A Welcome Change

I totally avoided the Baby Blocks quilt this week and it was a glorious feeling to just handle fabric and sew wherever the whim took me.  I am a "make it up as I go along" person and it turns out that's a real thing.  Having to be so careful and precise on fitting in each round of the baby blocks is just not me.  I will get it done, but after a break.

First, I got caught up on the RSC crayons.  Quick, easy, and fun.

All Caught Up!

The next closest project at hand was the random Christmas blocks that were made at least 20 years ago in Guatemala.  The original pattern was for a twin/full size quilt that was all various Christmas themed blocks.  Our sewing group learned several of the blocks and then moved on to another project, so it got set aside.  

Rediscovered Christmas Blocks

I don't have any desire to finish this as originally intended, nor do I have the pattern.  The candy cane blocks are pot holder size, and for as long as they have been up on the design wall I have been thinking pot holders for my daughters as a remembrance of Guatemala.  I emptied my little drawer of Christmas scraps to see about backings and that led to sorting, pressing, and trimming to usable sizes.  That was a good task for several zoom meetings this week.

Glorious Mess

That led me to be more creative with my potholders.  Some of these scraps worked perfectly to add a bit of size and make them more interesting.  I even unsewed the red angel block and used it to frame up a pair of candy canes.  With two blocks done-ish and one ready to sew, I am liking this change of plans.  We'll see where it ends.

Making Changes. Where will it end?

2026 15 Minutes to Stitch

15 minute days this week = 7/7

15 minute days/Sept = 17/19

15 minute days/2026 = 199/260

Success Rate 2026 = 77%

Still creeping ahead slowly.

  

2026 Stash Totals

Used last week: 0 yards

Used year to date: 43.79 yards

Acquired recently: 0 yards  

Acquired year to date: 35 yards

Stash movement for 2026: 1.14 more yards acquired than used

Linking up to:

Kate at   

Donna at   

Frederique at quiltingpatch

Angela at soscrappy!

Full Steam Ahead!

I made the needed blocks, did some math, and decided to wait until I was fresh to do anything else.  My later thoughts led me to the idea of working the borders backwards.  I need to complete all 4 sides of this nine patch on point border even joining the corner blocks.  Then .... figure out the inner white border.  On the previous rounds getting the corners on wasn't a big deal.  For whatever reason, this time it is.  I think this new idea will work.  If not, I'll try something else, right??

This round has been a doozy!

Since I wasn't thinking about making 9 patches fit, I reached for a no-brainer.  I had never made the August block for the RSC and of course September is now needing to be made as well.  I cut the paper foundation, pulled colors from the 2" strip bin, and then cut into the odd shaped scraps.  Neither of these are colors I have a lot of.  Yellow needs to be arranged and then sewn.  Purple needs more fabric.  It was nice to work on something that was not a struggle.

Crayons in the making!

2026 15 Minutes to Stitch

15 minute days this week = 7/7

15 minute days/Sept = 10/12

15 minute days/2026 = 199/260

Success Rate 2026 = 77%

Creeping ahead slowly.

  

2026 Stash Totals

Used last week: 0 yards

Used year to date: 43.79 yards

Acquired recently: 0 yards  

Acquired year to date: 35 yards

Stash movement for 2026: 1.14 more yards acquired than used

Linking up to:

Kate at  lifeinpieces

Donna at quiltpaintcreate 

Frederique at quiltingpatch

Angela at soscrappy!

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

I figured out what was wrong and how to fix it, but that meant unsewing and more unsewing.  My block count was off by one too few blocks on each side and top and bottom.  Since I'm really winging it, I was not too surprised. 

Longer sides ready to go!

At least I knew what to do.  Make more blocks, unsew and add them in.  Then unsew more of the 25 year old blocks to make even more blocks, resew them with better seam allowances.  

Working on top & bottom.

The top and bottom are causing a bit more difficulty in the color placement.  It doesn't really matter, but I am hesitating to join the blocks until I am sure of my decision.  Since the blocks are not all ready yet, I still have time to think on it.  They were almost symmetrical and not they won't be.  I'm not sure what that didn't bother me on the sides but it does on the top/bottom.  Maybe because it is more visible?  There is no rush, so I will just keep plodding along!  

Just for fun.  This caterpillar would not settle down and form its J in the enclosure on Thursday.  A student had brought it in, so I didn't know where it really was in its cycle like it do with the ones I bring in.  In the afternoon it was on the open zipper.  Not great, but okay.  Was it even ready to form the J or was it searching for milkweed?  When I got back from a meeting I couldn't find it at all.  I kept widening my search perimeter and finally found it on top of the nearby sea turtle skull from The Traveling Turtle Trunk.  Not wanting to touch it, I moved the entire skull into the enclosure and zipped it shut hoping if it did move it would form safely on the mesh.  Imagine our surprise when Friday morning it was hanging from inside the skull!!  The students are concerned that it will not have enough space to open its wings when the time comes.  I am also worried that it will not emerge before it is time to return the Turtle Trunk!  Can't wait to see the chrysalis on Tuesday!

2026 15 Minutes to Stitch

15 minute days this week = 4/7

15 minute days/Aug = 14/31

15 minute days/Sept = 3/5

15 minute days/2026 = 189/248

Success Rate 2026 = 76%

Numbers are still not great, but I'm on the right track and that's okay with me.  I think I am so wrapped up in the blue baby blocks, that I don't have an easy "go to" project and I need that - not just for my numbers but for my sewing "mojo."  Maybe I'll get it figured out this long weekend. 

