Category Archives: Challenges

2016 Finish A Long – Q1 Proposed Finishes

January 8, 2016 1:50 pm ⋅ Pam

I nearly missed the announcement. The 2016 Finish-A-Long has moved – or accurately – expanded. This year there are 9 hosts since there are so many of us participating.

Last week I put together my list of proposed finishes for the quarter over on my new “2016 Finish Along” page. The cool thing about this finish along is that you are not penalized for not finishing everything on you list. So, this year, I’ve picked a few projects that I want to finish this first quarter (2 UFOs & 3 new projects) as my primary goal. Then to cover all the bases, I’ve listed all of my tops that need quilting, all of the projects I’m still piecing, and a few PIGs I’m considering working on this year.

In the past I’ve participated in UFO challenges. Most start off by having you pick 12 UFOs you want to finish, then they are numbered and the host picks a number from 1 – 12 and you work on that UFO for the month. I find that doesn’t work for me, as I may need to work on UFO # 2 for a deadline and the challenge # for the month is # 8. Even when it doesn’t matter what UFO you work on — or when you work on them (do them all in November) I still don’t have success.

Last year I picked 10 UFOs for one challenge – no prompts just bring them in finished by the end of the year. It was my choice if the goal was a completed top or a completed quilt. There were 5 quilts and 5 tops on my list. I only finished 1 top and 3 quilts which were on the list, because from the time the list was made (mid-January?) to the end of December I had other quilts pop up that became a priority. The good news is most of them were on my UFO list so the end results is I have fewer UFOs going into 2016 than 2015 which was the ultimate goal.

I’ll link my main page to the Linky, but here are my primary goals for this quarter.

Green & Cream Swap
Compass Lone Star
Shirting Disappearing 9-Patch – this one will be “Blue”
Squedge Ruler project – hopefully a 12″ x 30″ table runner
Turquoise and Green Strip Twist

Unfortunately the 1st two quilts are on hold until I get my machine out of the shop. I guess it would help if I would get it into the shop. In the meantime, I’ve been cutting up shirts for the Disappearing 9-Patch.

Posted in: 2016 Finish-A-Long, Challenges

A New Year – A New List of Goals

January 1, 2016 1:25 pm ⋅ Pam

Happy New Year!

It’s a new year, so time for a new list of Quilting Goals and plans on how I’m going to accomplish them. Although not every blogger who hosts a quilt-a-long/finishing party/goal setting linky has posted, these are the ones I’m planning on participating in this year.

Sunday Stash Reports – hosted by Judy over at Patchwork Times.
Design Wall Monday – also hosted by Judy over at Patchwork Times.
UFO Busting 2016 – with Vicki at Field Trips in Fiber.
UFO Parade – host by Aunt Marti at 52 Quilts.
Various Challenges – hosted by Shelly over at Prairie Moon Quilts.
2016 Finish Along – this year it was hosted by Adrianne at On the Windy Side

I totally failed to get my December finishes sent into 52 Quilts last month – 4 quilts and a set of 7 pillowcases. They are all on my 2015 Finishes page if you want to see them.

Here’s my starting point:

There are 22 Tops waiting to be quilted. The list can be found HERE.

There are 30 Quilts in Progress. That list can be found HERE.

Then there are the kits I want to consider for this year.

Tuscan Sun BOM from Jo-Ann’s from my Mom’s Stash
May Pole – bought to make bags
The Night Before Christmas – bought because I fell in love with the sample

Triangle Frenzy
Squedge Ruler Table Runner(?)
“August 2013 Quilt A”

Turquoise and Green Strip Twist
Another Disappearing 9-Patch – this one with Blue centers

So, the count as of January 1, 2016:

Starting UFO Count: 52

New projects started this month:

Projects finished this month:

Current UFO count:

Posted in: UFO Busting - 2016

The Last Finish of 2015

December 31, 2015 8:10 pm ⋅ Pam

This is the last finish of 2015. It’s my pink and black 4-Patch Stacked Posies. The top has been hanging in my stash of tops since 2007 waiting for the right time to be quilted. The time has come and I found both the batting and backing in my stash.

The length of green matches perfectly the green in the focus fabric – although it’s tough to tell in this lighting. It shows up better in the pillowcase.

I used the pantograph A Little Bit Of Fluff. The top thread is a Cotton/Poly T40 Variegated thread in Primary Explosion. I used Omni in a Green Turquoise in the bobbin. The batting is Soft & Black — a discontinued batting by Warm and Natural. Even though the batting is polyester, the quilt still shrunk a bit — it was 52″ x 68 prior to washing and now it measures 50″ x 64″.

