2020 350 Blocks Challenge Total

 And so it ends... with a bit of a whimper.  Not having internet at the new house except for my phone puts a damper on blogging, most certainly.  Here I am, on the bare floor of the old house, hoping to pound out a few posts while my toes defrost from the outside work.

This month, I get to count all the blocks for three quilts: the Rainbow Quilt, 17; Spunky’s Owl, 20; and the Morewood Mystery, 270, for a total of 307 for December.

I believe my total for 2020 is 1431 blocks.  This is lower than the last few years, but considering that I moved for most of December instead of quilting, I’ll take it!

For totals I had in years’ past, here are the numbers...

In 2019: 1760

In 2018: 1677

In 2017: 1125

In 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.

Thank you, Shelly!

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,

katie z.

December UFO Report and 2020 Wrap Up

 I began 2020 with 8 projects.  2019 began with 7.  I’ll be ending the year with 7.  I’m so grateful that this UFO Challenge, begun by Vicki Welsh ages ago, to have helped me go from 30+ random projects at various stages now down to a manageable under 10.

 1. Pillow

2. Scrappy DWR

3. ABC appliqué
4. Hand pieced hexagons
5. Temperature quilt

6. Morewood Mystery

7. Strip Twist

December 1: 9 projects

Started: 3

Finished: 1

December 31: 7 projects

I finished the Rainbow Quilt, the Ice Quilt, and Spunky’s Owl.  I started a strip twist.  And there we go.

I don’t have settled plans for 2020 yet, although I do have a list of desired new projects.  I need another king sized quilt for our new bed.  My scraps’ voices are drowned out by the clamoring boxes!

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,

katie z.

2020 Quilting Goals in Review

 This year, my goals were: 

1.  Use 40 yards more than I purchase.  I used 80+ more, so met and exceeded.

2. In a continuation of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge (because it is so fun to play along!), I have a brick and square quilt, a scrappy log cabin, and Garden Party.  I may make more Garden Mosaic blocks, but I’m not committing to it yet.  I made 12 scrappy quilts total.  The brick and square didn’t happen, but the others did.  

3.  Other quilts on my “future quilts” list includes... a wool prayer cloth for my sister, a temperature quilt, a pink 16-patch, a weighted blanket, a bee fabric quilt, two placemats, maybe a baby blanket, and maybe some Easter skirts and vests.  Several maybes.  I’m good with that!  The prayer cloth never materialized.  Hmm... The temperature quilt is in progress, the pink quilt turned into flying geese and stars, and all the other things happened.  Yay!

I would say not too shabby for the year, especially considering it was 2020.  I’m still pondering 2021, so I’ll be back with another blog about that later.

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,

katie z.

December Goals Reviewed

 I always forget to wrap up the year tidily, and then I feel rushed, so I’m trying to do better this year.  Of course, I’ve misplaced my sewing notebook at the new house and we don’t have internet there yet, so it’s complicated!

For December, the goals were plain:

1. Scraps: trim, finish the Ice Quilt and the Rainbow Quilt, start a strip twist quilt from scraps, finish Spunky’s quilt (see what happens when I wait to long to report on my goals?), finish one large hexi star and maybe a small one or two.  Two quilts done, strip twist cut and begun, Spunky’s quilt done, but the large hexi quilt is languishing.  I hope to finish it before the year’s end.

2. Get as close as possible to finishing the temperature quilt.  I hope to give this some attention in the next few days.  It’s coming along.

3. Complete the next step of the Morewood Mystery.  Everything is cut, most things are sewn. My ironing board is finally moving to the new house, which will help!

I don’t have January goals yet, so over the next few days I’ll work on those.

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,

katie z.

Stash Report Week #52 and 15 Minutes

 Not a good week for sewing.  The boxes called for every spare moment, so I rarely sat down.  That brings my numbers down to 340 days of 360 for my 15 minutes of stitching.  I am proud to say I only have five boxes left in my sewing room, and much of that is tax, business, etc., related, and not sewing related.  I’ll be glad when the boxes are done... but first we need to finish packing the old house!

It looks like the year will end on a good note for stash busting.  My net usage is twice my original goal!

IN this week: 0 yards

OUT this week: 0 yards

IN YTD: 159 yards

OUT YTD: 245 1/2 yards

YTD Total: 85 1/2 yards OUT

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,

katie z.

