Tuesday, January 13, 2026

All Around the Blocks!

 Orphan blocks are propagating as I'm typing!

I think I am getting ahead, when I find

a new stack of blocks waiting to be assembled.

Pulling out all the spare blocks and finding some 

new centers resulted in a few new tops ready to assemble. 

First up the Weave block.

Thinking the blocks were all ready, 

I laid them out on the design wall 

and then found a wealth of complete centers. 


They were a bit small so I added a strip  to the 

string portion and trimmed them up. The rows

were labeled with pins then clipped together,

making a larger top than originally planned. 

Next came the last of the 8s & 10s blocks. 

Up they went to the now empty design wall. 


Ten blocks did not a top make so I 

sorted thru the stack of partial pieces and 

found a bunch of strip sets.  Onto the 

cutting table with some discovered black 

strips and in a short time there were enough for 

a 5 x 6 block layout. It received the 

same treatment as the first round of weave blocks.

Then on to the remaining weave centers.

These were finishing up to suit a 7.5 inch block.

Just a few extra centers were needed so a quick trip

to the bits bin and I could trim some out using 

my favorite 4 1/2" ruler.

A lovely light gray was cut into 6" strips,

squares then triangles. It is a bit of overkill on the size,

but I do like to be comfortable.

The best way to centre the triangles on the pieced strip,

is by using a completed one as a template.

Center a bunch, either clip or pin to secure,

and it's easy peasy stitching from there on out.

The remaing  blocks were completed

with the pairs of  pale grey triangles and 

trimmed up to 7 1/2".


Wow, that's three tops right there, but I'm not done yet.

These Peachy Pineapples, were gifted to me to finish up.


I really think that there's a bag of 

additional pieces somewhere.

I found a few string blocks that will make

 good cornerstones. They are all pinned together 

and awaiting the reunion with their color family.

I'm optimistic that the bag of coordinating 

colors will turn up during this frenzy of finishing up partial tops.

Just one more for this Sunday of Completion. 

( I don't think you'll find that day on a church calendar!)

Leftover blocks again,  

colour family strip squares.

There were six red and green 14" blocks.

One was disassembled to see if it would play nicely with 

the other scrap squares but the colors were just too intense.

So I joined them back together and 

put them next to their fellows.

A little short on numbers again so back to the bit box 

(actually pile), for a sacrifice of some big strip sets,

and another top is ready for joining,
 



This  one will have a border of half blocks.

I found some lovely strips of blue during the excavation. 


These may be an inner border between

 the center and the halfblocks around the outside.

I may even use  multicolor blocks for the outside. 

The table of discovery is looking a bit lighter. 



I can see a stack of  waffle blocks for the next 

layout and at least two of the delectible mountains 

for this year's Stashbuster project.

The stockings are all tucked in for next year.

The annual charm was added, this time a 

small glittery star button to each. 

I can't wait to dig into it again tonight during 

a guild sew evening. 

Stay safe and Sew On!

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Holding Steady

 The week is holding steady with lots of stitching,

organizing and layouts.



 
No scraps or fabric in this week so that is a bonus.

No increase in Stash numbers

The table of Discovery is still in chaos,


but it is a structured chaos, so it is not picking my biscuit.

A busy week is ahead but making time for stitching

is always therapeutic.

Stay safe and sew on!

Linking up with:

Stitching Stuff

Stash Report

Tuesday, January 6, 2026

2026?

 What to do, what to do, what to do?

2026 is here and I don't have a firm plan,

I have too many plans!

Should I stick with strips, I have lots,

 or go with squares, there tons of those too.

There is an abundance of crumbs and 

scraps of all sizes, what to do?

Maybe, I'll do a shape a month. 

That would keep me going for quite awhile!  

I've planned to trim out the 

orphans to uniform size and category.

I'm sure I have way too many holiday 

themed ones but I'll do them up anyway. 

I am making good progress there. 

Sewing on two hatchet tops currently , 

one with pale grey background and 

one cream/white background.


All the middle  pieces  were complete in 

a few mystery boxes!

The 2026 Stash Buster is on the menu too!

Finishing UFOs and the leagacy wall should

 keep me stitching too.

This is the Legacy wall. Estate gifts and 

friend UFO handoffs that need finishing.


I certainly don't want to over plan myself.

String and strip work will continue. 

There is such a wealth of both in my collection.

I'll choose some and do them up. 

Small goals will help me get up the mountain!





On to the sewing!  I plan on a great, happy and

fun year in the sewing room!

Stay Safe and Sew On!




Sunday, January 4, 2026

A Bit of Stitching Should do it!

New Years Eve was a quiet night as 

the funk of the year hit me a bit. 

I did manage to solitary sew and 

made up for missing my evening buddies

by sewing with a large group the next day. 

That group sew saw me bringing out 

the block library and sorting 

lots of orphans into sizes. 


Throughout the rest of the week,

 the blocks were compiled into a few groups for tops.

Funny story there, what I thought were orphans

from a past rainbow scrap challenge,

turned out to have a bunch of fellows in a box labeled "weave"!

Now it appears I have enough to make two twin size quilts.

The first is well underway cream/white joining triangles.





The second will have a different colour,

 possibly grey, if I can find it. 

By "find it" I mean going  into my stash.

You can see above, there is one empty spot.

I made addtional blocks from strip sets 

that were mixed in with the spare block stash. 

Then a walk to the project boxes to check for more

pieces lead me to this box.


