Big Finish!

Like I said in THIS POST about my big finish - I am not sure if I am happy about it or sad.  There are so many memories attached to this quilt.  But I am not going to "unfinish" it, so .....

23+ years in the making!!

We are heading out soon to pick up Little S to come home for Thanksgiving break.  I know we will be doing a bunch of errands and appointments and cooking this week, but I am still hopeful that I make some progress on the binding for Dear Jane.  

15 Minutes to Stitch

15 minute days last weeks = 5/7

15 minute days/Nov = 16/22

15 minute days/2025 = 285/346

Success Rate = 82%

 

Now I can report the backing out!  Earlier in the year I had hopes of hitting 100 yards of fabric out and I don't think that is going to happen.  But I am pleased with over 100 yards used.  Just as long as I am moving forward, right? 

2025 Stash Totals

Used last week: 2.09 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

Mr. D's Quilt for a Friday Finish

My oldest UFO is no longer a UFO or a PhD or even a flimsy.  It was started about 23-25 years ago, but now it is FINISHED!!.  

 I don't know if I am relieved or sad.  Check out its progress HERE and HERE.

Whenever I saw this waiting for my attention, I remembered the yellow house we lived in on the corner just outside of Antigua, Guatemala.  My sewing room was a small space off of E's room at that time.  Not a closet, but not a room.  The sewing machine fit on a table under the window and there was space for a shelf for my supplies.  Good memories thinking of what I created in the little space.  I don't think I have photos of any of it though.  That was long before digital cameras, especially in Guatemala.  There was no way I would use up film for a quilt. Nearly everything I made back then was gifted long ago.  I wonder where this one will end up.

Heading to the Finish Line

The end of the year is in sight and I am motivated to finish my UFO list!!  I got the last 2 flimsies sandwiched and pin-basted together.  

I started on Mr. D's quilt and despite still being affected by the time change, I made good progress.  

Quilting is underway.

I initially quilted a large X across each 6" block with the walking foot and that was alright.  But then I thought about how old the quilt was and how my skills and fabric were not great back then.  So I am now going back and stitching more closely in the small 4-patches that make up the blocks.  Tedious, but it gives me peace of mind that the quilt will hold together better in the long run. 

Additional quilting across the smaller patches.

I am hoping to have this one done by next weekend.  The plan is still to work on Dear Jane's binding over Thanksgiving even if I don't have these last two UFOs finished yet.

15 Minutes to Stitch

15 minute days last weeks = 5/7

15 minute days/Nov = 11/15

15 minute days/2025 = 279/339

Success Rate = 82%

 

Forward progress, but nothing to report out yet.  

2025 Stash Totals

Used last week: 0 yards 

Used year to date: 108.41 yards

Acquired recently: 0 yards  

Acquired year to date: 42 yards

Net used in 2025: 66.41 more yards used

Linking up to:

Kate at Life in Pieces

Donna at quiltpaintcreate

Frederique at quiltingpatch

Mr. D's Quilt is a Top

This is finally a completed quilt top!  I will always think of it as "Mr. D's Quilt".  He was a co-worker in Guatemala who asked me to make the quilt from a pattern in one of my magazines and fabric from the small stash I had then.  I don't remember much else except that he changed his mind and that was fine with me because I really liked it.  But that is as far as it got. 

Pretty good match after all those years.

I think it is 23-26 years old.  So definitely my oldest UFO - unless there is something hiding in the deep recesses of the sewing room!  

Far from perfect, but very pretty.

Since I had nothing of the original fabrics I just went with similar for solid borders.

I worked on my new Leader Ender project and completed two blocks.  Chunky Churn Dash is a free pattern from Bonnie Hunter.  Appropriate this week because we made butter with cream and jars at school to supplement the pioneer lesson!

I also worked on unsewing these blocks.  Maybe 15 years ago, my sister gave me an Ocean Waves quilt top she thrifted.  It was kind of icky so I took the risk and washed it.  The pinks ran so the whites turned pink, and I set it aside. It resurfaced this summer and Little S was willing to unsew, so I had her remove all the white/pink, which was not a good quality or well sewn anyways.  That left me with a stack of "rings".  

I'll likely keep the original layout. Once they are all done, I'll worry about color placement.

Since I currently have nothing urgent, I did some research to figure out the best way to deal with these and have most of a plan.  Then I unsewed the rings into 4 sides.  I have 5 more to go and then I will give them a careful pressing and decide what colors to add as the backing.  

15 Minutes to Stitch

15 minute days last weeks = 5/7

15 minute days/Oct = 22/25

15 minute days/2025 = 263/318

Success Rate = 83%

 

Finally stash movement for Mr. D's Quilt.

2025 Stash Totals

Used last week: 3 yards

Used year to date: 100.77 yards

Acquired recently: 0 yards  

Acquired year to date: 42 yards

Net used in 2025: 58.77 more yards used

Linking up to:

Kate at Life in Pieces

Donna at quiltpaintcreate

Frederique at quiltingpatch