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

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  

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  

Forward Progress

The binding was added and the Red & Yellow Pinwheels are completely finished, but didn't get a new picture.  Teacher E chose that one for a friend and it is already gone.

The binding was red.

I finished taking apart the red & green D9P that I didn't like.  I changed the color scheme to red & blue and that made all the difference.   

Yuck!  Even my perfect backing couldn't make me like this.

There were large blue squares and some neutrals in the random scraps from my MIL.  They were slightly smaller than the red squares, so I did some trimming to make it all fit. I would have preferred a more consistent neutral, but since I am working with what I have I am still very pleased with the makeover on this quilt.

Before the blocks were joined.

The baby blocks are joined.  Whew!  Never doing those again.  The hearts won't work as a next round because they are too big and need to alternate for a better effect.  My next idea is to use 2.5" blocks and mix the blue randomly.  There were some in the original bag, but I will need a lot more, so I can add more shades of blue.  I can adjust the width of the sashing to make it all work.  

Coming together slowly.

With all the activity this week I did not get as much sewing done as I would have liked, but I still made progress.  

2026 15 Minutes to Stitch

15 minute days this week = 5/7

15 minutes days/June = 16/20

15 minute days/2026 = 140/171 

Success Rate 2026 = 82%

I am so close to breaking even!  

  

2026 Stash Totals

Used last week: 3.37 = 3.07 yards for the new and improved D9P + 0.3 for pinwheel binding

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