Rainbow Scrap Challenge Summary

 Hi!  I haven’t touched a sewing machine this week except to move it.  I don’t know where my pictures are, so I think I’ll post links about my Rainbow Scrap Challenges. I apologize that it’s more work for you, but I hope it’s better than nothing.

A rainbow quilt for a little boy...

The Ice Quilt (I love this so much)...

Spunky Owl, a fall collaboration with Spunky.

Courtyard Steps, made from the leftovers from my Lepidoptera Quilt, which I finished January 1 of this year, a previous year’s Rainbow Scrap Challenge.

A baby quilt, a year late, but just fine...

I quite love the Garden Party quilt I made this year.  It doesn’t have all the rainbow colors, since it was for my brother, but I made a few blocks every month with my scraps until it was done!

I had a pink flying geese project during the pink month.

Then there were some purple blocks for a comfort quilt.  I love how active my scrap bins and stash has been this year, I realize as I go search for these links.  We’ve been growing things!

The (giant) baby, who is almost as big as the four year old, received his fox quilt.  I will treasure the scraps Joyful contributed, and it’s so cheerful on his bed.  Tackling blocks like this, that are fiddly, in companionship with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge, makes them so much more palatable..

I’d entirely forgotten that I finished this king sized 16-patch quilt this year, a work in progress over several years of challenges.  It was good time, as we decided to upgrade to a king sized bed in the new house, and this is one of two king sized quilts we have!  I still have the companion baby/toddler quilt tucked away for gifts.

12 quilts from scraps this year.  That’s not too shabby, is it?  I appreciate the incentive to sew brought on by the link up each Saturday.

Apparently I forget quilts after six months, as I had also forgotten this project from yellows, a bee quilt with Spunky.

I finished a pared-down Garden Mosaic early this year from blocks I made last year.  Maybe I should start another and actually make it king sized?

I don’t know what my plans are for next year as I’m currently having a hard time seeing past the next box to pack and the next box to unpack.  I’ll get there, and I hope to have time to be inspired by all of you!

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,

katie z.

Stash Report Weeks #50-51 and 15 Minutes

 Oops, last week got away from me.  I haven’t done much sewing, but instead have been packing and moving boxes!

I did finish both the Ice Quilt and the Rainbow Quilt in the last two weeks, so the stash report changes again.

IN this week: 0 yards

OUT this week: 14 3/4 yards

IN YTD: 159 yards

OUT YTD: 245 1/2 yards

YTD Total: 86 1/2 yards OUT

I’m please with my stash results for the year.  My goal was to net 40 yards out, and I’ve more than doubled that.  I suspect, next year, as I will be spending lots of time unpacking and adjusting to a new house and property (and I think recovering from a surgery), that I may not have so many finishes.

On the 15 minutes a day front, I managed to sew 13 of 14 days, for 339 days of 353 days in 2020.  I’ve made much more project on the hand pieced hexagons than I imagined at the beginning of 2020.

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,

katie z.

Detour

 Well... it’s been quite a Saturday with very little sewing. We’re moving!  It’s only a few miles down the road, with more bedrooms, less storage, more kitchen, and more land.  With the pandemic, it does mean we’re doing most of the moving on our own, although my parents and brother have been able to do a tremendous amount of work, socially distanced and with masks.  Good times.

I did finish the rainbow quilt Wednesday night, after the insanity of closing Monday and moving by van for three days.  I’m so happy with this little quilt, and I’m looking forward to giving it away soon.  (This is just 1/4 of it.  It’s late, the lights are out everywhere, and there are messes even if they weren’t.  Forgive me.)

And now I need to go to bed.  I need sleep!

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,

katie z.

P.S. I link up each Saturday (usually earlier) to the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  We are challenged next week to show all our Rainbow Scrap Challenge finishes.  I wonder if I can pull that together!

Slightly Obsessed

 I must say, after the current craziness of our lives settles down, I’m going to revisit this book,Successful Scrap Quilts from Simple Rectangles, (I can’t get the link box to work right now) again.  It’s basic, but I really love the mindless piecing that turns into something lovely.  It works so well from my scrap box.  This week I have my second quilt, the Ice Quilt, made from it.  I did super simple stitching on either side of the main seams, then an X through each block.  I really like it, but I’m glad to give away another quilt I really like.

