Time for my February update on my quilt progress for the 13 quilts I pledged to do in 2025. 

The Quilted Snowman - This QAL has been split into several parts over a 12 month period with the goal to complete 2 parts each month. I was able to finish parts 2-12 this month. At this rate I should be done by end of March despite me being on vacation for part of the month. 

  Part 2 - the Whirling Snowflake Blocks which were 8 - 5  1/2" blocks
    Part 3 - the Glitter Star Blocks which were 3 - 8 1/2" blocks
    Part 4 - the Shimmering Snowflake Blocks which were 2 - 12 1/2" blocks    Part 5 - the Brilliant Snowflake Block which is a 16 1/2" block

I only completed one project this month, which was the March Nine Patch that is part of the 12-month series I started last year. This series is by Lindsay Weight with Primrose cottage. I only have a few more months to go and will have this series complete. I've been on a search for a new series to start and it is driving me crazy trying to decide which one I want to do. I still have not made my mind up.

Happy Stitching!

Every July there is an East Tennessee Shop Hop that runs for 3 weeks and in 2024 I decided to participate. That old saying, “if I knew then what I know now” I wouldn’t have gone. Seeing parts of Tennessee that I had never seen was good and the fact that I got to get away for an overnight was good as well, but the experience with the quilt stores was disappointing.

The whole purpose of a shop hope is to visit the stores and purchase the fabrics for a block that each store creates based on a theme for the shop hop. The pattern for the block is always free, but not the chosen fabric. I always like to purchase the fabric each shop has chosen to make the block as to commemorate the theme created for the shop hop and to patronize each store that I visit.

I decided to drive to Johnson City, which was the farthest away, for my first store and then make my way back home. I would visit half the stores one day, do an overnight at a hotel and then the remaining stores the next day before returning home.

The first shop was Bernina in Stitches. This was a cute shop and sold fabrics by some of my favorite designers. This shop was one of two that provided two blocks to give people an option to have a total of 12 blocks to create their quilt with or other options that might interest you.

One block was called the Star Block, and the other was called Duck Tracks Block. I made both.

Duck Tracks Block

Star Block

There was another shop in Johnson City called, The Sewing Bee. Parking was a little complicated and had they not been part of the shop hop, I wouldn’t have visited them as the parking alone was a discouragement from going in. The only reason I would visit again would be if I were in the area and needed Aurifil thread.

The block for this store was called, “Fifty-Four Forty or Fight” block. No idea why they named it that, but it was simple to make, and I liked how it turned out.

Fifty-four Forty or Fight

From Johnson City I traveled to Jonesboro, which was only about 10 minutes away, to visit Tennessee Quilts. The building was two story and although they had a lot of stuff, I would not go back there. The staff was the most unfriendly I have ever encountered. Not to mention I did not see any Lori Holt related items, nor the thread I like to use. It would not be worth the drive for me to go here.

Even though I purchased the block, I did not add it to my quilt as it did not appear to match any of the other blocks in the series.

From Johnson City I traveled to Taswell. I should have gone to Taswell first and then Johnson City and on, but another hindsight 20-20 situation.

The shop in Taswell is called Beckie’s Sewing Center. They carry lots of fabrics and notions. They also sale HandiQuilter, which is what I have so it was nice to know they are here if I need something right away as I have had a hard time finding a dealer nearer to me.

This shop was also selling two blocks, which I purchased, but did not receive. I got directions for both blocks, but only received fabric for one block. The fabric provided was not cut correctly based on the pattern, so I only made Star #2.

From here I was headed to The Cherry Pit in Sevierville. There is no parking at the actual shop. Instead, you must park in a nearby community parking area and walk to the shop in a downtown area.

This was a nice shop, but overcrowded with stuff. I ended up buying a stripology ruler, book, and some fabric. This store did carry Lori Holt’s current line, but no precuts or fat quarters. There block did not have a name on the pattern, but it is a star block.

