Pinwheel kit tackled

Since the sewing room is overwhelming at this point and I want very much to go in there every day, I decided to sit down and start somewhere.  Just Do It!  A quilt is made one block at a time and making progress is all that is really important  

The first thing I encountered was a box of blocks for a kit.  Each of the little zip lock bags held a main block and an alternate block.  

Pin wheel blocks and alternates

Looks simple right, seemed simple.  The block parts could be cut with my new essential tool from Bonnie Hunter, which cuts half square triangles and also quarter square triangle.  All the units are these pieces plus squares.

However, the problem arose when I realized on cutting the two blocks that the directions were lacking.  Some parts were left off and so as time drew near to go get a haircut, I really needed it, I figured out I would need to go by pictures and write out all directions before cutting.  Then the Plan is to sew both blocks at a time.  There are 12 block bags with two blocks in each.  I believe I ll have less problems if I cut all sets before beginning to sew.  So much for today.

Getting Ready for 2017

To get ready to focus on my quilting again, I looked back at my posts from last year.  These were few and far between.  I want to do better this year and accomplish more than I have this past year. This year I want to do more of my own choice in quilting and still accomplish what I promised to do.  

There have been a lot of bumps along the road this year and some we're still dealing with here at home.  But, it's all looking up now.

I have revised my UFO's for this year to include just what I have actually worked on, or started, instead to what I want to do or think I want to do.  I have had a few pitfalls like thinking I could participate in the 365 Challenge, which proved to be too daunting.  I had to abandon that for sure.  I also realizedI had about five leader and ender projects going, which is nuts.  Some had to be put as actual projects  with dedicated time spent on each one.  One was too complicated to be a leader/ ender and became its own project for sure.  Another pitfall I had that played in there was too much time spent playing games on my  I Pad.  That is a black hole in space and time. I'm still playing  but spent at least half the time I did.  And believe it or not, I got to doing too many different things, such as knitting, embroidery, wool embroidery, applique and English paper piecing.  You really can overdo on the hand work!

So, this next year I plan to dedicate more free time to handwork, instead of games.  I plan to make time every day in my sewing room working on projects I love.  I also plan to write more on my blog.

Since this is purely a written blog today, I want to add a picture.  I think every post should have a picture.  This is our precious Adeline that came to visit for Christmas on her quilt made for her.

Adeline's quilt finished Christmas Eve 

Adeline

Doing some Fnishing

Our challenge for this year was to finish a quilt totally from a block swap.  This was in the top pile, so I did this one.  It's a 25 patch block with red center and sets much like log cabin blocks.  I put the red border and blinded it in black which gave it a good touch.

25 Patch with red

 Adeline is growing and will soon be coming to visit us for Christmas.  I wanted to wait to give her this quilt then.  Plus the binding wasn'tt finished.  Should be so.

Cassie and Adeline

I love this picture of Adeline and no I didn't make it.  She's so preciouss.