Stitching Recap for January

I went into January with some rather lofty stitching goals.  I was hopeful, although not thoroughly confident, that I could tick them off the list, as we didn’t have a lot of plans for the month.

I’m very happy to say that everything was done, and even a little exceeded. That can be put down to a couple of Chooky Zoom sessions, on New Year’s Day, the evening before Australia Day and on Australia Day.  The best way to spend time in exceedingly hot weather.

So, what did I achieve?

(Do you like my button border?  I used to paste one I found on the interweb, but I can’t get it to go into my posts now, so created my own from some of my button collection.)

We’ll start with the new projects that I have already started in 2026.  

These first ones are all projects that will be worked on over the next year.

RAINBOW SCRAP CHALLENGE

I started two new projects, the Black and White Potato Chip blocks and the solid crosses blocks, and have added my crumb pieced blocks to the list.

I am continuing to join in with Betty’s group quilts.  We were requested to make a strip and send to her.  Well, I have ended up making three.  Two have been posted (the blue and purple) and the third will get sent down when I have another to add to the envelope.

I have started another project….of course I have…… It is a little Christmas tree skirt from an Anni Downs kit.  The grand plan was that this would be my hand stitching project for the next little while at my stitching days, starting this month. 

Well, thanks to the Zoom sessions, particularly the one on Australia Day, all the motifs have had their appliqué added and have been stitched.  That is more than expected.  I now have to work out what I do next on the pattern.  The motifs will have to be appliquéd down, but I’m not sure how much I need to do before that stage.

Oh, and I may have had another start as well.  I have been seeing some cute Blossie Baskets by Craftapalooza and there is a stitch along.  Of course I had to join in.  It is a nice, quick, simple project.  I started and had all the hexies stitched at my stitching day on Wednesday.  I finished it off on the last day of the month.  So, that is my first start that has already been finished this year.

That’s five starts already for the year.  That doesn’t look too promising for ending the year with less projects on the go than at the start of the year.

Now to the UFOs that were worked on.

First up, the Spiked Granny Square Rug that has been hanging around for too long was finished.  Now I can start a new knitting project, guilt free.

Then it was time to play with Elly May.  Four quilts have been completed and ticked off the Quilting Queue.

Five and Dime

Secret Garden

William Morris

Wensleydale

Last year, while on a day out, we popped into the op shop at Portland and I purchased this little book for $1.  One of those purchases that you can’t resist, but when you get it home you wonder why, as you probably won’t use it.  Well, I’m using it.  It is perfect for recording the details of all the quilts that I quilt using Elly May.  Size and name of design etc.  It has proved to be just what I needed. Happy dance.

The other UFO that I worked on was my Leader and Ender, being Bonnie Lass.  I managed to make a further 40 units.  I now have 220 of the 392 units made.  I could have made quite a few more, but ran out of cut pieces of fabric.  That needs to be addressed. 

Therefore, other than the Leader and Ender, I’ve concentrated on one UFO at a time, and finished it, which is a nice change.

HOW I FINISHED UP

Five starts for the month.

Six finishes for the month!  I consider anything that was not completed at the end of 2025 to be a UFO.  Therefore, I have completed FIVE UFOs!  My goal is to complete twelve this year. Go me! I only completed five UFOs in all of 2025.  

I now have one less project on the go than at the start of the year.  That’s a good start.

How did I go with my wish of 15 minutes a day?

January =   30/31

Year to date =   30/31 = 96.77%

Not too bad.

Finally, I  managed to empty 4 spools of thread, to add to my pretty jar. 

All in all, January was a very good start to the year.  I am under no illusions that the year will continue to be as productive, but I’ll take a win when I can.