Bound (Almost) and Determined!

I stuck with my plan to work at the binding in spurts - mark, machine sew the binding in a scallop shape, trim the excess quilt, clip in place, hand sew, repeat.  On Sunday I got enough machine sewn to start hand stitching down the first side.  Yes, it works.  

Sides 1 (top) and 2 (right side)

Then after getting more of the scallops hand-stitched down, I realized I was going to have to redo the corner shape, so that was some unsewing and reconfiguring.  But I think is better now - and reproducible.  

First finished corner.

Since I changed that corner I also had to unsew the next corner.  Fortunately I had only machine sewn a few scallops that were after it, so I just unsewed it all to make it easier to reshape.  This is a good lesson in patience.  If I am patient, I will be happier in the end.

Hand stitching for the next few days is ready.

So after seven days, I have the equivalent of 2 sides and 2 corners complete!!! The third side has been sewn - part of it twice since the tension was not quite right! - and is half clipped and ready for hand stitching. 

Scallops patiently waiting!

If I focus and don't eat or grade papers, I can hand-stitch 4 scallops during a 45 minute TV show.  Trimming and clipping replace a scallop or two when necessary. Knowing that helps me pace myself.  Four is good, less is fine. 

15 Minutes to Stitch

15 minute days last weeks = 7/7

15 minute days/Nov = 27/30

15 minute days/Dec = 6/6

15 minute days/2025 = 296/340

Success Rate = 87%

 

Definitely getting in 15 minutes these days.  I calculate that if I stick with it, I can be done by Christmas.  End of the semester and extra grading might throw me off a bit, but I still think it's doable.

No stash movement this week.  But I did look back and nothing was ever reported for Dear Jane as it was under construction, so that will be a big number when it's done.

2025 Stash Totals

Used last week: 0 yards 

Used year to date: 110.5 yards

Acquired recently: 0 yards  

Acquired year to date: 42 yards

Net used in 2025: 68.5 more yards used

Linking up to:

Kate at Life in Pieces

Donna at quiltpaintcreate

Frederique at quiltingpatch

and ... soscrappy