What treasures inside!


A few are the incorrect size so that's

 probably why the project was shelved.

They can be repurposed into other scrap projects.

I do seem to have a lot of them in the works!

So my stitching for the week turned out to be 

100% 7/7

Easy calculations in the early parts of the year!

The same for the fabric intake. 

Last year finished with about 6m total in. 

I did receive some legacy fabric the last 

part of December and a lovely bunch of scraps.


This year, I have nothing in or out!

  
Quilt FinishedPattern/NamesizeYardage 11,6,3Totals
Used last week:
Used year to date:x
Added last week:
Added year to date:x
Net added in 2026x

Excited to see where the next few days takes me.

Happy New Year!

Stay Safe and Sew on!

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Friday, January 2, 2026

Do I Dare!!

 Well this is the last stash report for 2025.

I will combine it with the first OMG for 2026.

Efficiency rules!  Well, sometimes, but it occurred to 

me that making a clear goal with a bit of deadline, may 

help me wrangle the orphans into tops!

So the final tally for the year 2025 is!

72.5m  (5 m astronaut/fabric,10 m scrap bag) 

YTD Purchased/acquired

8.5m Jan- Dec

Used:

66.5m (11 quilts +1 queen +1 king

6 total meterage added YTD

Finishing up the year with 6m in is great!

My tracking isn't perfect but a good estimate.

Although I haven't purchased any fabric in the last little while,

I did receive this awesome bag of scraps from my friend WH.

Wowzer, lots of goodies in here.


So let's clear off the work table and 

see what the plan may be for next year may be.

First, stockings need updated for next year. 

It will be a great help when they only need new pictures 

for the coming year.


Then I'll organize the spare blocks that are in 

bins and also get the RSC extras out into the mix. 

The process may create a bomb site look for a while!

The design wall needs to be cleared of my friend the 

astronaut and then I am ready to place orphans for stitching up.

Look at this pile of orphan block boxes.


Some progress has been made!


Now to consolidate some units together 

and get some blocks on the wall!

First, I will have to relocate my sewing room mascot!

This life sized space suit has been keeping me 

company for a few weeks and his partner is resting in a box.

I was gifted two along with some nice astronomy fabric.

  I think I will do both up as twin quilt tops with fuzzy backs. 

One will stay in the family and 

one will be off to Zebra to be inspiration.

The new year will hopefully see me scrapping out 

the bins and piling up the scrappy tops. 

Wish me luck and Happy New Year!

Linking up with

Stash Report

OMG



Monday, December 29, 2025

Just Stringing Along!

 Another quilt finished up and bound is the 

first of the Spring String sew alongs.


This may be the last one for the year!

It quilted up very nicely although it was a 

bit difficult to choose the quilting pattern.

The quilt has many seams and I usually try to do a continuous 

 pattern to make the quilting quicker and easier.

That did not happen with this quilt.

I chose a corner connector for the light backgrounds on block 1. 


The outside points in both sets were 

sewed into the points with loops

making sure to catch all the points.

The same was done for the four patch blocks.


Light threads on the light and blue variegated

thread was used on the blues. 

Unfortunately, it also shows up 

very well when a mistake is made!

One spot should be redone but it is so hard to find I 

may leave it be.  I am not point it out because I'm sure a 

sharp-eyed reader will find it !


Like the 8s & 10s , there is still one

more Spring Fling top to quilt.


It is pinned and ready so may be done up during the 

quiet in the run up to 2026.




Have a great year end!
Stay safe and sew on !

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2025 Finishes







On  the run out of the year, there are still quite a few

quilt sandwiches on the rack. 


Here are complete quilts so far in not quite 

completion order.

This page will also be on the sidebar for future reference.

#16  This large (90" x 90")  is finished

up with a yellow back that highlights the yellow strips.

It is a family gift.




#15 Color Me Crummy finished big and beautiful.

The low volume sashing really shows off 

the color family crumb blocks nicely.






#14 Hopscotch One has posy swirl quilting and is 

a real charmer!




 

#13 The Mystery Solved is glorious in 

red, white and blue with vines rolling down the 

colors.





#12 The first Spring String sew along quilt

is beautiful in browns and blues.

It was requested by my DIL! How nice!







#11 Blue strip quilt with filmstrip top & bottom. 
This was gifted to the sister of my DIL!




#10  Colorful variation of strip quilt ,
 with filmstrip edges. 





#9 Blues on Parade is a 66" x 72".
Very cozy feeling quilt.
 First of the strip quilts and made a lovely 
housewarming gift.




#8  This rainbow bordered 25 patch is a joy to behold.

It has blocks from a group challenge.


#7 This legacy Thousand Pyramid is very interesting with 

a great variety of heritage fabrics.




#6 Beach glass was fun to quilt with a  water ripple effect.
It made a wonderful wedding present.






#5  Baby quilt is off to the Northwest clinic .
It has a cute little heart detail in the quilting.




#4 is the last of the Irish Chains.
This is from the "year of the Squares" 2024
My daughter relieved this one in the hospital 
after her second baby. 






#3 This curved nine patch was a long time finishing

The back on this one is spectacular too!

A new family has this one!






#2 This small owl quilt has a surprise on the back.
It is now living with a new extended family baby.






#1 The last of the log cabins has a 1/4 log border
to frame up the central design. So interesting! 
It has and a dinosaur back. Log cabin year was 2023!







Stay Safe and Sew on!

Happy New Year!
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