Well, here it is – the end of 2024. It has been a year of ups and downs. Settling into new routines, trying to give myself time to figure out this new phase of life, and dealing with getting a little older. Imagine that, as your body gets older, things just don’t function as well as they did when you were younger. But I keep reminding myself that everyone around me is likely experiencing similar issues as they age.
My vision issues, thankfully, are the same as after the event that caused central vision blind spots just over two years ago. I think I’ve adjusted pretty well. Sometimes I can forget that part of my vision is missing Certain tasks don’t require as much concentration/light/magnification, etc. But there are times when it just smacks me in the face, and I have to slow down and give myself some grace – and occasionally ask for help, or admit that I cannot do [insert now-difficult, if not impossible task/action here] anymore.
So this brings me to my in-progress quilt projects. Two years out, and I have some things that I still haven’t quite let go even though I know I need to. I’ve made some progress. I gave away most of my paper piecing kits and supplies that were for future projects this year. I still have some for the projects I have in progress, but I haven’t progressed on them much, if at all.
Next up is the block of the month kit I purchased in 2013/14 – Wind in the Whiskers.
I know now that I will never be able to make that quilt, and I’m coming to terms with that. It’s beautiful raw-edge appliqué. I’d love for it to go to someone who will make it. But when I put out an inquiry in my local quilt guild, there didn’t seem to be any interest. I may try again in some other groups.
Handwork is something that I used to enjoy – cross stitch (of course), embroidery, appliqué, and English paper piecing. I gave away most of my cross stitch supplies and kits/projects last year.
I have one project (another block of the month) that combines a lot of those techniques – Chateau Hexagon. I’ve already completed 6 of the kits. I think there are only two left. And I’m still undecided about finishing it. One of my issues is that the colors that the shop chose (especially one of the greens) are not what I would have chosen. But I’ve come this far, so if I could just get back to it, I could get it finished and either hang it on the wall or gift it to someone.
Another one that I’m struggling with at the moment, because I enjoyed it so much, and I really began doing it more in the last few years, is wool felt appliqué and embroidery. I have one quilt (that I’m supposed to be hand quilting, and I haven’t worked on it in about a year), and two other projects in progress – Edyta Sitar’s Hop To It and the Pretty Little Pots blocks. I’m going to give it another year, I think. Who knows, maybe I will work on them some more between now and then.
I think I’m pretty much done with the Blocks From the Past quilt. I haven’t made all of the blocks, but I’ve made about 40 blocks. I may have enough made for a charity quilt. I’ll pull that one out after the Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt is through this year, and see what I might need to do to finish that and get it off the shelf.
Another hybrid machine piecing and hand appliqué project is Charm Basket. I’ll give them a bit more time because they are so fun, and I got a bunch of 80 wt Aurifil thread to use on them.
That leaves a bunch of scrappy (and small-pieces) quilts plus Bali Wedding Star and Attic Windows Cotton Theory. I’ve lost my mojo on Bali now that the arcs are pieced, and I’m thinking of giving that one away. I think I’ll give the Cotton Theory quilt another year. The fabrics are lovely, and I still love the look and feel of my placemats that I’ve made with that technique, so I may eventually work on and finish it.
My biggest enjoyment lately is the scrappy quilts I’ve been working on, so I’m going to definitely continue those – and most tend to go to charity or to those whom God shows me that need a quilt hug. I have enough blocks made to split the Sunshine and Shadow Starburst into 2 charity quilts (and still have leftovers for a pillow or two).
I just finished another bloom block for my Tula’s Bloomers quilt, and that leaves 2 more to piece. I’ll post that update as soon as I get a good photo. It took me two evenings to finish putting it together.
Hex on the Beach and Grandmother’s Flower Garden definitely have to wait until Tula’s Bloomers is finished, which will be a while.
I also have several baby quilt tops that I need to actually quilt, and that is on my agenda for 2025. I just need to set aside the time and DO it. I need to put my quilting foot back on my Juki and get my practice pieces of fabric out so that I’m ready to go.
2024 has been about adjusting to my new “schedule.” I’ve allowed myself freedom to do whatever I felt like doing every time I walked into my sewing room. That has been a lot of fun, and has resulted in quite a few finished quilt tops. However, it feels like 2025 might need a bit more structure. Not overwhelmingly planned and scheduled, but a bit more than this year has been, in order to whittle down those projects in progress and move those finished quilt tops to their eventual owners.
After musing on these things for a few days, I’m feeling pretty positive about my quilting and the year ahead. I’m sure there will be ups and downs, but I believe it will be a good year.