Stash Report Weeks #51-52

With the holidays, visitors, and illness, blogging has definitely escaped me!  My last post for 2019 will apparently be a “state of the stash.”

IN this week: 28 yards
OUT this week: 13 yards

IN YTD: 130 1/2 yards
OUT YTD: 145 yards
YTD Total: 14 1/2 OUT!

I’m pleased I finished the year with more yardage out than in.  It’s a far cry from my original goal of twice used what I buy, but a broken hand in March certainly derailed that lofty plan.  My husband gave me 12 yards for Christmas, and I ordered a few backings for next year, so I can quilt quite a bit before I “need” to buy anything.  Of course, the order from Vicki Welsh for two new quilts for the new year hasn’t arrived yet; 2019 might get off to a rocky start.

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,
katie z.

2018 350 Block Challenge in Review

I did make a few blocks this month and counted a few from last month that I forgot, for 119 new blocks, which brings my total to 1677 for 2018.

In case you wonder what totals I had in in years past, here are the numbers...
In 2017: 1125In 2016: 1007
In 2015: 1400
In 2014: 794
In 2013: 1057
In 2012, north of 180.  Between terrible morning sickness and moving drama, I lost count.

These totals are part of Shelly at Prairie Moon Quilt’s 350 Block Challenge.  Although I didn’t manage to keep my totals accurately the first year, I’ve certainly enjoyed participating since the beginning of the challenge in 2012.  This year was a new record, thanks to the nearly 800 16-patches I made.  There will be more in 2019 as well!

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,
katie z.

Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2019

As I currently find myself under the weather (again or still is unclear), I won’t be finding pictures of my 2018 Rainbow Scrap Challenge finishes.  Instead, let’s mull over my plans for 2019.

I find, in the last few years, I've not been particularly good about keeping to the assigned colors due to the specific needs of my quilts.  Next year’s intentions are a little more free, so I think I can follow the terms more accurately.

Currently, my plans include:
for 1.5” warm colors, finishing my nine patches and stars quilt.
for 1.5” cool colors, making 16 patches for a customer quilt.
for all 2" scraps, making half square triangles for an insane quilt, the name of which currently escapes me, but is full of triangles!
for 2.5” scraps, I’d like to make Lori Holt’s Great Granny Squared.
for my pile of ombré fabrics, I’m going to make a butterfly quilt.
for my hand dyed fabrics, I think I’ll join Soscrappy’s Tiny Tuesday blocks.

I have, for too many years, found myself unable to participate in any "new" projects that appear from time to time, as I have my year too fully planned ere it begins.  I am going to leave my planning open to a few quilt-a-longs or other nonsense.  Of course, since I started this blog post a month or more ago, I’ve already added three projects.  Since my 1.5” plans are small and my 2” plans can stretch over many years, I can push these aside for other projects as they arise.

I wish my favorite hobbies/interests overlapped a little more conveniently.  I quilt daily, love to can/make at home, garden, and take part in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, including making materials.  I also have a stack of books, generally about the aforementioned topics, next to my chair that needs to be read.  It is hard to choose how to prioritize time, and I hope to do a better job in 2019.  Moderation is an important virtue to cultivate!

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,
katie z.

Finished Quilt: Moonstone and Pearl

I've had a not-so-stitchy start to my day, which is fine considering it's almost Christmas.  Tomorrow, my sister's family arrives for a week visit, increasing our household from 8 to 14.  Today we made peanut-free muddy buddy and kolache dough is rising.  The laundry is endless, as always when we're all home, and the tidying up is never done!

That being said, I did sneak in just enough time to finish the binding on my last quilt which used the pattern Faceted Jewels and which I've now named "Moonstone and Pearl" for grey jewels.  I'm lovely excited that it's finished and beautiful.  There are a few places where the same fabric touches, despite planning efforts to the contrary, but I've decided to leave them.  This Advent, I've made a real effort to stress and worry less, and no one else is going to care if the same fabric touches!

There are other beautiful finishes to be seen as part of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge this weekend.

from the room of Zana's Ninis,
katie z.

Stash Report Week #50

Oh, dear.  Sunday was spent primarily in bed, so writing this post slipped my mind.  I finished nothing in the past week but hope to finish a quilt this week.  It’s already basted, so I have a decent chance!

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,

katie z.

Winter Happenings

As is par for the course for mid-December, I have a cold turning into... bronchitis?  As soon as I finish this blog post, I'm headed to Urgent Care to see if I need an antibiotic.   The coughing slowed me down this week, so my 16-patches were ignored entirely in favor of this beauty...