  

2026 Stash Totals

Used last week: 0 yards

Used year to date: 43.79 yards

Acquired recently: 0 yards  

Acquired year to date: 35 yards

Stash movement for 2026: 1.14 more yards acquired than used

Linking up to:

Kate at Life in Pieces

Donna at quiltpaintcreate

It's Been a While

I finished July strong, but then life met sewing and life won.  That's okay.  Little S started back to college a week later than previously and I took advantage of more time with her.  A new school year started and that wiped out all my energy for a bit.  

mid-July

This week I am getting back on track.  I spent some days getting my space cleaned up and even sewed - mending, but it was sewing!  Now to get back to the fun stuff.  I have to rework the math on my medallion baby blocks quilt.  The 9-patches are not fitting the way I calculated.  Considering some of the 9-patches are over 25 years old, I am not surprised.  Just take deep breath and figure it out.

end of July

Figuring this out - again - will be a welcome break from grading papers and lesson planning this week!

2026 15 Minutes to Stitch

15 minute days this week = 4/7

15 minute days/July = 28/31

15 minute days/Aug = 6/22

15 minute days/2026 = 178/234

Success Rate 2026 = 76%

My success rate is the lowest it has ever been, but it is just above where I set my limit this year.  So my timing is good to get back at the machine again. 

  

2026 Stash Totals

Used last week: 0 yards

Used year to date: 43.79 yards

Acquired recently: 0 yards  

Acquired year to date: 35 yards

Stash movement for 2026: 1.14 more yards acquired than used

Linking up to:

Kate at Life in Pieces

Donna at quiltpaintcreate

 

Nine Patches are Next

I like quilt math, but mathing out each round on the baby blocks is testing my skill.  Since I am working with parts intended to be rows made over 25 years ago and instead I joined the baby blocks into a rectangle and moved outward it is naturally a different process.  So now each round is a new test of how to make it all fit.  

The next round is repurposing the strip of 9-patches set on point.  I have them unsewn with their setting triangles, but I think I am going to have to remove the triangles as well.  My 25-year-old seam allowances are just too "scant."  This round will likely keep me busy all week! 

Little by Little it is Coming Together

Wow!  The photo really shows the different whites in the old and new 9-patches.  They are not that noticeable in real life.  Hmm.  Something else to ponder, but everything else is so mixed I'm not too worried.

I have a new appreciation for medallion quilts.  I never thought about the precise math involved to make it all work when each round is pieced.

2026 15 Minutes to Stitch

15 minute days this week = 7/7

15 minute days/July = 21/25

15 minute days/2026 = 165/206

Success Rate 2026 = 80%

No stash movement this week.  

  

2026 Stash Totals

Used last week: 0 yards

Used year to date: 43.79 yards

Acquired recently: 0 yards  

Acquired year to date: 35 yards

Stash movement for 2026: 1.14 more yards acquired than used

Linking up to:

Kate at Life in Pieces

Donna at quiltpaintcreate

Frederique at quiltingpatch

Angela at soscrappy  

What I'm Working On

 How Did I Do Last Week?    

• prepare a backing for the new & improved D9P  DONE
• sandwich the new & improved D9P DONE
• start quilting the new & improved D9P  DONE
• finish dealing with the mess in the sewing room  PROGRESS
• take the Scrappy Spools off of the design wall  NO
• math out the next round of sashing for baby blocks NO

That is pretty good progress.  I have more commitments this week than usual, so I'll try to keep the list reasonable.

Surely this will get finished this week.

To Do List for Week of July 6 - 12

• finish quilting the new & improved D9P 
• bind the new & improved D9P
• finish dealing with the mess in the sewing room 
• take the Scrappy Spools off of the design wall 
• math out the next round of sashing for baby blocks
• prep more heart blocks for the next round on the baby blocks medallion

Happy 250th!!

Another sluggish week, but I am getting back into the sewing groove.  I realized that part of my problem is that I do not have work prepped to go when I don't want to think about what to do.  I know I will need a lot more applique hearts for the blue medallion quilt, so I will work on prepping those.  That is something I can prep and sew even if the sewing table is mostly covered in scrapbook stuff.

Need to prep more hearts.

As much as I have been wanting to finish the New & Improved D9P, I couldn't because I had no where to sandwich it.  We are working on giving the office/guest room more privacy.  This involves changing out the double doors with window panes into a real wall with a real door which involves a lot of dry wall dust in the space where I usually sandwich quilts.  Since we were having family over for the 4th, I took advantage of the lull in work and did a heavy duty cleaning and then sandwiched it before I got distracted with something else.  Whew.

Just need to finish quilting and then bind!

My numbers were not quite right and I had to add a sliver of backing to one side before starting quilting, but l didn't agonize over perfection.  I am just trying to finish.  For a brief moment I thought I'd finish this Red, White, and Blue quilt on July 4th, but after cleaning, cooking, hosting I just ran out of steam.  It was nice to have some down time with family even though I have to remind myself that it is okay to take the down time. 

Little S made cookies!  Yum!!

2026 15 Minutes to Stitch

15 minute days this week = 5/7

15 minute days/June = 20/30

15 minute days/July = 4/4

15 minute days/2026 = 148/185

Success Rate 2026 = 80%

No stash movement this week.  

  

2026 Stash Totals

Used last week: 0 yards

Used year to date: 43.79 yards

Acquired recently: 0 yards  

Acquired year to date: 35 yards

Stash movement for 2026: 1.14 more yards acquired than used

Linking up to:

Kate at Life in Pieces 

Donna at quiltpaintcreate

Frederique at quiltingpatch

Angela at soscrappy