This quilt was on my 4th quarter list for the Finish Along simply because I listed all of my UFOs. It brings my total finishes for the year to 18 quilts and 30 pillowcases and my UFO count is down to 52 – 22 tops to be quilted and 30 projects in pieces.

Now off to stitch the label onto the quilt — I got so excited that the quilt was finished, I missed the last step! At least the label is already made.

Posted in: Challenges, Finish-A-Long - 2015, Pink & Black 4-Patch Stacked Posies, UFO Parade - 2015, UFOs

2015 Final Countdown Task Three

December 31, 2015 12:14 pm ⋅ Pam

Shelly, over at PrairieMoonQuilts is hosting the 7th annual Final Countdown. It’s a chance to do a few things in your quilting space to get you ready for the new year. I’m not sure how long I’ve been participating, but whatever the challenge, it’s usually something which needs to be done in my space.

Task Three:

Get out of your quilt box!

Several ideas were thrown out as possibilities:

Learn a new technique
Use a different color palate than you normally do
Take a leap and challenge yourself
Join in on something you haven’t done before

I don’t like to think of myself as a naysayer or negative person (who does), but as I read this challenge all sorts of reasons popped into my head as to why I wasn’t going to be able to do this one.

Learning a new technique would mean starting a new project and I’m doing my best to not start anything new.
Using a different color palate would mean buying new fabric and I’m doing my best to now buy any new fabric except for what is needed to finish my UFOs.
Take a leap and challenge yourself – if finishing 12 quilts (most twin size or larger) in 4 months is not a challenge, I don’t know what is.
Join in BOM, Quilt-alongs means new projects and that’s in part how I ended up with as many UFOs as I have. I’m not currently part of a guild, but haven’t found one which works with my schedule, although I’m in several on-line groups.

Well, now that we know all the reasons why I “can’t” do this, lets see what I CAN do.

I bought a Squedge Ruler a while back and haven’t taken it out of the package. I ~~need~~ want a weird size table runner for my table (12″ x 30″), so this should be quick to make and FINISH.
I’m going to call using a different color palate done. Although nearly everything I make is scrappy, I seldom use a single line/designer in my quilts. I did however recently finish a quilt in all Kansas Troubles fabrics. But keeping in the spirit of things, I’ve dug around in my stash and found the following:
- The Night Before Christmas – I bought these fabrics in 2009. I fell in love with the sample quilt, but haven’t worked on the quilt. Is it because of the limited # of fabrics or the fear that I won’t remember which fabric goes where?
- MayPole fabrics from 2009 – Originally bought to make bags and wallets, I didn’t get it done, and now I’m concerned it’s “out of style”. The fabric as a group seems to be brighter than what’s in my stash.
- Tuscan Sun BOM from Jo-Ann’s who knows when. – My mom collected all of the blocks and setting kit for this quilt, but did not get it made. This is not a color palate I would put together myself. Maybe it’s time to make the quilt.
Take a leap and challenge yourself – a few years ago I had several patterns published in an on-line magazine and the copyright has reverted back to me. I think this is the year I’ll see about getting them published for sale.
Join in — for this one, I’m going to count going to a new retreat. I’ve gone to a few different retreats in the past, usually with my same group of friends. My sister and I are going to a new-to-me retreat in May.

Although I’m still trying to knock out my UFOs, a girl has to occasionally start something new. The key is to FINISH it so it doesn’t become a UFO. I’ll take some of these “kits” to the retreat this spring and summer (there’s another one in June) and combine a couple of things to get myself out of my quilt box!

Now back to Task One. Progress is being made. The stack on the left are those pieces which are really to big to fold like the ones on the right. I’ve also culled some fabric to chop up into my stash user’s system (no, I’ve not cut them, I’ve tossed them into one of the drawers of my ironing station — baby steps). Next I’m going to find the other box of florals and ultimately may decide to put these fabrics in the ‘color’ box instead of the floral theme box.

Posted in: Challenges, kits, Stash

2015 Final Countdown Task Two

December 30, 2015 1:10 pm ⋅ Pam

Task Two:

Organize ALL our UFOs

This task is easy for me — as I’ve been tracking them since 2009. I’m now down to 30 quilts in progress and 23 quilt tops.

I have a spreadsheet with multiple tabs. One tab lists the quilts in progress.

