Last year at this time, I was contemplating whether or not to continue blogging here. I was able to complete another year of captivating posts. I made 53 posts with 29.3K words, have 950 views from 508 visitors, 31 “likes” and 12 comments. I have 61 subscribers, which may include a few family members. Not really an influencer in today’s realm, but you know, it is more than I had ever thought I would do. My goal for 2025, is to reach out more to the Quilty blogger community.

This years accomplishments include:

• 27 quilts sold
• Knitted 4 hats
• Quilted 4 quilts for other people
• Finished 43 quilts
• Knitted 2 baby sweaters and a blanket
• 1 Diaper bag, two dog bed covers
• Made 13 tack sponge bags for gifts

I am amazed that I finished 43 quilts, not all were large, most were throw sized, but finished is good. I had my best year (so far) on Etsy, selling 27 quilts. This fall was a profitable one, with five autumn/halloween themed quilts sold.

On the UFO list are

• Message in a bottle
• Simple Days – blocks done embroidery needed
• Swordfish – Needs quilting (NQ)
• 2 Peacock quilts NQ
• Ice Quilt NQ
• Clamshell quilt
• Tilda birthday applique + NQ
• Reunion Quilt NQ
• Asilomar Star NQ
• Fabulous Houses – 2 more
• Consider the Lillies – 40% done

I didn’t add some of the UFOs from last year, because I want to finish the above listed first. They are these three, maybe this summer I’ll make a concentrated effort to finish them.

• Love Entwined
• 365 batik block quilt
• Holiday Snow Village

I also need to list the new BOMs and kits here, so I don’t forget.

• Starry Signs BOM
• Seasons Study Kit
• Blooming Beauty BOM
• Old Town – Bonnie Hunter Mystery
• 3 Craftsy kits
• Batik bundles for Log Cabin quilt

Four lists, three are to-do, I have to add them to my white board. The white board has been helpful this year, I like erasing things better than adding things. Between the board and my work notebook, and my LA quilting journal I am getting pretty organized. I want to add one more thing to my to-do list for this year cleaning and re-organizing sewing room. It is sort of like a “loose weight” “don’t buy any more fabric” kind of resolution thing.

Be Kind.

As a child I couldn’t understand what was meant by Boxing Day, I thought it was about the sport. Being of the non-sporting type, I dismissed it and looked at it as the day of after Christmas sales. Fast forward and I have a British neighbor who explained it to me, and I still don’t really get it. I think it’s like Guy Fawkes day, or Cinco de Mayo, you have to be there to appreciate it. Meadow Mist Designs is hosting a Linky Party for the Best of 2024 to share your top posts and accomplishments of 2024. I think it is a nice idea, but I’ll be looking and not linking. I used to do a bunch of Linky parties, weekly but most of the hostesses have stopped or moved to Instagram. I do attend a few when I remember, like Small Quilts and Doll Quilts “Design Wall Monday”.

I had a major victory/break through yesterday. All week I have been frustrated by the quilting of a quilt, the 5th of my custom order. The pattern is Plaid Trees by Lori Holt and the fabric is the Winterly collection from Moda by Robin Pickens. The troubles began with the very first row, big areas of skipped stitches. I chose a relatively simple Snowflake panto with no back tracking, I wanted to use a thicker thread, 40wt, on top so it would show up a bit. I ended up frogging the second row about 3/4s of the way through as it was skipping more than stitching. I went through the check list of remedies, and still skipping occurred. The machine stitched fine on test areas off the quilt, so timing wasn’t a factor. I then changed the top thread to a fifty weight, still skipping. I did notice that all the skipping was occurring when the sewing went through the white on white fabrics. I thought that I could try a non-stitch needle and that would help. Of course I didn’t have a 100/16 size so I took a ride to the LQS to get some. All they had was 90/14s, I also asked for help, but they didn’t have any ideas or methods for me to try. I had already spent many hours on this, and actually thought about taking the quilt off the frame and replacing the WOW fabric – Crazy desperate talk! I searched through all the LA chats and lists I belong to, and finally saw a video by Mark Henderson on FB about how the needle works to make a stitch on the Bernina Q24. AH HA! moment when he spoke about fabric friction and how the thread makes a loop for the hook to pick up. I quickly went to my LA journal and looked up the threads I had used for the other Winterly quilts. I had used Isacord poly, not cotton – like the King Tut, Sew fine, and Aurifil I was trying to use. I switched to the Isacord and was able to finish up the quilt yesterday. Take away from this “experience” use poly thread with WOW fabrics for best results.

I have one more quilt to make for this order, to hopefully use up more of the fabrics. I want to do a pattern called Merry Christmas Darling, by Cotton Way. Simple piecing and cutting, they used folded corners, but I am employing the folded corners ruler and saving a bunch of fabric. I need to be efficient as I am making 100 – 8″ blocks for a 80 inch square quilt.