 My Faceted Jewels quilt is now a flimsy.  Next week, if I feel well enough, the plan is to piece the binding, cut the batting, baste, and quilt.  If it's a really good week, I might finish it before my sister arrives so she can take it with her to the recipient!

I did increase the pile of pink nonsense on my sewing table.  This is for Miss G, who may not like it (she rejected the last quilt I made for her), and she only cares about it being pink.  I used up an amazing amount of pink for this quilt, which is just fine.

I'm mulling over my stash goals for next year.  It's completely ridiculous for me to plan on buying nothing, so I think I'll set a goal for how much fabric I have to have netted out for each quarter or month before I can buy more.  The stash cart is full, and I've no more space to store fabric, so I really do have to keep confined to my current space.

Be sure to check out all the varied projects this weekend!  Although I do love the flurry of finishes in November and December, I'm looking forward to January when the rainbow will come out to play again.  My sewing tends to get rather boring when I only have one or two projects to choose from each week.

from the room of Zana's Ninis,
katie z.

12 Things Challenge 2019

To be honest, I don't have enough UFOs to fill out a list of 12 projects, so it’s hard to join that challenge with Judy Laquidara.  Instead, I think I'll pick 12 projects from my "someday" list and join her “12 things” Challenge.  I won't finish them all, as a few are hand pieced quilts, scarcely begun, but I will hope to make progress.

1. Miss G's pink quilt
2. JoJo's train quilt
3. Baby quilt
4. ombre quilt butterfly
5. Irish chain in shades
6. Pink hexagons
7. St. Patrick/chubby pinwheels
8. bee quilt/Sister’s Choice
9. hand pieced hexagons
10. Garden Party in shades
11. Stocking #1
12. Stocking #2

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,
katie z.

Stash Report Week #49

I finished no quilts this week, so my stash report is unchanged.  I did wear out one more spool, for 30 spools for the year.

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,
katie z.

Here, There, Everywhere

My fabrics are all spread across the rainbow this week.  I've pieced a few blue, green, purple strips for 16-patches, I've cut and sewn giant pink squares for Miss G, and then I've hit the blacks and greys for a more subdued quilt.

I have spent some time in the last weeks mulling my projects for next year.  I have a tentative list of “non-scrappy” quilts I’d like to make, and I think I’ve narrowed down my scrappy sewing too.  I don’t have anything glamorous planned; I have regretted, in the past, being too booked with my own plans to add anything spur of the moment.  There is room next year!

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,
katie z.

December UFO List

The list is getting short!  I started/remembered four projects: a placemat for my newest nephew, a quilt for Nicole, a purse, and an apron.  Even better, I finished a ridiculous number of projects: the churn dash quilt, the Assistant's quilt, Emily's quilt, Jude's placemat, the purse, and the apron.

1. Pillow
2. Scrappy DWR
3. ABC applique
4. 9 patches and stars
5. king-sized 16 patches
6. hexagons
7. Nicole

November 1: 9 projects
Started: 4
Finished: 6
November 30: 7

Since I don't intend to start much in December (famous last words, right?), I look forward to rolling into 2019 with my shortest unfinished project list ever!

from the room of Zana's Ninis,
katie z.

Stash Report Week #48

I love weeks with multiple finishes!  This week, I finished a two-sided apron and my churn dash quilt.  I think this means I get to order fabric for a few new quilts for 2019.

IN this week: 0 yards
OUT this week: 13 yards

IN YTD: 102 1/2 yards
OUT YTD: 132 yards
YTD Total: 29 1/2 yards

from the room of Zana's Ninis,
katie z.

Waning Rainbows

This time of year, in a flurry of finishes, I'm afraid my rainbow sewing becomes a bit dull.  This week was a slog through my enormous pile of untrimmed scraps, which had gotten out of control thanks to all of this month's quilt backings.  Fortunately, they are all neatly put away and ready for new adventures.

I quilted my churn dash quilt on my new Juki and found it to be quite a learning curve.  The quilting foot doesn't seem to lift as high as I'm used to, so I broke three needles on lumpy seams.  I count it as a learning experience, and I'm pleased with the actual finish, so I'm not going to agonize over it.

The quilt is roughly 6' square and currently has no home.  I'm sure I'll find somewhere that needs a donation!

As with all other Saturdays, I'm linking up to Soscrappy for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  Join us, won't you?

from the room of Zana's Ninis,
katie z.