Some finishes to report.

We are one week into the year.  The year that I have proclaimed "TACKLE" as my word.  This word coincides with lots of things this year not just in the sewing studio.  I have an aggressive goal of finishing 30 UFO this year.  Depending on how many projects I start this year, this should put my UFOs under 40 by the year end.

What is an acceptable number?  How many UFOs do you feel is manageable for you?  I have come up with the number 12.  I like to have projects at all stages and I like to have a little variety to keep my creativity going.

I have been enjoying lots of sewing time this week with the extreme temperatures and excess of snow.  I do not go stir crazy- in fact, I think I could become a hermit (unless someone takes my computer away).

Finish number one is a pillow that I started in 2013.  I used this tutorial for inserting the zipper in the back.  The fabrics were gifted to me from Dottie.  They match the wall hanging in my dining room very well.








It fits so well in this antique rocker that it looks like I made it to go there.  I made it as a floor pillow because we didn't have a couch in our family room.  Our new couch was delivered shortly after Christmas so now it becomes a couch pillow.

The next finish is from about 10 years ago, but I really can't say for sure.  I know I made so many blocks that I also made this baby quilt out of part of the blocks.  I quilted a simple pantograph patriot on it.  I had some thread issues in the beginning, but I was able to resolve them.








 The third finish is also another project from 2013.  This quilt goes to baby Kameryn who will be 5 months soon.  I quilted free hand bubbles on it and outlined her initial.  I love the texture the circles give the quilt.  I used flannel on the back to make the quilt extra soft.

 That makes 3 finishes in week one of the new year!  If only I could keep up this pace, I would be done with UFOs by June.
   

Monday Madness

Lots of snow and extreme temperatures make the best sewing weather.  I had a fabulous day sewing in the studio, and it looks like I will get some more sewing time tomorrow.

I spent the day piecing an old project from the UFO parade.  I never dreamed it would have taken me all day to put this quilt together.  I had it in rows before the day started.  I learned quite a few things during this quilt.  I would like to share some of the mistakes I made along the way.

1. If you spin the seams of 4 patches to get them to nest together perfectly, all the spins MUST go the same direction (clockwise or counter-clockwise).  This was my first pitfall that caused me to put the quilt away.  I had to take my sashing units apart and sew them differently so all the seams matched.
2. Sewing the sashing strips to the top of the blocks only works when the size is increasing.  
3. If you do not do number 2 correctly, you can fix the error by sewing partial seams (which is not the most fun)
4. Double check that the blocks are going the correct directions before you sew the rows together.
5. Large quilts take a lot of time to sew the rows together.

I would like to give you a visual of the problem I had with the sashing.  I had sewn the 4 patch sashing to the tops of all the rows (shown in the first picture).  I thought I was good to go, so I attached all the setting triangles.  

When I took a closer look, I noticed the problem.  Since the quilt was set on point, as the rows decreased in size, the sashing strips didn't border the larger previous row.  I had to remove the setting triangles and go to plan "B"

I removed all the setting triangles and added the 4 patch sashing strips to each of them.  Next I removed about 1" of the stitching of the setting triangle in the previous row.  



I Joined the rows and trimmed the over-sized sashing triangle.  This left me with a partial seam to complete from the previous triangle.

It is all together, now I need to figure out what color border to add.  I love the 4 patch sashing, but it was a lot of extra work.

Tomorrow I hope to work on some quilting so I can report some finishes in the new year.

NewFOs now become UFOs?

I have really struggled with what to classify my projects of 2013 (NewFOs) as.   My primary focus last year was to finish my old projects that were abandoned long ago.  I did start and finish several new projects along the way in addition to my UFOs, however, I still had some unfinished projects at the end of the year.  When I counted up my works in process, I had more than I thought.  I am afraid if I don't add  them to the UFO list they will get forgotten like the items of the UFO parade.  I am going to give them their own special spot in this blog post so they don't get forgotten.  It really helped me to have all my UFO listed in the parade so I could quickly reference them.

1.  Baby Kameryn's quilt.  She is 4 months old, so I better get busy and get this quilted.













2.  Floor pillow for the family room quilted and waiting for me to put it together.

3.  Braided runner that I did as a class demonstration.   

4.  The start of a project using the Hex n' More Ruler

 5.  This is a log cabin quilt for my brother.  The pattern is from Quilty magazine (Strawberries and Cream).  I have the borders on it and the backing pulled so I can get it pieced.

 6.  This is another demonstration quilt.  I finished the top but I didn't get it quilted.

 7.  This was a runner I made with the X- Block Ruler.  I think I should finish this one for Valentine's day.  It would look festive on the table.

