  2. Yes, I remember Holly Hobby AND Little House on the Prairie! Your quilt is gorgeous. What a luxury to have it made completely from Liberty fabrics. Enjoy! I also spy your Elvis poster there ... you DO love the 70s, don't you? ;)

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    1. I like the fact that the King is looking down on the quilt, protecting it from harm! x

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  3. You could always make another one so you have one in each room...... ;-)

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    1. I'd do just that....if I had a spare year! x

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  4. Is the binding fabric the non-Liberty one? I bought this in two colour ways on Newark market last summer for £3 p.m it is a lovely quality lawn. Lovely quilt.

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    1. Yes it is, well spotted! Mine was from John Lewis and a bit more than £3m (probably £6 or £6?) but I'm sure it's exactly the same fabric. I agree, it's really lovely quality, on a par with Liberty. x

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  5. I always think of the "bonnet girl" quilt block when I see Holly Hobby. That doll was everywhere, on everything! when I was at college. I did not succumb to the pressure to decorate my dorm room with those prints, however charming and girlish they seemed to others in my class.

    Your quilt top is a much better interpretation of the theme. Far less cloyingly sweet. I mean, I LIKE sweet, but I also value my tooth enamel.

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    1. It was everywhere wasn't it?! I was exactly the right age (maybe 10 or 11?) to fall for it though! x

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  6. This is gorgeous! I love the fabrics so much.

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  7. I remember Hollie Hobbie, I loved her! This is such a beautiful quilt. I can just imagine how luxurious it feels with all that Liberty. I'm on board with you having it share spaces, after all that work don't you want to get to enjoy it and snuggle up with it too? ;)

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    1. Thank you love! Yes, I don't think I want it hiding away up in the attic full time. I'll definitely be bringing it downstairs, especially if there's a good crime drama on TV! x

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  8. I have my Holly Hobbie-she was a favorite! I also have her friend Heather!

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    1. Oh yes, I forgot there were others in her gang too! x

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  9. Loving your quilt, and it definitly needs to stay downstairs where it can be appreciated.

    I certainly do remember Hollie Hobby. My twin sister and I got them for Christmas when we were six. I had the measles (which my sister had very kindly given me!!), and that dolly was all I was interested in.

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    1. I seem to remember getting lots of Holly Hobbie cards one birthday when my obsession was at its peak! x

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  10. Oh yes. I had a 100% nylon holly hobbie nightie which I loved!! Incredibly static and probably illegally flammable now. Ah happy days. Your quilt is beautiful and such a great job - keep it downstairs where you can enjoy it I say!

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    1. Thank you! Yes, I remember nightwear being 100% crackly and full of static when I was little, usually the ones with a beloved character (such as Holly Hobbie) on the front! x

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  11. Elvis is on your wall? What a surprise! I live in Memphis, and I am always amazed at how many people the world over seem to love him. This is a gorgeous quilt. You must have sewn many garments in Liberty to have this many scraps!

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    1. I love Elvis! The frame is very regal so it seemed fitting to use it to frame the King! I think there are about five or six garments worth of scraps in the quilt (I've sewn more but didn't have enough scraps!) X

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  12. This is such a lovely quilt it seems a shame to hide it in the spare room. I would keep it downstairs and enjoy it until you have a guest

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  13. Gorgeous Quilt! Every block is beautiful! I love liberty prints. I got nine yards for my last birthday. At present, I am still new to sewing so I just admire the prints... I know how a beautiful quilt makes you feel and I vote for having it on the couch to cuddle and nap. You can make simple quilts that are beautiful for your guest room.

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    1. Thank you Barb, that sounds like a great plan. And nine yards of Liberty fabric!! What a fabulous birthday present! x

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  14. My sister and I had Holly Hobbie nightdresses. For some reason there are pictures of us dancing together wearing them in our old garden. Maybe we were pretending to be fairies, if so maybe a mite heavy footed. My sis is no longer with us but thanks for bringing back a lovely memory. Nice quilt too x

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    1. So sorry to hear about your sister, but glad to have helped bring back a happy memory. x

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  15. Love your quilt? How large are the squares? Thank you.

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    1. Thank you! They're 5" finished size, so 5.5" when cut out. x

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  16. The quilt is simply gorgeous! I certainly think it needs to be displayed where it can be admired.

    I too had a well-loved Holly Hobby doll. She was hugged so much that the fabric that made up her hands started to wear away - my Grandmother fixed her up using an old nylon stocking. Now her hands are a little "tanner" than her face - but she still looks good sitting on a shelf!

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  17. Wow! I love your patch blanket (Elvis Presley too ;-)
    When i was a child i had a holly hobbie doll, when i became big i made it
    If you can see my holly hobbie this is the link
    Best whishes from Italy
    Laura
    https://www.etsy.com/it/listing/114350435/1970s-girls-holly?ref=shop_home_active_9

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  18. I am quilting at the moment and wondering how I am going to sandwich it. I don't think I have it in me to hand stitch a kingsize quilt but getting it under the machine will be an issue. Did you do yours on the machine? Jo x

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    1. Yes mine was all quilted on the machine. I rolled each side up tightly so I basically had two tubes of fabric on either side of the line I was quilting. This made it much easier to feed through the machine as there weren't metres of loose fabric to contend with. Somebody on Instagram also suggested using bicycle clips to secure to rolled up sides of the quilt, which sounds like a great idea! x

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  19. Your quilt is lovely. I like how you have arranged the fabrics. I was trying to explain Holly Hobbie to a friend recently but I couldn't remember her name so thanks for this. I didn't have one but had wallpaper with her on it.

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  20. Gosh! I am behind with my blog reading so I missed this post. Such a beautiful quilt. I had a handmade Hollie Hobbie doll too (we stitched together the printed panels and stuffed with wadding) and watched Little House on the Prairie religiously (and I still run down hills waving my arms like a plane as per the closing credits!). Susan x

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  21. My sister loved Holly Hobbie.

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