I have two projects that I am carrying over from Finish-Along 2015 Q4. The first is my Gratitude Lanterns Mini Quilt.

I have changed my mind a few times about how I want to finish this project. I was considering embellishing the lanterns with a running stitch, but I don’t think I have the time, energy, or focus for any kind of hand-work right now. I sewed one row together last fall and did not like how the lanterns looked sewn together. So now I am planning to use the chalkboard text fabric as sashing between the lanterns and between the rows.

The second carry-over from 2015 Q4 is my Birthday Gifts Quilt WIP which is now actually a quilt top. It is about 30″x37″, and I plan to quilt it myself. I will be using two Cotton+Steel fabrics from their Spring 2016 collection for the backing and binding.

Five New Projects for 2016 1st Quarter

I started the Midnight Mystery Quilt-a-long hosted by Meadow Mist Designs in June 2015 and kept up with the monthly assignments through September. We were supposed to sew gigantic courthouse step units in October which I still have not yet done and then we found out in December that these courthouse step units were to cut into fourths horizontally and vertically. I really like the flying geese I made in August (see pic below). I hope to get back to this project during this the first quarter of the year, but realistically, I won’t have this done in time for the Big Reveal  on March 10th, especially since I’m going to QuiltCon this year. I’m so excited!!!!!

Midnight Mystery Quilt-a-long Flying Geese

I participated in my first Instagram swap this past Spring/Summer. I swapped #logcabinparty blocks with 16 other quilters (and one lady made me two lovely blocks). Unfortunately, I never received one of the blocks that was promised me, but 17 out of 18 is a dang high percentage. I made two of my own blocks and now will need to make one more to have 20 squares to sew together for a baby-size quilt. Now here’s the exciting part. After I take Christina Cameli’s Free Motion Quilting Workshop at QuiltCon, I plan to free motion quilt the squared-off stipple I like so much on this quilt.

I may also free motion quilt the mini mini quilts I will be making this quarter for Yvonne and Sarah. For Yvonne, I’m going to try improv piecing for the first time using the scraps in the pic below:

For Sarah, I will be making one of the blocks half-size in Elizabeth Hartman’s wonderful Patchwork City book. I will be using my current favorite fabric collection, Terra Australis, by Emma Jean Jansen.

My final workshop at QuiltCon will be Alison Glass’ Wool Appliqué Workshop. I was very glad to find the Sew Mama Sew Wool Appliqué kit for this workshop on Alison’s website. Sometimes it’s SO nice to have somebody else put together necessary supplies especially in an area where I have no expertise. I plan to make this appliqué project into a pillow.

So that’s it for Quarter 1. My list is actually on the small side compared to some of my fellow quilters. But it will keep me busy, and I will be happy if I get half of these projects finished.

Linking up to 2016 Finish-A-Long.