I haven’t started the annual Bonnie Hunter Mystery quilt “Old Town” yet. I am thinking maybe in February, as the custom order will be finished in the next two weeks and then I am away for two weeks. So February is wide open for projects. I signed up for another monthly BOM with Whole Circle Studio called Starry Signs. I have a bolt of black fabric and plenty of solid scraps to complete this paper pieced quilt. I also have the BOM Blooming Beauty starting in February. Being as I am behind in the last two BOMs, ( Message in a Bottle – 2023 and Simple Days – 2022) why not add two more? I didn’t start any new ones last year and I did work on MiaB and SD a bit.

Now that the day has begun, I’m off to sew a few more MCD blocks and get the baby quilt started.

Be Kind.

Another quilt quilted and ready for binding. Number 4 of 6 was finished yesterday, I chose the snowflake panto called Jessicas Snowflake with some trepidation. Its is a pretty dense panto and it takes a loong time to stitch out, about 2 hours a row. This quilt had 4 and 3/4s rows, I did make the rows as wide as I dared -15 inches. The results are worth it for this quilt, it was a slog though.

While the last row was quilting out, I used the design floor next to the frame to lay out quilt number 5, Plaid Trees. I was able to get this top all stitched together last night before retiring to bed. I am going to add some four inch borders to it before quilting it. I think it needs a bit of a fence around all these trees. The panto for this one will be much less intense too.

Quilt number 6 is one to use up most of the scraps left over from the previous ones. The pattern is Merry Christmas Darling, from Cotton Way patterns. I am still liking this fabric line, Winterly from Robin Perkins, but I would really like to make a palette change from green and red. I am thinking of making up the blue house kit I bought earlier this year as a reward for doing these custom quilts. Although I have the pink camo baby quilt to do, the customer reminded me that the recipient is due to arrive in about six weeks.

In knitting news, I finished the last hat gift and wrapped it up. I then pulled out a UFO from last year, the forest cardigan in blue. I had completed the back and started on the left front, with clearly marked post-its stuck to the pattern. I have made a few inches, and getting back to the rhythm of cabling took a few extra moments. This project needs a bit more mental focus than the last few I have been knitting. I won’t be knitting on it before sleep, I think I will start some cotton washcloths for that.

I am meeting a friend for lunch today, she asked me if I would help her get started cross stitching, she has a beginner kit and some questions. I am enjoying my respite from stitching lately, I may start the haunted house on New Years day. I received the last pattern in the Fabulous House series yesterday, the Tudor House. It won’t fit on my house project, and I don’t feel that the scale is the same as the others. The style is similar, but it is mostly house and the details are few.

I got my tree up, but not decorated yet, I may wait for my son, who arrives on Thursday to help do that. I hung up a few Christmas quilts, and the poinsettia plants are starting to color up. Sadly, no Amaryllis flowers this year, poor planning on my part lol.

Be Kind.

Wow, I feel like I accomplished a lot today. I started this morning by completing the quilting on the Poinsettia quilt (official name Crimson Christmas). Then I got it bound and done. Next up was to box up and send the three custom quilts I had finished yesterday and Monday. I brought them to the Post Office, now that is a big check mark on the done list. I also completed a hat, but I think it is too small for the intended person. My head is a bit bigger than theirs and it is too snug on me. I also finished the Sea Urchin hat, just have to weave in all the ends. Then only one more hat to make, but that is one I have a few more days to do.

Up for tomorrow is to make a backing for the Arboreal quilt put it on the frame for quilting, and get a start on the Plaid pines quilt. I want to get all my gifts packed and out the door too. I usually like to have everything shipped and out the door by the first week in December. Since I was traveling last week I am a bit behind. Once that is done, hoping for Friday, I can get to enjoying the holiday and settling into a regular rhythm again.

I stepped away for a bit and got some more done. Finished weaving in the ends of the Sea urchin, and frogged then re-knitted the top of the Northwood cap. Much better, and done. It’s raining today, so there will be more sewing and finishing. I need to take a trip into town to drop some things off, make a few purchases, drop by the post office, and maybe have lunch with a friend.

Be Kind.

This is a quick post. I am heading out for a few days, but in getting ready for this mini break, I have been stitching like a mad (not angry) person. On Friday I got the binding done on two of the tree quilts, started a new knit hat, and made a backing for tree quilt number three, LBQ Holiday Forest, and the diamond Creative Grids ruler arrived. Saturday I got the rest of the pieces cut and organized for the Poinsettia quilt, tried to get a start on the last tree quilt (need another triangle ruler- amazon to the rescue) and got the Holiday Forest top on the frame. Sunday, I finally finished the Fairy House, and got a few rows of long arming done, and more hat knitting. I pieced the Crimson Christmas poinsettia quilt so that when I get back I’ll able to get it quilted and gifted. Monday was a whirl wind of knitting while the long arm did its thing, and I managed to finish one hat, and make some headway on the other. Plus I seamed up the booties I have been knitting on the side. I only bought two things for Cyber Monday, tack cleaning sponges and envelopes. I am planning on making mesh bags with two or three sponges in them for my Barn mates. Last year I made them all little zippered bags for dog poo pick-up bags. There are a few less people this year, I think twelve. My bags will be based on a pattern from SewThankful.com . I need to check and see how much poly netting I have and the toggle thingies.

Be Kind.