What I'm Working On

It was a boring week on the sewing front.  I got in the bare minimum and I didn't feel like I was creative at all, but I did make some progress.  During an on-line training I was cutting leader & ender parts!  I saw an idea I liked potentially for the orange/blue blocks, so I rearranged them on the design wall.  No rush, so I will stew on that for a while longer.

How did I do on the  To Do List for April 20-26?

• quilt the blue/yellow/green baby panel  - PROGRESS
• prep more parts for leaders and enders - PROGRESS
• think about how to use the orange/blue 9-patches that are on the design wall - PROGRESS

To Do List for April 28 - May 4

• finish quilting the blue/yellow/green baby panel
• trim & bind the blue/yellow/green baby panel
• prep more parts for leaders and enders
• think about how to use the orange/blue 9-patches that are on the design wall
• reclaim the sewing room after shoving stuff in there to make space in the guest room this past weekend

Quick Check In

Later this afternoon is my niece's engagement party and I'm heading over shortly to help prepare.  Then Middle E and her husband will come for the event and the night.  The house is ready, but I want to spend as much time with them as possible, so this will be quick.

It was a busy week at school, so it was good that my sewing for the week had already been planned.  I was able to get a bit of quilting done on the panel quilt most every day. I'm using the walking foot for straight lines - that all I know how to do - so it is easy to work at in in short bursts.  15 minutes is adding up!

Baby panel getting quilted - slowly but surely.

Surprisingly, it was Monday that I was too tired to do anything.  I suspect that was a result of a three-day weekend that included travel.

15 Minute Report

15 minute days/week = 6/7

15 minute days/April = 23/25

15 minute days/2025 = 121/134

Success Rate = 90%

No finishes this week, so stash movement remains the same.

2025 Stash Totals

Used last week:  0 yards

Used year to date: 39.91 yards

Acquired last Week: 0 yards

Acquired year to date: 7 yards

Net used in 2025: 32.91 more yards used

Linking up to Kate's Life in Pieces to share progress.

Linking up to quiltpaintcreate to share stash movement.

What I'm Working On

How did I do last week?

To Do List for April 13-19:

• make a baking for the HST quilt - DONE
• make binding for the HST quilt - DONE
• prepare the blue/yellow/green baby panel for quilting - DONE
• possibly start the quilting - NO PROGRESS
• prep more parts for leaders and enders - DONE
• think about how to use the orange/blue 9-patches that are on the design wall - PROGRESS

Can I get this quilted this week?!?!

This week is more straight forward since I'm at the beginning of a project.

To Do List for April 20-26:

• quilt the blue/yellow/green baby panel
• prep more parts for leaders and enders
• think about how to use the orange/blue 9-patches that are on the design wall

Random Progress

For a four-day work week I did not get as much done as I anticipated.  But progress is progress.

Backing for the HST Quilt

I got the backing and binding prepared for the HST Quilt.  I had originally planned for just the maroon as the backing, but since I added an extra row all around, it was no longer large enough.  I added the strip of stripe and I think it works well.  The stripe also became binding.

Quilt, backing, and binding ready to go!

Then I got out my next UFO to work on, but I was totally uninspired, so I thought about what to do with the orange & blue 9-patch blocks to make them large enough for anything.  I had an idea that involved scraps, but it turns out I don't have as many orange scraps as I hoped.  So back to the drawing board on that project.  

But that jumpstarted me into the neglected UFO.  I forgot that I had to take out another machine to Frankenstein the batting, but I just took a deep breath and did it.  I got it pin basted, so quilting that should keep me busy for the coming week.

Baby panel ready for quilting.

I missed sewing one day.  Just too tired and that's okay.  

15 Minute Report

15 minute days/week = 6/7

15 minute days/April = 17/18

15 minute days/2025 = 98/109

Success Rate = 90%

Even though I didn't get in sewing every day, what I did do helped my stash numbers. 

2025 Stash Totals

Used last week:  5.28 yards for HST Quilt backing and binding

Used year to date: 39.91 yards

Acquired last Week: 0 yards

Acquired year to date: 7 yards

Net used in 2025: 32.91 more yards used

Linking up to Life in Pieces to share progress.

Linking up to quiltpaintcreate to show stash movement.

What I'm Working On

On the weekend I usually try to figure out what I'll work on during the week to keep up my forward momentum.  If I have to decide what to do when I get home from school, it is less likely to happen.  So to take that a step further, I thought I'd write it down to make myself more accountable.  I've seen other bloggers publish their "to do" lists and thought I'd give it a try.

To Do List for April 13-19:

• make a baking for the HST quilt
• make binding for the HST quilt
• prepare the blue/yellow/green baby panel for quilting
• possibly start the quilting
• prep more parts for leaders and enders
• think about how to use the orange/blue 9-patches that are on the design wall

HST Quilt needs backing and binding.

Baby Panel needs backing & quilting.

