What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

August always feels like the end of summer, even though it’s still hot in September. Once school starts, the focus turns to fall activities and the upcoming holidays.

I have a lot going on this month and won’t have many weekends at home. I expect that will cut down my creative time.

I finished a shirt in July and didn’t start anything new.

I began The Short List many years ago to create short-term goals and a way to focus. I change things up as my priorities and interests change.

Project 1 (Stitching): Peace on Earth by ...

No change in the numbers.

For various reasons, I did not get my OMG/Short List posted this week before the linky closed. I’m posting a shortened version here.

Project 1 (stitching): Gather & Give Thanks, pattern by Diane Arthurs of Imaginating. It’s coming along.

Project 2 (Original): The nameless tree quilt. It’s time to get back to it.

Project 3 (charity): Traffic Jam quilt, pattern by Pat Sloan. I’m sewing a block here and there while working on other projects.

Project 4 (UFO): Remember Me, a member quilt from a group I belonged to many years ...

No change in the numbers this week.

I have a couple things going in the sewing room. I started piecing more Traffic Jam blocks. This is block #11.

I also blocked an old needlepoint piece I made as a child. I’m sure it hung framed at my parent’s house, but I found it in a drawer with no frame. It was too distorted to try to frame it without blocking.

Both projects came from the piles on the bed of shame.

Fabric In: 35.875 yards

Fabric out: 9.125 yards

Net Fabric In: 26.75 yards

How ...

Another month gone?? It definitely feels like late fall/early winter. It’s hard to believe we’re rolling into the holiday season already. A week ago we were outside in shirt sleeves.

I finished one project in October, my sister’s scarf.

I started The Short List many years ago to create goals to work toward and a way to focus. I change things up as my goals and interests change.

Project 1 (stitching): Gather & Give Thanks, pattern by Diane Arthurs of Imaginating. I’m making better progress now that I’m not crocheting too.

Project 2 (Original): I ...

Lots of projects got attention this week.

I sewed a few more Traffic Jam blocks. The quilt will have either 20 or 24 blocks total, depending on how wide I make the sashing.

I also pressed the backing and top for Remember Me, with a goal of basting it this week.

Then I sketched a rough plan for the next challenge quilt. Sometimes the final quilt looks like the sketch,and sometimes it doesn’t. I’ll audition background fabrics and go from there. I’ve got it in my head that painting the background fabric could work better. That ...

Although the days are getting shorter, it doesn’t feel like Fall – yet. I’m looking forward to more time in the sewing room as I spend less time outside.

I finished two things in September, Still Life and my great nephew’s afghan. It’s a long list even with the finishes.

I started The Short List many years ago to create goals to work toward and a way to focus. I change things up as my goals and interests change.

Project 1 (stitching): Gather & Give Thanks, pattern by Diane Arthurs of Imaginating.

Project 2 (Original): I’m on ...

August was a calmer month, but we attended a lot of weekend events that took advantage of the last of summer. I finished two projects, my sister’s quilt and Words of Joy Tree.

That created spots for new things on the list.

I started The Short List many years ago to create goals to work toward and a way to focus. I change things up as my goals and interests change.

Project 1 (stitching): Gather & Give Thanks, pattern by Diane Arthurs of Imaginating. I started it last night.

Project 2 (UFO): I’m quilting the next challenge, due this ...

A lot of life happened here in July, but I managed to finish two projects. One wasn’t on the list and I forgot to post it. The other was Wallflower (the challenge quilt).

The list isn’t changing much for August.

I started The Short List many years ago to create goals to work toward and a way to focus. I change things up as my goals and interests change.

Project 1 (stitching): Words of Joy Tree, pattern by Ursula Michael. I’m stitching this on red 14 count aida with DMC white, all from stash.

Project 2 (UFO ...

June was a productive month. I finished two stitches, Floral Butterfly and the star ornament. The ornament wasn’t on my June list.

I started The Short List many years ago to create goals to work toward and a way to focus. I change things up as my goals and interests change.

Project 1 (stitching): Words of Joy Tree, pattern by Ursula Michael. I’m stitching this on red 14 count aida with DMC white, all from stash.

Project 2 (UFO): The membership quilt. The two sections are complete and ready to quilt.

Project 3 (original): The challenge due in ...

I didn’t buy or use any fabric, but the numbers changed. Last year I bought fabrics to use in a charity quilt. I did use some of the fabric for that project, but there was more fabric than I thought. I added the extra to my stash.

I also have fabric strips I bought earlier this year I never counted. I need to get that done soon.

