“Jelly Bean” Finished

by Nicole

Whoo! Hoo! I’ve finished my little string quilt.

It was fun working with all these colors. They remind me of the colors of jelly beans, so I’m calling this one, “Jelly Bean 1.”

jellybean1

It measures 20″ x 20″ and has a spot on my daughter’s wall waiting for it.
I enjoyed working on this one so much that I started another one before I even finished this one. I used most of the same colors for the second quilt. What can I say?!? I love the bright colors!

Jellybean 1_closeup
For the second string, I used a slightly different technique. I wanted to see if the type of foundation that I used to sew the blocks made a big difference or not. For Jelly Bean 1, I used paper as the base. What would it be like using fabric as the base? Would the blocks be too bulky? Would the layers shift around as I sewed the strings? 
After having worked with both paper and fabric as the foundation, I must say that I prefer the fabric. The blocks feel super stable. I don’t have to pick out little bits of paper stuck in the stitching. And I like the feel of sewing with fabric over paper. 
My plan this weekend is to finish Jelly Bean 2 and get started on the sewing machine cover for my partner in the Modern She Made swap
What are you stitching up this weekend?

Linking up to Finish it up Friday!

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49 comments

Carla April 27, 2012 - 11:46 am

Very pretty! Definitely a great name.

MB in MI April 27, 2012 - 11:48 am

What a happy, pretty quilt to see first thing this morning!! Nicely done.:-)

Taryn April 27, 2012 - 11:55 am

This is gorgeous, such brilliant colors! I'll be basting this weekend, not my favorite task at all!

niveas April 27, 2012 - 11:57 am

Oh wow! your Jellybean 1 is a real beauty!

Emily {Creative Chicks} April 27, 2012 - 12:00 pm

Very Pretty in solids!

CityHouseStudio April 27, 2012 - 12:02 pm

What an awesome quilt! I love the colors!
I also use fabric instead of paper when making string quilts – I hate ripping off the paper at the end! Once I made a baby quilt with a fabric foundation, then skipped the batting but used soft minky for the backing, and it was a really nice weight.
I'm going to be working on birthday party gifts this weekend – drawstring bags and hairbows!

Foster April 27, 2012 - 12:41 pm

Love the colors! This is beautiful!

Colette April 27, 2012 - 12:48 pm

That is gorgeous – such juicy colours. Great work on your huge quilt too, fabulous!

Patrice April 27, 2012 - 12:58 pm

Love the bright solid colors! Great job!

karen April 27, 2012 - 1:01 pm

I LOVE this quilt!!! String quilts are super fun but this one is so stunning with the bright solids and that pop of white! Wow!!! I can't get over how fast and focused you must be, one busy mama I'd say!!

amandajean April 27, 2012 - 1:13 pm

it looks fantastic, Nicole! i love your straight line stitching. it was interesting to read your thoughts on stitching on paper vs. fabric. thanks for sharing!

Gra April 27, 2012 - 1:26 pm

It looks beautiful!!! I love the bright solid colors and the quilting you did. Haven´t tried to use fabric as foundation but sounds good. Have a great weekend!

notes of sincerity April 27, 2012 - 1:30 pm

What a fun and happy quilt. :o)

Marjorie's Busy Corner April 27, 2012 - 1:42 pm

Beautiful quilt Nicole…and thanks for trying both methods…I don't like paper either…well. not so much anyway. Good to know.

Katy Cameron April 27, 2012 - 1:44 pm

Heh, what are you like, starting another one before you'd even finished the first ;o) Love all the colours though :o)

April April 27, 2012 - 1:48 pm

Love all your colors!

Aimee April 27, 2012 - 2:12 pm

Gorgeous! I can't stop looking at it!

Debbie April 27, 2012 - 2:12 pm

oh this is so awesome, Nicole! looks so fun to make!

Lynn April 27, 2012 - 2:46 pm

Love it! Interesting about paper vs. fabric foundations. I've never tried fabric, I may try it. thanks!

tubilinha tiacarminha April 27, 2012 - 2:48 pm

Não é a toa que te chamo carinhosamente de Sra.TALENTO.Ficou divina,amei.Eu não gosto muito de costurar sobre papel,mas tem horas que eu chamo de mal-necessário…Sou viciada em tudo que é PP,então é meio contraditório.Parabéns por seus trabalhos lindos e fique com DEUs.

regan April 27, 2012 - 2:51 pm

This is really sweet, Nicole! I love the brights, too!