 8.  This is the tree skirt I just started after Christmas.  I have the backing made, so hopefully I can mark this one off my list also.

9.  I finished this quilt at a retreat in Shipshe on October.  Somehow it was pushed to the side and never got quilted.  I used this tutorial as a rough guide line.

 10. & 11.  #10 is in the background and it is a scrappy swoon supersized.  I worked on it at Shipse, but I didn't bring all the pieces to get it together.  #11 is a smaller version of the scrappy log cabin quilt from Quilty magazine.  I started it after Christmas when I found a box of 1 1/4" strips that were lonely on the shelf.  All the blocks are completed, but I need to put them together.

In my mind (before I actually took pictures and counted) I had 3 or 4 projects left unfinished.  I guess these pictures will keep me accountable.  I did finish over 20 projects from the UFO list, so at least the list didn't grow larger.

Edit:  
Found this Newfo in January and I wanted to makes sure it didn't get forgotton

#11.  4 lonely Swoon blocks that need to put together

Goals for the New Year

I did well with my goals last year and I want to continue to focus on my UFOs in 2014.  I seemed to loose a little steam with my UFO completion rate after I reached my goal.  This year I am going to make my goal even more ambitious.  I have about 70 UFOs left - so I am setting my goal at 35.  I am not sure I can do this  many, but I am going to give it my best shot!  Are you drowning in UFOs?

There has been a lot of discussion in my group recently about what finished is.  My definition of finished is quilted.

I have 20 projects ready to quilt and many more that just need borders.  I have a mix of both large and small projects that have been set aside.

At the beginning of each month I will make a list of what I hope to be working on.  I will also be working on completing some projects that I started in 2013 that did not get finished.

January Goals:

Quilt 4 UFOs (probably small projects)
Finish putting together my scrappy swoon
Put together my Kansas Troubles wall hanging blocks.
Sew on setting triangles and put together the rows on the scrappy 4 patch
Put together the rows for 2 old table runners (twofer is the pattern)

Quilter ADD

With the end of the year quickly approaching, one would think I could stay focused and achieve a few more completions.  Yesterday my friend Tina came over for a little socialization.  I bounced from project to project and made lots of messes in my studio.  It is hard to explain how it can feel so fulfilling to just sit in my studio and piddle (is that even a word).

Remember this tree skirt.  I do not recall the pattern, but something went terribly wrong with color placement (or choices).  My hubby said it was because I didn't like the fabric any longer.  I came to the decision yesterday that I was putting the up for adoption.  I don't want to waste any more time on it.  It will become my first finish of 2014!

While Tina was here, I was thinking about a tree skirt pattern that I have been wanting to try.  It is on the insert that comes with the 10 degree wedge ruler.  I pulled the fabric, cut them and started to sew.  I was able to get the tree skirt together in one afternoon and evening.  It is 2 of the same fabrics that were in the original tree skirt.  By removing the red, somehow it all looks better.  There is red in the pear fabric, but I don't think it was enough blend with the large amount of red on my first attempt.

As always my 2 favorite models were ready for a photo opportunity.  I barely snapped the first picture before they joined me.

This will be gifted to someone for next year's Christmas.  The pattern was easy to make and I am pleased with how it turned out.

World's Record (or at least my personal record)

I just realized that my last fabric purchase was on October 4th when I hit a fat quarter sale.  You remember the one...I was supposed to be getting groceries.  At least that is the story I told my family.  It is really too bad that I had a senior moment in all the fabric excitement and forgot to actually go to the grocery.  There was no way to disguise my fabric purchase when I returned without any grocery sacks.

This must be my longest "no buy" spree (quite by accident).  As you may recall, the last time I "fasted" from fabric purchases it was not good.

12 Weeks tomorrow and counting!

I hope you had a fabulous holiday season.

Year End Re-Cap

It been a really long time since I have found the time to blog.  When I looked back at my last post, it was hard to believe it was November since my last post.

I forgot to post about my October accomplishments.

1. I sewed my bright/black log cabin together.  I am still deciding if it need borders.
2. I sewed my bright 4 patch quilt together and it is waiting to be quilting
3. I worked on my really old scrappy 4-patch quilt and I have the rows sewn together.
4. I made the 4th block to my swoon quilt.

My word this year is FINISH.  I had 24 finished from my UFO Parade, and I made progress on lots more projects from the list.  It was fun to check them off and get them closer to completion.  I do have a few items that were started in 2014 that I didn't finish.

Have you picked a word for 2014?  I am still trying to decide.  

Have you thought about your goals for 2014?