What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

After reading my January OMG post, a reader suggested I join the PhD Challenge at Mrs. P’s Designs.  My focus for 2026 basically mirrors the challenge.  After reading the details here, I have to agree.

I’m not one to pick a list of projects for the entire year and stick to it.  I have eclectic interests.  Some creative methods appeal more than others, depending on my mood and how much life is happening.  That said, everything after #7 is questionable.  If I get six things on the list done this year, it’s a good year.

1. Fairy Tales ...

Happy New Year!  Wishing you health and happiness in the new year.

I’m not one to recap the prior year, but I did finish more projects than I expected.  Now I’m ready to look forward. 

For my own benefit, I’m taking stock of what is in process and what has been neglected.  If you don’t know where you’ve been, how do you know where you’re going?  That, and a year from now I won’t remember where I started.

In have two stitch pieces in progress, Fairy Tales Live on Roofs (RTO kit)

and ...

We’re fast approaching the end of 2025, and it’s time to think about 2026.

The past two years I’ve focused on completing a few projects in several categories.  This worked well for me, but the one category that hasn’t seen any finishes is UFOs.  No way am I making that my focus for 2026.  That, for me, would be an inspiration killer.

Instead, I decided to focus on kits, and I use that term loosely.  A pattern with all or some of the supplies fits my definition of a kit.

These are your standard kits.

This ...

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Welcome to 2025! I wish you a year full of creative fun and joy.

In spite of a busy December, the list moved forward. I also started and finished a small crocheted throw. I find I’m going back to hobbies from decades ago and enjoying them in new ways. Good chance you’ll see more variety on the Short List in 2025.

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

Project 1 (Original): Study in Stitches. Something about this project doesn’t ...

This round covers books, patterns and kits. This isn’t all the patterns. The cover photos on some were such poor quality I couldn’t see details until I got home and opened them. Some may end up re-donated. That’s how sales like that go.

I only grabbed three books. I’m most excited about the quilting book.

The patterns and kits are a mixed group. I have some non-traditional ideas for the whole cloth panels. The Crab-apple Hill pattern came kitted with ten Weeks Dye Works flosses. I knew the package contained floss, but you couldn’t see ...

I didn’t add any fabric this week, although I had many buying opportunities. I finished the shirt for almost a yard out. All the shirt details will be in a separate post.

We went to the Greater Ann Arbor Quilt Guild Quilt Show yesterday. Hundreds of great quilts, plus a gift shop and vendors. If you live in the area, the shows continues today from 11am – 5pm at Washtenaw Community College.

While we were out and about after the show, I found a screen printing screen at a thrift shop. That was a first. I’ve wanted to learn ...

The days just fly by.

In April I finished Freeze Fame and the stitching on the Gardener’s Angel of Spring. That was one more project than I thought I’d finish. I didn’t begin anything new.

I started 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): Summer Flowers, a kit I bought at the thrift in March. It’s small and won’t take long.

Project 2 (Finishing): I have a frame picked for Gather and Give Thanks ...

Most days I only stitch on one project at a time. I have quite a few quilting UFOs, and the idea of a lot of stitching UFOs on top of that is more than I can handle. I like to keep things simple.

Once I started my Guild’s stitch-along (SAL), it became obvious that each month’s assignment wouldn’t take more than a few hours. That left me with a whole lot of stitching time and no project.

Voila. The beauty of stash.

I picked a kit because I can only think hard about one project at a ...

We are happy to announce the  Blue Jar Medley Mystery Stitch-A-Long.  

 This design is related in that it uses the same unit. The unit goes by several names. A few years back it was Peaky and Spike. Another designer calls it Tri and Recs and uses a ruler set to cut the pieces ...

The newest set in our series of plant decor is the Christmas Potstickers! 

I finished two items in August, the circle challenge and the November BOM blocks. I just realized the BOM wasn’t on last month’s list. Sneaky how it cut to the front of the line.

The Short List categories are UFO, garment, original design, hand work, finishing, classes and other. I’ve used this system for 7 years to keep me focused. The categories change as my goals and interests change. Categories with nothing in process will not be listed, only active categories.

Original Design – I think about Open Dialogue often, but it probably won’t see the light ...

Falling for You is a new pattern and kit by Nancy Dill of Nancy Dill Designs (and the owner of QuiltWoman.com).

Falling for You is the sixth installment of the It’s the Little Things series. You can check out the rest of the series here.

This pattern can be made into wall/door decor, or a garland.

Kits are available here. Each kit includes all materials except thread and glue. Includes FREE pattern, FREE U.S. shipping. Leaves are PRECUT. Acorns you will cut out using the templates provided. Stitch or draw on the leaf veins.

Great for ...

I finished stitching Christmas Eve in April, but didn’t frame it. In spite of all the time spent on the Crazy Quilt Course, hours of work remain. That project feels like it will never end. Very little sewing happened in April.

The Short List categories are UFO, garment, original design, hand work, finishing, classes and other. I’ve used this system for 6+ years to keep me focused. The categories change as my goals and interests change. Categories with nothing in process will not be listed, only active categories.

Original Design – Open Dialogue is still waiting to be quilted ...

The other day I was thinking that I have SO many quilts and a crazy number of pillows that I just don’t “need” any more but I still want to keep making things. I love playing with my GO! Cutter and using up fabric and craft supplies I have on hand. So I thought about where I could put small wall hangings and of course there are lots of little spaces around the house where I could hang up my new wall art like above doorways and skinny little spots between door frames. I’m sure there are many ...

Prodigal Son, Army Son and their families went to Florida to see Princess Daughter.  While they were gone, we kept Prodigal Son's puppy, Copper.  We had forgotten what it was like to have a sweet, time-sucking puppy around.  He was such a snuggler.  They came to pick him up last night and we were discussing their trip.  I asked how Puddin Pop did on the plane (she's flown before) and Army Son's wife told me the cutest story.  They hit some pretty rough turbulence on their flight to Chicago.  She had a white-knuckle grip on Prodigal Son ...

No fabric in this week.
The start the next shirt plan got sidetracked. When I laid out the pattern, I found the fabric was discolored in places. Washing lightened the marks but didn’t remove them. They were scattered enough I couldn’t cut around them.
I moved on to plan B.
My sister sent me this kit last year. I saw feathers and ribbon candy quilted in the frames until I did a mock up. The fancy quilting competed with all those patterned fabrics. Sometimes simple is better.
I finished it for a yard out. Now I need to ...