It’s been a little while since I shared an update on my quilty progress, not since September in fact and so here it is today. In truth I’d been holding off this update as I wanted to have some actual progress to document, and finally I have. Well in some places anyway!
My sewing is still dominated by the random and now considered slightly silly ‘stretch’ project I set myself way back in last February, but I’m on the home stretch (pun not intended) and I know not to be quite so rash with my quilty plans for 2026!
So how am I doing?
1 The teal flying geese
Still not started, but still on the list. I’m having a rethink about how to get this one off the ground because when it does I think it’ll be flying (again pun not intended).
2 The mystery block a month
Like the ‘stretch’ project the end is almost in sight. Well almost, once I’ve made the final block for December (which I’ve not started yet), then the real work begins! That’s to join the blocks and make them into an actual quilt, and it’ll be the biggest one I’ve made in a quite a while.
I think knowing this is partly why my momentum has stopped, or slowed if we’re being kind. In my mind I know the next step is a big one and I’m already playing through the borders I could add, the backing, the wadding and the small matter of quilting it. I don’t have many answers yet, but I’m hoping once I get closer there’ll be some clarity.
Since the last update I’ve shared the following monthly blocks:
There is definitely more to come on this one!
3 The jeans and pyjamas
I was wrong to think it would happen in 2025. The only update I have here is that I’ve added to the pyjama pile of fabric, and probably the old jeans pile too!
4 The Essex linen kisses
Yay - progress. So much progress that it’s completed, and I love it. I’ve even shared more about it in its own blog post: Essex Linen, a colour wash picnic rug.
I think I also love it because I completely made it up from a box of random scraps, finding the fabric to match online and then spending probably more time than I should have getting the colour wash just as I wanted it. But it’s those fun bits in life that we all need, right?
I do want to make a drawstring bag to make it more easily portable, but that’s for another day. All I can say is ‘bring on the picnics (and sunny weather)!’
5 My floral fancy
This continues to take up two cutting mats and sit on my craft room floor in the hope that it might make it closer to the sewing machine, but it hasn’t yet. I checked it the other day and thankfully hardly any of the cut pieces have moved, but I do need to free up those cutting mats!
In my last update I was hoping that I would gleam knowledge from my Bernina training day, and I certainly did and so it also stays on the list.
Throughout the year I’ve been collecting various greys to use as backgrounds for further panels, yes I’m still planning to do more, yes I know I haven’t picked this one up again yet… Though I think my grey collecting is over, as I checked to see what I had and it seems I definitely have a preference - for lighter greys and sparkles.
MY COLLECTION OF GREYS
Though I’ve now realised I probably need a few greens for the leaves, the collecting continues…
6 My English Paper Piecing (EPP) blue diamonds
I haven’t touched this one since my last update, my go to hand sewing projects for the past few months have been embroidery, mainly sheep on Christmas cards, but I do have another project on the go too which I think will be finished soon.
And the ‘stretch’ project
This is still the main driver for my sewing time, and I am one quilt away from saying it’s done. And it will be. It’s definitely been a challenge worth doing, but for 2026 I already know there won’t be such a defined timescale for my charity quilts.
Since my last update I’ve completed the following quilts which will be donated to charity:
And I’m pretty proud of myself for all of these if I’m honest - but there’s so much more I want to sew in the year ahead, so look out for my plans for what’s on my list for 2026 soon.