Next stop was Iva’s and Company Studio. I do not remember much about this shop and have nothing about it in my notes from this day. The block they provided was called Friendship block. It was a little difficult to follow the instructions, but luckily, I was able to figure it out.

Friendship Block

At this point I am done with day one and it is time for some much-needed rest. This day took a toll on me, but after some sleep I should be ready for tomorrow.

I started my morning at Twisted Sister ‘s Quilt shop in Alcoa arriving right before they opened. They have quiet a bit of fabric as well as lots of notions. Unfortunately, they do not sale my thread of choice and only have a small selection of Lori Holt fabric. I did purchase several 1-yard pieces of the fabric that matches the theme of the blocks so I will have borders, backing, binding, etc. to complete my quilt.

There was no name on their block either, but it was also a star block.

Next up was Gina’s Bernina Sewing Center in Knoxville. I was disappointed that they were out of kits for the block. They took my name and called when it was in, but wanted me to pay shipping, so I refused to accept the kit. I was not going to pay shipping for something that they should have still had in stock to provide customers. They had a suitable selection of fabrics and threads, but their prices are too high for me. I did like their block, so I ended up making it using some of the fabric I bought from one of the other stores.

Next shop was Loose Threads Quilt Shop in Harriman. I did not use their block for two reasons, one it was a butterfly, which did not match any of the other star blocks that all the other shops provided and two, Nancy didn’t give me the block kit I paid for. She did give me the free binder she was giving out which included the pattern, but no fabric kit with the other stuff I purchased. It’s very disappointing to spend money on something, only to get home and find out they didn’t put everything in the bag. Another lesson learned. Some of their stuff was pricey, which would keep me from going back.

The last shop on the hop was Little Blessings Quilt Shop in Crossville. Although the store is quite big, it did not carry the type of stuff I like, and I would not go back. They had very few notions and no thread I use. They were offering two different color combinations of their “Circle of Friends” block which I bought both as there was nothing else in the store that interested me, but I still wanted to contribute to them. I only made one of the two I purchased.

Since I was missing blocks and/or didn’t like what was provided, I only made 9 of the blocks. As each block is a finished 12” block, it would make the quilt around 36”; however, I decided to add sashing and borders, so my finished quilt is 45” square.

This shop hop was definitely a learning experience and one that I will not repeat. There is too much time, money, and effort into doing a shop hop and I will only repeat ones that provide a wonderful time and lots of goodies that I like.

My finished quilt…

My first quilt for 2025 is a pattern called Scattered Squares from Missouri Star Quilt Company. Fabric collection used is Bloomberry from designer Minki Kim. As soon as I seen this pattern posted in this collection made by someone else, I knew I wanted to make it. I purchased the pattern and fabrics almost immediately, but as usual it would be a few weeks before I was able to get this one completed.

Once I got started the process only took a few days, which I was pleased with as I only get to work on stuff for a few hours each evening. This pattern uses a layer cake, so the first process was to cut the layer cake as per the instructions, which also meant having to choose which fabrics from the collection to use for each aspect of the pattern. Unfortunately, it was not until I was finished that I realized I should have picked different pieces for certain aspects of the pattern. Regardless, it is finished and overall I am very pleased. Once I get her quilted on Miss Moxie, I will display her on my new chair in my sewing room.

I have a few projects this month that I've worked on and/or completed. I was able to complete the February Nine Patch that is part of the 12-month series I started last year. This series is by Lindsay Weight with Primrose cottage. I only have a few more months to go and will have this series complete. I've been on a search for a new series to start and it is driving me crazy trying to decide which one I want to do. I still have not made my mind up.

I also completed this pattern that I thought was so cute and something I definitely wanted to hang in my sewing room. I'm not a big fan of pink and contemplated changing it up, but since it's not that big of a project, I decided to just go for it and I really like how it turned out. Trying to decide on how to frame it and pick the right mat turned into a much bigger process than I expected. I ended up going to Michael’s and the clerk was able to assist in choosing the right color, but I give the wrong measurement for the height which is why there is a lot of space showing. I might go get another mat cut later, but for now I will display it as is.