Beth April 27, 2012 - 2:57 pm

That is so bright and cheerful! Your daughter will love it!

Needled Mom April 27, 2012 - 3:17 pm

That is just beautiful.

Marianne April 27, 2012 - 3:25 pm

Beautiful job! It is unclear to me, do you prefer sewing on a fabric foundation or a paper one?

Becky April 27, 2012 - 3:30 pm

Very pretty, and a perfect name for it!!

goosefairy April 27, 2012 - 4:01 pm

I'm a new reader of your blog and I've got to say your piecing and colorwork is gorgeous. Count me as a big fan of your work.

moira April 27, 2012 - 4:58 pm

it's so bright and fresh and I am a sucker for a string quilt. It rocks!

Heather D. April 27, 2012 - 5:00 pm

Nicole, it's awesome! I haven't tried fabric as a foundation for a block like this (actually, I haven't tried a block quite like this at all!) but the thing that draws me about that method is that then you don't have to deal with all the seam allowances on the back when stitching them together, correct? The back ends up as a smooth fabric, if I'm picturing it correctly.

Leslie April 27, 2012 - 5:29 pm

this is really gorgeous. i always forget how amazing solids can be until i see a quilt like this!

Heidi Staples April 27, 2012 - 5:43 pm

Darling, Nicole…and what a great name!

Erin @ Why Not Sew? Quilts April 27, 2012 - 5:51 pm

it looks perfect! i love how crisp and fresh your sewing is, Nicole!

beth lehman April 27, 2012 - 6:49 pm

so beautiful and satisfying, i bet (unlike my last projects)!!! i love all that color! and knowing i can use fabric for string blocks is awesome. just a plain white??

Lori April 27, 2012 - 7:31 pm

this is very pretty. i love the name.

Megan April 27, 2012 - 8:33 pm

I haven't tried fabric either for the foundation, I must try it. Great job on getting that white to match up so perfectly in the centre, your precision is impressive.

Carrie P. April 27, 2012 - 8:38 pm

simple but stunning! well done!

Cherie April 27, 2012 - 8:52 pm

Looks amazing! Love all those eye catching colours!
Have never thought to use fabric instead of paper, thanks for the tip =D

West Michigan Quilter April 27, 2012 - 11:10 pm

I love how your Jelly Bean quilt turned out. I'm drawn to the bright bold colors too. I agree with you on the fabric instead of paper. I'm making a PP now, and I love doing it, but the way it is made, makes it easy to remove that paper. Probably won't do another one with paper.

Joy April 27, 2012 - 11:31 pm

LOVE IT!

Beth April 28, 2012 - 12:32 am

I love how it looks different depending how you look at it! Very cool quilt. I also prefer foundation piecing on fabric.

Shauna April 28, 2012 - 2:21 am

Bright and cheery! Great name for your quilt. I have enjoyed looking back through your blog and have become a follower.

Kelly April 28, 2012 - 9:08 am

Gorgeous mini Nicole. I really need to make a string quilt, I haven't seen one yet that I didn't love.

Eileen April 28, 2012 - 1:26 pm

I agree I like fabric for foundation, plus I do not have to tear it off. Love your block!

M-R April 29, 2012 - 12:56 pm

It looks fabulous, Nicole!

sew katie did May 16, 2012 - 5:06 am

I love this string quilt in solids!

Hedda B. November 7, 2012 - 4:17 pm

OMG this is modern/contemporary art at its best. I want to thank you for all your help and tutorials, and your amazing beautiful artistry. You are a treasure and I wish i lived close by because i would love to meet you and see your work close up.
Hedda

mamalovequilts@gmail.com November 7, 2012 - 4:48 pm

Thank you, Hedda!

Hedda B. November 7, 2012 - 4:23 pm

One more thing on the beautiful Jellybean – is there a tutorial on your site for the diagonal squares? Wanted to know how you line up the angles so perfectly? And if you sew onto fabric does it get bulky when you piece them together?

mamalovequilts@gmail.com November 7, 2012 - 4:52 pm

Hi Hedda,
I've no tutorial for the squares. Accurate cutting and sewing and using pins helps with getting things to line up. The seams can get bulky so a walking foot comes in handy.
Hope that helps!

wish2stitch February 17, 2013 - 2:37 am

I love those super bright colours. The quilting is very effective too on your Jelly Bean quilt. Gorgeous!

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