9 Patches need a plan.

More than enough for the week.  But it's a 4-day work week, so we'll see what happens.  We will be traveling next weekend to see the Savannah contingency, so I should probably pull out some handwork as well.

Neutral Perimeter for the Win!

I got off to a great start with adding a round of neutrals to the HST quilt.  I found fabric that was the same or similar to the existing neutrals and got them all cut.  I sewed the first side in pairs easily enough, but when I started sewing the pairs into fours and laid them out next to the quilt something was not right at all.

No matter how hard you try to be random!!

It turns out I had cut 3.5" squares instead of 3.25".  I didn't check closely enough when I started and I think 3.5 was in my head from all the 3.5 triangle sides.  No big deal.  I only had to pick out a few seams.  Then I just pressed carefully and trimmed up as pairs.  I ended up leaving 3.5" as the width since that would add an overall 1/2" to the length and width of the quilt with no extra work.  In the end it was best kind of cutting error - too big instead of too small.

HST Quilt 
66" x 82"

I am glad I decided to add the extra round of neutrals.  I think it sets off the diamonds better and just gives it a more finished look for minimal effort.  This is another one that will go to a generous quilt finisher who then donates to folks in WNC affected by hurricane Helene.  Next step is to figure out backing and binding to include with it.

I got in 15 minutes or more each day.  Having something planned to work on really helps.  Since this project is so close to a finish I need to figure out what's going to be next.

15 Minute Report

15 minute days/week = 7/7

15 minute days/April = 11/12

15 minute days/2025 = 92/102

Success Rate = 90%

Finishing projects is really helping my stash numbers!

2025 Stash Totals

Used last week:  6.13 yards for HST Quilt top

Used year to date: 34.63 yards

Acquired last Week: 0 yards

Acquired year to date: 7 yards

Net used in 2025: 27.63 more yards used

Linking up to Life in Pieces to share progress.

Linking up to quiltpaintcreate to share stash movement.

Another UFO is Getting Attention

Illusions at County Clare was finished the previous week, so this week I set about getting the backing and binding ready.  I had a large piece of dark green that I had been given a while back and I hoped it would be enough.  I know I had already prewashed it, but it still had a sheen to the right side which made it feel stiff, so I washed it again.  This time I felt - literally and figuratively - that it was ready to be used.  

Illusions at County Clare

There was enough to make the backing with a single seam and also binding!  This top is going to be donated to a finisher for relief in WNC, so I am glad to be able to also send all the related parts.

All ready to go!

The HST quilt is the next to finish so that I can also send it for WNC.  A long time ago I was gifted a bag of precut triangles and just started sewing light to dark as leaders and enders.  I did eventually ran out of lights and cut more from my scraps.  I worked at it on and off for about 10 years, so there were plenty of HST blocks.

HST Quilt until it gets a better name!

When Little S headed off to college this past fall, I needed a project to keep me busy, but not too difficult, so I started to lay out the HSTs on the floor of her room, which turns out to be a good design floor.  The design I imagined worked out and even allowed for intermediate designs.  There are a few triangles left, but not nearly enough to enlarge the design.  I had to get it off the floor when she came back for Thanksgiving, so that was a good motivator to join the squares.  But it has been hanging in the quilt "time out" closet since then.  

Friday night, I gave it a good pressing instead of grading papers.  Now that it is nice and flat, I like it even more.  I think I might add another round of neutral squares to make it slightly bigger and insure that the points don't get lost in the binding.  That will be a good project for this week.  

15 Minute Report

15 minute days/week = 6/7

15 minute days/March = 30/31

15 minute days/April = 4/5

15 minute days/2025 = 85/95

Success Rate = 89%

The previous week at school ended on a rough note that carried into this week.  Making myself sort, fold, and press fabric and sew a bit each day was really helpful.  15 minutes is not just manageable, but therapeutic.  I just missed one day late in the week when things had finally worked out and my body just gave out. 

2025 Stash Totals

Used last week:  5 yards for County Clare backing and binding

Used year to date: 28.5 yards

Acquired last Week: 0 yards

Acquired year to date: 7 yards

Net used in 2025: 21.5 more yards used

Linking up to Life in Pieces to share progress.

Linking up to quiltpaintcreate to show stash movement.

Another Month, Another PhD Finish

Having a monthly goal to finish anything at all from the list is really motivating.  It also helps having a place for my quilts to go, rather than just hang them in the closet.  

Without further ado...

Illusions at County Clare

Illusions at County Clare went from a few leader and ender units to a finished top.  I had a vision in my head and I just kept working at it.  Being able to adapt and use the green & white checkerboard units from the orphan bin was an even bigger bonus.

This is going to join Red, Green, and Fruit as a donated top to be finished and sent on to WNC.  That is even more motivating to me.

Here is my March data.

March PHD Report

Linking up to Miss P Designs USA to share PHD progress.