Happy Stitching!

For 2025 I set a goal to complete at least 13 quilts, six of which would be block of the month (BOM) quilts; however, one does not start until March. Each month I will post my progress for the month on each one.

The Quilted Snowman - I was able to complete the Snowball blocks by the end of the month which consisted of finishing 27 - 3 1/2” blocks. I will be using the fabric collection HomeTown Holidays by Lori Holt.

The Quilted Snowman

Vintage Christmas - Since I will be using fabric left over from The Quilted Snowman, I’ve decided to wait on this one until I at least have all the pieces cut out for the snowman quilt before beginning. Hopefully I will have some of this one worked on in February.

Riley Blake Designs Block Challenge - There will be 3 blocks per month, released on Tuesday, except on the last Tuesday of the month. I was able to compete all 3 Blocks this month. 

Block 1

Block 3

Cali and Co Mystery Block

A Quilting Life - although this one started in January, I have not received my fabric for this one, so I will have to play catch up once I have it. I want to use the Rosemary Cottage collection and it is not supposed to start shipping to shops until February. As such, it might be March before I'm able to play catch up.

Prairie Home Sampler - this one doesn't start until March. 

In addition to the BOM's noted above, there were also 5 other quilts that I committed to do this year.

One of those was a Jelly Roll Challenge that I have been sitting on since 2021. I was able to finish that one, but had some problems with quilting it on Miss Moxie, so it will have a separate post once I have a day with jack (my seam ripper) and get things back on track. This pic is while she was on the longarm machine and before I realized I had issues and will need to pick all those stitches out.

Jelly Roll Challenge

Another quilt I had committed to was Scattered Squares. The pattern is from Missouri Star Quilt Company. I was inspired to complete this quilt after seeing a completed quilt using Minki Kim's Bloomberry collection. I love that collection of hers and had to make the same quilt. My layout is not like the one I saw, but I'm still happy with the finish. Scattered Squares will get its own post soon.

Scattered Squares

There are 2 other quilts I committed to complete this year as well, but since I will be using scraps from each of my finished quilts, there might not be completed blocks each month for those two. One will be the Woven Star Quilt where the blocks are made using the woven star quilt foundation paper and the other will be Bitty Brick House. I hope to have at least one block for each made in February using the leftover fabrics from the two finishes I had this month.

The idea for this quilt came from 1) wanting to do something with all the scraps I have accumulated, and 2) The Scrappiness is Happiness book by Lori Holt that this pattern came out of. 

In late 2023/early 2024 I decided I would make this quilt and started preparing the blocks. The pattern called for 80 blocks and I had every intention of doing that many when I started this project. However, somewhere along the line I decided this was taking way too long and although I have plenty of scraps to keep making more, I just wanted to end this quilt and move on. At that point, I decided to only do 63 blocks and would assemble 7 block across and 9 blocks down. The original pattern was 8 across and 10 down.

When it came time to quilt I decided not to use any batting as I had made the blocks using an interfacing to sew the strips to. I couldn't decide on a pattern to use and the first pattern picked didn't look right after the first row, so I had to get ole' Jack out and start pulling out stitches. I do not recommend that as it is a very tedious task.

In the end I decided to just freehand a wavy pattern and had also chose to put the quilt top on sideways as opposed to up and down so I have these wavy lines running up and down. I will admit they don't look good, but this quilt is done and I will move on. I'm going to put it in my car so when I'm out traveling and find a place I want to stop and sit, I have a quilt to use.

I am putting it in writing to help hold myself accountable for what I have planned for this year. As of right now I have 13 quilts lined up to do. Six are block of the month (BOM) quilts, so they should be easy to keep up with. Two will be using scraps from my 2025 quilts, so I will make the blocks as I go and the remaining five are some I picked because I love the pattern. I have to admit some of these last five have been hanging out in my sewing room for a few months, if not a couple years, so they really need to be completed.

Four of the BOM run from January 2025 until December 2025. One will run for 16 weeks, Jan to May and the other will not start until March 2025 and run until March 2026.