Finishing out 2017

     During holiday sewing time I made some more microwave bowl holders in 2 sizes ( 10" and 15") This is the first time I have made the larger size.  There have been times when I could have used one so now I have one.  A couple will be gifted.

     I worked on finishing up this hexagon table topper.  I started English paper piecing with the New Hexagon quilt along and decided a lot of handwork is not for me.  I machine pieced 2 hexagons to finish the number needed.  Next I pulled out paper and ironed flat seam allowances (trimmed a little) to then machine piece the hexagons all together.  I layered batting and backing and sewed together pillowcase style so I would not need binding to finish the edge of all the hexagons.  Now it still needs quilting.

        As 2017 comes to an end, I finished another lap quilt for church.

Here are closer photos of the quilting. 

  

      Even though I only finished a couple of quilts from my listed goals, I am satisfied.   I finished and donated 1 Quilt of Valor,  2 kid quilts to my guild for the children’s hospital, 1 wall-hanging to my sister’s guild for silent auction,  and 10 lap quilts to my church (which includes 2 JoAnn class samples). I made 5 quilts of various sizes which were gifted to family and friends and 1 full size quilt I kept for myself for a total of 20 which does not include a couple sets of placemats and many mug rugs along with many other sewing projects.  I’m counting 2017 as a productive year for quilting and sewing projects even though I still have numerous UFOs and WIP.

     As I look toward 2018 I hope to continue to make progress on finishing up UFOs.  The AQS blog recently shared hints for prioritizing UFOs.  I usually store projects in 2.5 gallon ZipLock bags. Here are 8 projects I pulled to take a new account and make a plan for finishing in 2018. ( This is not all my UFOs.)

My red, white and blue LeMoyne star improv quilt is partially quilted.  I would really like to quilt a mystery quilt top that has been waiting many years.  A graduation gift quilt has not been started. That is plenty to work on in the new year. 

Be Safe for your New Year celebration.

Enjoy some time sewing or quilting!

Holiday Projects

       On Nov. 6^th I posted quilting project goals for the end of the year, hoping that would help give me focus to get them done.  I’m not sure how much it helped.  In this holiday season certain projects have taken precedence over those planned. The Circle Back lap quilt was finished and given.  The appliqued Double Wedding Ring lap quilt was finished and taken to church for a comfort quilt.  I have done the stitch-in-the-ditch quilting to stabilize the RWB Lonestar (Lemoyne star) improv quilt, but I have not given any thought as to how I want to do the rest of the quilting. There has been no progress on the scrappy rainbow anvil blocks or any Rainbow Scrap Challenge quilts.

  

The green, blue and yellow string blocks were partnered with hour glass blocks and are pieced into a charity top.  

 I also pieced 2 charity lap quilt tops NOT on the plan – Giant Swoon and 4 Patch Change Up – which tells you why progress was not made on others ON the list.

        Some holiday gift projects interrupted other work.  I made a scrappy small purse as a gift for one granddaughter. I found the directions here.  I did lengthen the strap and I used D rings to attach it.

I made an 18” doll chair from PVC for another granddaughter.  You can find the tutorial here. I may make more.

A few holiday mug rugs also were quick projects.

I enjoyed time with granddaughters.  I baked and put together 2 small gingerbread houses for them to decorate. 

Hope you are getting your holiday projects done.  Enjoy this holiday season and maybe find some time for sewing or quilting.