Really I think this may mostly be a ‘quilt and finish the quilt tops in the closet’ challenge. I doubt I will have enough time to finish a lot of quilts that are still in the piecing stage, but I have many unquilted tops that could be finished with a couple of weeks’ work (each). I’m going to try to finish at least one UFO each month this year. I like to have projects at different stages in the construction process because it gives me flexibility to change tasks and work on a variety of quilts, but I don't really need to have 9 quilts ready for quilting.
For January, I finished adding a hanging sleeve and label to a quilt I finished binding last month (I didn’t count this one for the guild—the quilt was almost done before this challenge). Then I pulled out some strips of Seminole-style patchwork that I made at a class in 2017. I cut some more strips and add interfacing, lining, and straps to make them into a tote bag. UFO # 1 done!
I also pulled out some tree blocks that I started a couple of years ago. I finished piecing the blocks in and tried playing with layouts, and decided to make it into a medallion quilt. I want to make an applique center block, and an undecided number of borders. Somehow I don’t think I will get the tree quilt finished this year, since I am still working on the hand applique for my version of the McCord leafy vine quilt and I’ll be doing a lot of hand stitching on bindings.
For February, I began machine quilting. I quilted the charity quilt that I promised I would do. Then I quilted two more quilts and basted three quilt tops that were waiting in the closet. Progress is being made. My February UFO finish is from a Bonnie Hunter pattern called ‘Scrappy Trips’. I added a pieced border because the pattern is simple and quilted it in a traditional wineglass pattern.