The WIP_UFO tab lists each project, a code for the current status/type of project (C – still cutting, Q – Partially Quilted, P – Still Piecing, S – Swap Blocks, L – Leader/Ender Project, B – Needs Borders, H – Hand Piecing, A – Applique Project, I – Inherited Project), where it is stored, who it is for, when I started it, when I need it and a few notes.

The location is PB for Project Boxes:

3 is for the UFO box on the shelf:

Another tab contains a list of all of my quilt tops.

It lists the quilt top name, when I started it, when it became a top, when I need it, a few notes, whether or not I have the backing and binding, what size it is and how I plan on quilting it.

The tops are in two boxes. The box on the floor contains the tops which have quilt backings.

The box on the top shelf are those which need backings.

This past summer I culled my UFOs. At least one BOM only had a few blocks made, so the fabric was put back into the stash and the blocks into the Orphan Block Box. Two sets of blocks were used together to create a couple of donation tops and a couple of tops waiting for borders or to be quilted were re-worked to a size for donation. So, my UFO/Tops are in pretty good shape.

I guess that sends me back to Task # 1.

Posted in: Challenges, UFOs

2015 Final Countdown Task One

December 29, 2015 1:40 pm ⋅ Pam

Task One:

Take a good hard look at your fabric stash

To be honest, my stash is what it is. I can’t remember the last time I bought fabric just because. For the past couple of years, any fabric I’ve purchased has been for a specific use — not that it always gets used as expected. Case in point – just a week ago I purchased fabric to use for the cuff of a couple of pillowcases. When it came time to make the cases I opted for a different fabric from my stash.

My storage system is by color/theme in bins on the left set of shelves. The right set holds my Scrap User’s System and recycled shirts.

The music fabric is in the chest of drawers with overflow neutrals.

Oh, and then there are the “scraps” in various boxes/bins stacked on the floor on the other side of the room and the auxiliary shelves which is holding the overflow.

Not to mention under the cutting table.

Generally, for the type of quilting I do, the main storage works for me. The issue is that between the scraps I’ve accumulated and have not appropriately dealt with and my stirring in the boxes the fabric is getting piled up. Also, over the past couple of years, what once took a whole box/drawer no longer does (music, blue) and other colors are now taking more than a half a box (green/floral).

So, what is my plan? At the moment it’s only half-baked.

For Christmas my husband made me this ironing station with lots of storage. Those drawers are 7-1/2 inches tall, 18″ wide and 40″ long. These drawers will play a part of the organization, I’m just not sure how yet. Possibly possibly part of the Stash User’s System.

But I think the #1 thing I need to do is refold and sort the fabric in my ‘theme’ boxes. Right now, to find anything, I have to pull everything out. Although there are other boxes which are overflowing, I think I’m going to start with the floral box. It has morphed into two boxes and I think it will all fix in a single box.

Clearly working through the stash is going to take a while. It will be interesting to see what I get done by January 4th.

Posted in: Challenges, goals, Stash

Black and Bright

December 27, 2015 11:47 am ⋅ Pam

This is Black & Bright. The blocks were from a May 2007 swap I participated in. The blocks then sat for several years waiting for inspiration. At one point I wanted to set the blocks with applique (yes, I know I say that’s a 4-letter word) flowers.

I went as far as taking an on-line class to learn applique and quickly decided that wasn’t going to work. So, I took the class blocks and made this wall hanging in 2010.

I didn’t like the original border with the wall hanging, so came up with this layout with the plan to use it on the quilt when I got that far.

The quilt top finally got finished in April 2013 at a quilt retreat. It then sat in my stash of quilt tops to be quilted. This summer it was on of the quilts that was picked to be quilted as a thank you for the help in the yard (Aiming for Accuracy, Orange Crush and Nifty Thrifty were the other 3 quilts).

I found a bright green fabric on clearance to use for the backing. I also used it as the body of the pillowcases.

It was quilted on both the longarm and my DSM. I had a plan for the black borders and quickly realized I wasn’t able to execute it well — especially in the bright variegated thread I was using (Superior’s So Fine #40/3 in Crickey!) So came home and ripped out the top border and did a simple cable. It was either Wednesday night or Christmas Eve morning I realized that I wasn’t going to have enough thread — I was using Crickey! in the bobbin as well. So, I had a design opportunity.