As a palette cleanser between projects, I sewed one traffic jam block. I’d like to get back to that quilt, but there are still four projects ahead of it. How does ...

No change in the numbers. Amazing, since my guild had a fabric sale yesterday. I’ve reached my storage capacity and will have to use some fabric before I buy more.

I finally resumed working on Pat Sloan’s Traffic Jam pattern. I have it going as a leader and ender project. I’d sewn quite a few pieces together that needed pressed. I think there’s enough sewn to start assembling blocks.

These pieces won’t make enough blocks for the whole quilt, but it will satisfy my curiosity as to how the blocks will look.

Fabric In: 18 ...

We are one third of the way through the year, which is a good time to review 2023 goals.

I have 13 items on my creative goals list and to date have finished one, plus one that wasn’t on the list.

Some of the projects listed will take more time than others. I never expected to finish all 13, but it is something to work towards. I’m OK with my progress to date. Multiple quilts are started and have a good deal done. At some point those will roll into finishes.

Here is my one list finish.

And ...

No fabric in this week.

I used a yard of my own fabric finishing the pinwheel quilt.

I’m turning binding on the runner. That will be a finish next week.

Before I set it aside, I did add more to the tree in the challenge quilt. That quilt really needs a name.

I’m behind on email, comments and reading everyone’s posts. I hope to catch up some this coming week. I’m not sure where the time goes, but mid-month is right around the corner.

Fabric In: 17.25 yards

Fabric out: 1 yard

Net Fabric In ...

The pinwheel quilt is now complete.

There is no pattern for this quilt. I picked up the HST pieces off the charity table at Guild more years ago than I care to admit. Once I sewed them together, I figured out a pattern that would use close to that number. The quilt will be donated to Safehouse, a battered women’s shelter in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

I’m glad to have finally finished it and hope it brings joy to someone who needs it.

Now I’m on to the next project.

Welcome to February! I didn’t finish anything in January but made a lot of progress. That set me up for finishes in February.

I started The Short List many years ago to give myself goals to work toward and a way to focus. I continually change the categories as my goals and interests change.

Project 1 (stitching): The Tiny Modernist Holiday 2022 SAL. I finished the second release and went back to stitching part one.

Project 2 (charity): The pinwheel quilt. I’m turning the binding.

Project 3 (orphan): The table runner made from 30s reproduction fabrics. The top ...

No fabric in or out.

I squared the pinwheel quilt and made the binding (out of fabric I bought last week). I hope to finish it this week.

I also made a runner out of strip sets and odd strips from the box I bought last week. Do you see a theme here?

It’s the perfect size for where I want to put it. It just needs quilted and bound.

Maybe the quilting gods will smile on me and I’ll finish them both before the next report.

Fabric In: 17.25 yards

Fabric out: 0

Net Fabric In ...

My OMG for January was to finish quilting the pinwheel top.

I had to set the project aside to meet a deadline on another project, but that deadline moved forward and I was able to finish quilting the pinwheel top. I quilted it using the serpentine stitch on my machine.

I can’t wait to finish this one in February. The quilt will go to Safehouse, a battered women’s shelter in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It is the charity supported by my Guild, the Greater Ann Arbor Quilt Guild.

I’m linking to Elm Street Quilts, where you can see ...

The challenge quilt has been my focus, but it no longer has a deadline. The group will not submit quilts to AQS this year after several members had a whole lot of life happen recently, not in a good way. Maybe next year.

My attention switched back to the pinwheel quilt, which should be finished in the next week. I will continue working on the challenge quilt (note to self – come up with a real name), but I need another project. The creative possibilities for the challenge increased when the time constraints disappeared. Sounds like an opportunity to experiment.

Sticking ...

No fabric in or out.

I basted the top section of the pinwheel quilt this week and quilted half of it. It’s going quick, 15 minutes every other morning.

I’m also working on the challenge quilt. Not much to show yet. It’s one of those projects that will come together all at once. Meanwhile, it keeps everyone guessing.

I’m grateful for any time I get in the sewing room moving any project forward.

Fabric In: 0

Fabric out: 0

How did you do this week?

Happy 2023! I love the start of a new year with its feeling of a clean slate and endless opportunities. It’s a time to re-evaluate and change directions.

I started The Short list many years ago. Some years it works better than others. I continually change the categories to reflect my goals and interests.

I have goals this year to finish eight sewing projects, two stitching projects and fully finish three projects I have already stitched. I define the categories rather than choose specific projects because picking projects in advance never works for me. The Short List will reflect ...