The Rainbow Quilt is in one piece.  It needs some dethreading and the backing fabric (red) is soaking in hot water before quilting.  Now I need to decide how to quilt it... and X through each square or stitching on each side of the seams?  I’m leaning toward Xs.

I’ve been cutting more scraps for a Strip Twist quilt (a la Bonnie Hunter) from my 2” bin.  This is working nicely as an easy leader and ender.  I still have no plan for 2021 Rainbow Scrap Challenge quilts.  What will you be doing?

There’s much to do today, so I’m off again.

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,

katie z.

P.S. This is part of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge (my link button doesn’t want to cooperate today...)

December Goals

 November goals rolled out modestly:

1. Scraps: trim, complete courtyard steps, piece several small hexagon flowers, and cut one new scrap quilt for next year.  I supposed Spunky’s freestyle quilt fits in here too, but I won’t  have a timeline for it until the mess of scraps disturbs me for too long,  All done, although Spunky’s quilt is a December finish.  I cut two baby quilts (my SiL is having twins!).  I also finished and gave away the courtyard steps quilt.

2.  One more row of the temperature quilt.  It will be longer than it is wide after this!  Done

3.  Make my Christmas apron.  Done.  I like it.  I’ve used it.

4. Maybe sew up the Assistant’s floral skirt or start her pineapple quilt.  Both have been on the “future projects I ought to do” list for too long.  I started her pineapple quilt.  It’s a bit fiddly, so I’m still wrapping my brain around how to attack it.

For December, the goals are still plain.

1. Scraps: trim, finish the Ice Quilt and the Rainbow Quilt, start a strip twist quilt from scraps, finish Spunky’s quilt (see what happens when I wait to long to report on my goals?), finish one large hexi star and maybe a small one or two.

2. Get as close as possible to finishing the temperature quilt.

3. Complete the next step of the Morewood Mystery.

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,

katie z.

Stash Report Week #49 and 15 Minutes

 15 minutes, accomplished.  I had to double check my math today when I checked my notes and saw 339 days gone for 2020.  I finished the points for the next round in the large orange star, so I’m at 326 days of 339.  I plan to continue this habit next year, and the year after, and so on, until this quilt is in one piece or I get too tired of it and need a break!  I am, thus far, enjoying the process still.

On the stash side, I spun off the last of another spool of thread for 21 spools used up this year.  I also finished Spunky’s Owl quilt, so I get to count yardage out.  It was a lovely impromptu project, and I’m glad to have had it for scrap use and to keep my mind busy away from all the worry of the last few months.

I did receive an order from Missouri Star Quilt Company, but I think it was all (mostly?) for Miss G’s Christmas gift.  I need to go back to my order and review.  I may have to admit to fabric in next week!

IN this week: 0 yards

OUT this week: 7 yards

IN YTD: 159 yards

OUT YTD: 230 3/4 yards

YTD Total: 71 3/4 yards OUT

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,

katie z.

Spunky Owl

 And just like that, I have a finished quilt.  Spunky’s Owl, for which this quilt is now named, is made by Sally of the Objects of Design.  Isn’t he cute?  The quilt is extremely long for the width, but Spunky is thrilled, so 50” x 80” it is.  I’m pleased all the funny shaped pieces I had are used, but we were certainly nowhere near using all the fall colored scraps.  Of course!  The backing is prints of the four Hogwarts school houses (I forgot a picture before I threw it in the washer).  Quilting is a simple meander, binding is more scraps, and it’s done!

I began quilting the Ice Quilt last night, but I’m doing straight line quilting, so it won’t be a fast finish.  Still, maybe by next weekend.

The rainbow quilt needs to more rows pieced before I begin assembling it.  I’m getting close!  It will definitely be a fast finish after Ice Quilt.  I’m always amazed at how fast quilts can come together when I make all the blocks at once rather than strung out over the entire year.

I think, next, I need to plan another scrappy quilt.  I’m debating between a 16-patch, since they are so mindless to sew, and a strip twist.

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,

katie z.

P.S. I’m linking up to the Rainbow Scrap Challenge this weekend.

November Block Count

 Oh, my, I can’t seem to add my block numbers lately.  I think I’ve finally reconciled my numbers.

Last month, I finished another row of my temperature quilt for 312 blocks and I made all the blocks for a new quilt, totally 90 more.  Thus, my month total is 114 and my year total is 1124.  This may not jive with last month, but I had some math issues!

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