The ‘inner’ black band between the pieced border and the blocks is narrower than the ‘outer’ black bands, so I did a simple diamond in those two borders and used black thread on the top. Finally in the turquoise of the pieced borders I did a simply s-curve and used turquoise thread. I think I have less than 1/2 bobbin of Crikey! left.

I picked the green from the border to repeat in the binding. “Susie’s Magic Binding” is my go-to binding when I need to do a fast binding. There’s no pinning and the entire thing can be done on the machine.

I used Hobbs’ Heirloom 80/20 black batting in the quilt. It started out at 103″ square and after washing it measures 98″ square.

It was finished Christmas Day, just in time to leave for Christmas dinner.

It was part of my Crazy Challenge II and on the 4th Quarter Finish a Long list.

Posted in: Black and Bright, Challenges, goals, UFOs

The Hardware Panel

December 26, 2015 12:07 pm ⋅ Pam

This started out as a panel. A friend bought it and the peg board and border fabric at a quilt retreat several years ago. Then it sat. When I was helping her move her sewing room I offered to make it for her and brought it home — where it sat a few more years. I added it to the Crazy Challenge II list in October. It was delivered on Sunday.

It was about 55 x 75 before washing. Although not really visible in the picture, I used Susie’s Magic Binding, using a rusty-red for the accent color. It nearly matches the red stripe in the border and more importantly allowed me to use the remaining peg board fabric as the binding.

It has Hobb’s Tuscany 100% cotton batting in it and I used Cairo-Quilt thread in Military Gold in the top and a beige pre-wound bobbin.

This quilt is on my 4th Quarter Finish Along List and will be linked up to On the Windy Side when the linky opens.

Posted in: Challenges, Finish-A-Long - 2015

The Red Disappearing 9-Patch

December 20, 2015 1:39 pm ⋅ Pam

This is the 3rd of 3 Disappearing 9-Patches – for this year. Since I made it the same as the Green Disappearing 9-Patch, I’m going with the same measurements. It measured about 79″ x 94″ before washing. Based on the picture, I’m guessing it’s about 75″ x 90″ after washing. Hobb’s Tuscany Bleached 100% Cotton batting was used (it’s what I had on hand). It was quilted on my DSM. I used my CarioQuilt thread in Military Gold. The quilting on this one is in a diagonal pattern similar to the Orange DP9.

All the fabric is from recycled shirts, except for the red. I purchased two yards of it, and had enough fabric to make the quilt and a pillowcase. Again I made the cuff narrower as I needed a red cuff on another pillowcase.

I started cutting the squares on May 19th, finished the top July 17th and finished the quilt on December 13th. It is on my ~~3rd Quarter Finish Along List~~ make that my 4th Quarter Finish Along list that On the Windy Side is hosting and of course it is a quilt on my personal Crazy Challenge II list.

Here’s the pillowcase — it’s the body of the case is from a bolt of fabric I bought several years ago.

Posted in: Finish-A-Long - 2015, goals

Green Disappearing 9-Patch – The Blog Post

December 20, 2015 9:56 am ⋅ Pam

Well, I had great hopes and dreams of a cool photo shoot of all of the quilts, but that simply is not going to happen. I haven’t been able to get out during the day — except when the wind is blowing hard or it’s raining — neither are conducive to a quilt photo shoot of a single quilt, let alone multiple quilts. So this is it. The quilt pinned to the shelves in the sewing room.

This is the 2nd of 3 Disappearing 9-Patches. It measured about 79″ x 94″ before washing. Based on the picture, I’m guessing it’s about 75″ x 90″ after washing. Hobb’s Tuscany Bleached 100% Cotton batting was used (it’s what I had on hand). It was quilted on my DSM. I used my CarioQuilt thread in Military Gold to do some basic straight stitching.

All the fabric is from recycled shirts, except for the green. I purchased two yards of it, and had enough fabric to make the quilt and a pillowcase — well, I made the cuff narrower so I could make a cuff for Nifty Thrifty as well. Bottom line, there’s no green fabric left.

I started cutting the squares on May 19th, finished the top August 20th and finished the quilt on October 31st. It was part of the November UFO Parade at Aunt Marti’s, one of my finishes for UFO Busting over at Field Trips in Fiber, it is on my ~~3rd Quarter Finish Along List~~ (it was on the 3rd quarter list, but it’s the 4th Quarter Finish Along List that I need to link to) for that On the Windy Side is hosting and of course it is a quilt on my personal Crazy Challenge II list.

Ooh — nearly forgot the pillowcase.