A Change for the Better

None of my ideas to work on this week happened, but I was busy everyday.  The more I thought about it, the more I didn't want to leave my baby blocks as is. 

Not the look I wanted.

When I struggled with the 9-patches on point, I attached the sashing to them before sewing them onto the center.  That might have helped with the math, but it didn't help with the sewing.  I hand sewed mitered corners, but I knew I would never be happy with it.  I started deconstructing and it is working out better than I thought.  Definitely the right decision.

I got the waviness out of the 9-patch border without too much trouble.  My idea to tighten up some of the setting triangles worked well.  

Still thinking on the next border.

Nothing happened on the snowman quilt.  I appreciated the comments saying that choice A or C was best for the gap in the next border. That confirmed what I thought.  Maybe I'll work on that this week after I finish the last corner on the baby blocks.  

 2026 15 Minutes to Stitch

15 minute days this week = 7/7

15 minute days/Nov = 7/7

15 minute days/2026 = 243/309

Success Rate 2026 = 79%

Hmmm.  Maybe I could hit 80% before the year is out.     

2026 Stash Totals

Used last week: 0 yards out this week 

Used year to date: 44.79 yards

Acquired recently: 0 yards  

Acquired year to date: 35 yards

Stash movement for 2026: 0.14 more yards acquired than used

Linking up to:

Kate at Life in Pieces  

Donna at quiltpaintcreate

Frederique at quiltingpatch

Angela at soscrappy!

Decisions, Decisions

Thank you for the well wishes after my fall. My mobility has increased greatly. Still can't lift much with my right side and sleeping is rough, but so much better overall.  

Only one missed sewing day due to an overnight out-of-town trip for school.  My team from last year's class placed at the state level for their Jim Harbin video project!!  So we all went to Orlando for the ceremony to find out which place - 2nd!!!  Not bad at all for our first venture into this competition.  It was a lot of fun with dinner afterward for 30+ people at Planet Hollywood and then strolling through Disney Springs.  All new places for me.  It made me think it is good to get out of my rut sometimes.

Fill in the top center gap with A?

On the drive back I was able to get the unsewing done so I can try to make the baby medallion quilt a bit flatter.  This week I should be able to get that border adjusted and make a final decision about another round or not.  It was a very busy week at school, so I never did dig into my 2" squares bin.

.... or B?

All the rest of my sewing was the HST border for the pine tree quilt.  I like the way it is coming together.  I tried a lot of ideas for the next border and I think I am going with a plain border with the darker snowmen fabric.  The brighter snowmen squares were already cut and I just couldn't figure out anything I liked with them.  

..... or C?

I need to make a decision on how best to fill the gap in the top and bottom of the HST border and the corners.  Looking at the photos makes me reconsider the dark corner squares. Maybe the "not quite as dark" snowmen fabric for the last border will be better - but is there enough?  Why do I worry so much about these small details?  Just pick something and move on.

2026 15 Minutes to Stitch

15 minute days this week = 6/7

15 minute days/Oct = 27/31

15 minute days/2026 = 236/302

Success Rate 2026 = 78%

   

2026 Stash Totals

Used last week: 0 yards out this week 

Used year to date: 44.79 yards

Acquired recently: 0 yards  

Acquired year to date: 35 yards

Stash movement for 2026: 0.14 more yards acquired than used

Linking up to:

Kate at lifeinpieces  

Donna at quiltpaintcreate   

Frederique at quiltingpatch

Angela at soscrappy!

Another Medallion in the Works!

About 10 days ago I had a clumsy fall that resulted in rib contusions and excruciating pain.  Can't sit, can't lay down, can't bend, can't carry, etc, etc.  With my limited mobility I am not using my right side much at all, so sewing progress has been slow, but not impossible. It is most comfortable to just stand up straight, so I have been doing a lot of arranging and thinking, with short bits of sewing when I get things figured out. 

Just before the fall, I had finally gotten the 9-patch border on the baby blocks.  Not perfect at all, but I am happy with it.  There are waves in the outer setting triangles.  The plan is to unsew enough of them to adjust and flatten it out a bit.  I had thought of making a piano key border, but it is already so big for a baby quilt that I might just go with 4-patches in lots of blues as a kind of final border/frame.  

Sitting and looking at the orphan Christmas blocks and the Christmas fabric all over the table led me to start another medallion style quilt.  I never saw that one coming!  I am leaning into the blues and so far it is going well.  The medium blue with snowmen were already fussy cut and were just the right size to make it around the trees.

The next round took more thought which was good since I could do that without moving.  The triangles were already cut and there was no more of either of those fabrics.  The math worked out for the HST to nearly cover four sides.  I went through several ideas on the direction of the HST and I think this last photo is what I like best.  I will finish mathing it out and figure out the best fabrics to fill the gaps. Looks like green is a no!

Every day I feel better. Cutting is harder than sewing, so I'll keep working on whatever requires the least cutting.  Digging through the bin of random 2" squares to start the baby blocks border might do the trick.

2026 15 Minutes to Stitch

15 minute days this week (and last week) = 12/14

15 minute days/Oct = 21/24

15 minute days/2026 = 230/295

Success Rate 2026 = 78%

   

2026 Stash Totals

Used last week: 0 yards out this week 

Used year to date: 44.79 yards

Acquired recently: 0 yards  

Acquired year to date: 35 yards

Stash movement for 2026: 0.14 more yards acquired than used

Linking up to:

Kate at lifeinpieces  

Donna at quiltpaintcreate   

Frederique at quiltingpatch

Angela at soscrappy!

What Comes after Quadruple Check?

In math I always tell the students to show their work and double - triple - quadruple check.  They want to know what comes after quadruple check!!  If only they would at least double check. 😣 

I feel like I made some real progress on the Baby Blocks quilt.  Lots of math and finally some sewing.  It will work.

Good thing I like math!

The upper right and lower left sections are completed.  I double-triple-quadruple checked the math on the inner sashings, so the next step is to trim them down.  I had made them wider just in case, but turns out I didn't need to.  Still, I appreciate the safety net.

Getting Closer

Next step is careful trimming and then lots of pinning to get it all together.  I am finally feeling excited about this one again!  Not sure if it is because this step is almost over or because my math worked.  Somewhere along the way, I realized that the big problem was having the 9-patches on point with setting triangles instead of making them as a square in a square.  Oh well, lesson learned.

I was looking forward to making another crayon for the RSC since those are fun, but October is make a plan for the blocks.  That just didn't happen with all the planning for this quilt.  Maybe next week.

2026 15 Minutes to Stitch

15 minute days this week = 6/7

15 minute days/Oct = 9/10

15 minute days/2026 = 218/281

Success Rate 2026 = 78%

Knowing I was closing in on a finish for this round kept me going this week.  Only missed one day when I just could not keep my eyes open when I got home from school.  I slept 12 hours that night and was still tired the next day.

   

2026 Stash Totals

Used last week: 0 yards out this week 

Used year to date: 44.79 yards

Acquired recently: 0 yards  

Acquired year to date: 35 yards

Stash movement for 2026: 0.14 more yards acquired than used

Linking up to:

Kate at Life in Pieces 

Donna at quiltpaintcreate  

Frederique at quiltingpatch

Angela at soscrappy!

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 lifeinpieces   

Donna at quiltpaintcreate

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

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