Category Archives: Twirling Leaves

First Finish of 2026

January 11, 2026 10:08 am ⋅ Leave a Comment ⋅ Pam

My first version of the 2025 Brandon Quilters Mystery, Chain of Blossom, is finished. This quilt is on my Brandon Quilters UFO Challenge for 2026. All the fabric came from my stash, thus the design decision on the binding. I think I have a 1 1/2″ wide strip of the gold and maybe a 7″ strip of the blue left.

Chain of Blossoms

Started 12/1/2024
Finished 1/10/2026
43″ x 43″
E2E – Nightlight
Sand thread

Additionally, I finished my Twirling Leaves top and made the backing for it. I am sending this one out to Shelly Pagliai at Prairie Moon Quilts. I’m a head of schedule since my slot is in March.

My sister is visiting for 2 weeks to use the longarm. I think she has a dozen tops ready to quilt. So I plan on spending this week cleaning the quilt studio and cutting hexies. I have hexies cut for yellow and neutral, but I need to cut and prep blues and oranges since I’ve changed how I’m putting the quilt together. Once I’ve got the tables clean, then I’ll work on the my next UFO – the 2nd version of the mystery quilt.

Posted in: Chain of Blossoms, Trip Around the World, Twirling Leaves, UFOs

The First Few Days of 2026

January 5, 2026 12:27 am ⋅ Leave a Comment ⋅ Pam

I’ve spent the first few days of 2026 in the Quilt Studio. Just poking about and making forward progress. The sewing table is cleared off (well was until I pulled Twirling Leaves out), half the pressing station is cleared, the long arm is cleared (or was until I got back from the laundry mat), and the piles on the other two tables are lower. I’ve also identified 12 projects I want to complete in 2026. A description of the projects and their current state can be seen HERE.

I pulled Twirling Leaves out and assembled the first two sections. I still need to do the turn back on the last section before assembling and attaching it, then adding the borders. This is my # 1 project as I’m sending it out to be custom quilted and I have a slot on the longarmers calendar in early March.

I mentioned going to the laundry mat. My two oversize king quilts needed washing. They just don’t fit in my washing machine and dryer. One hour and $18.50 later, the 2 quilts, as well as 2 table runners and a knitted afghan are clean. While I sat there I ripped apart the green and orange Chain of Blossoms so I can put in sashing and cornerstones.

When I got home, I dug through my backing box and found a piece of fabric big enough to make a backing for the red, white & blue Chain of Blossoms.

Brandon Quilters meets tonight, so I’ll probably only get the long arm cleared off again.

Posted in: Chain of Blossoms, goals, Twirling Leaves

Twirling Leaves Progress

November 3, 2025 8:41 am ⋅ Leave a Comment ⋅ Pam

This weekend I worked on my Twirling Leaves quilt. I took it to Sit-n-Sew Saturday. More time was spent talking than quilting and that is perfectly OK. I accomplished what I needed – get all the blocks pieced and determine where they would be placed in the quilt. Once that was done I packed up and came home around 4. No further quilting was accomplished Saturday.

Then with the time change, I was up early. I unpacked and started “peeling back” the curves. All of the color peel back is done and now I need to work on the background peel back. I started working on it last night, then broke a needle. I spent time cleaning my machine, then called it a day. There’s a guild meeting tonight – it’s our annual auction — so it will probably be tomorrow before I make any more progress.

Posted in: Twirling Leaves

A Haunting Stash Report

October 31, 2025 9:53 am ⋅ Leave a Comment ⋅ Pam

Although I’ve cut all the fabric except for the borders of Twirling Leaves, I’m not counting it in this month’s stash report. Yesterday I finished piecing the turquoise block, but I have not put the curves in. I’ll wait to do that until the rest of the blocks are made. Perhaps tonight I’ll spend more time in the Quilt Studio.

As for the Haunting Stash Report, it includes all the yardage I bought at Fabricpalooza. For tracking I convert wide yardage into 45″ wide equivalent. Just remember there are at least 10 and up to 12 backings in this number.

The Stash Report.

Fabric Added Since Last Report: 87.4565 yards
Fabric Added to Date: 319.5135 yards

Fabric Used Since Last Report: 17.25
Fabric Used to Date: 197.719 yards

Net Fabric Stash: 121.795 yards

Posted in: Stash Busting Report, Twirling Leaves

Twirling Leaves Progress

October 30, 2025 12:05 pm ⋅ Leave a Comment ⋅ Pam

Last night I kitted up the rest of my Twirling Leaves block and cut the background fabric.

Tonight I plan to piece the blocks, but I’ll wait to do the peel back until all the blocks are made so I’m not constantly changing thread.

Bonnie Hunter released this year’s mystery colors a bit early due to all that is happening in her life. Lupine & Laughter. I love lupines. I like the color palette. Will I do the mystery? Who knows, but the Half-Rectangle Trim Tool will be here on Monday.

I saw a quilt made up from this pattern when I was at the quilt shop in Kansas City, but they no longer had the pattern. I checked with my local shop and her sources didn’t have it so I ordered Grand Prize from the Villa Rosa Designs website. It was in the mail I picked up at the post office this morning. Now to dig through my panels.

Posted in: Lupine & Laughter, Twirling Leaves

What I’m Working on Wednesday – 10/1/25

October 1, 2025 4:46 pm ⋅ 1 Comment ⋅ Pam

It’s Wednesday and the 1st of the month so this will be a 2 for 1 post – What I’m Working On and the Stash Report.

First up binding. On the machine is Sheryl. The binding is attached to 2 sides. Waiting in the wings are Monterrey Medallions and Cascades. The binding for the last two are sewn together and need pressing.

I’m also trying to decide what fabric to use in the Twirling Leaves class I’m taking later this month through the Gulf States Quilt Association. I plan to pull from my stash and am leaning towards batiks. The question is a light background or a dark background.