My Big Finish for December

Here it is, well into December, and I have finally finished off the little donation quilt that I started in October. It was my one stitching goal for December.  I just had to trim back the batting and backing after doing the quilting and add the  binding. You can read about it here, here and  here.

I'm not happy with the finish I am achieving with a binding added by machine, but it will be more durable for a quilt that could be washed frequently.  I will donate it to Ronald McDonald House in Orange, when I get up there at some stage.

Despite not being a big task, this ticks the box as my One Monthly Goal for December, a WOOFA Challenge project, One Project a Month and working on a donation project. 

I managed to meet my One Monthly Goal for every month, other than March this year, which I'm pretty pleased about.

In the background, I wanted to get my Swoon Quilt cut out ready to work on next year.  As I previously said, what was holding me back was deciding on a background fabric.  

I ended up going with the fabric I had put aside with the Bonnie and Camille fat quarters.  There won't be a lot of contrast with some of the fabrics, but it will be a nice, light, fresh quilt.

My next issue was that there are quite a few directional fabrics in my little collection.  If I cut out the blocks using the directions on the pattern there would be quite a few funny looking sections.  Therefore, I decided that I would cut the larger points of the star as one piece, rather than several half square triangles.

After a bit of mucking around, reworking my cutting list and making sure everything was facing the right way, I started to make one block to test my notes.  Fortunately, they worked.  I still have to trim down the flying geese and half square triangles, before completing the piecing.  That will be a job for next year.  I will then go ahead and cut out all the blocks, using my modified cutting list.  

I think Joey approves.  He certainly had a good check over it.

I haven't made a start on cutting my Rainbow Scrap Challenge fabrics, but they will still be there for next year.  One project I wish to work on features fusible applique.  I do, at least, have the design traced onto the fusible web, ready to go.

I don't expect to get any more stitching completed this year, but am fairly pleased with my output for 2021.  

Finally, I received a cute Christmas card with a little bookmark from Maria.  I know it will get lots of use in this house. Thanks  Maria.

I will link up with Elm Street Quilts in the next few days.