Projects for Chookshed Challenge 2025

Chookshed Challege 2025 - Deana from Dreamworthy Quilts is one member of the Chookshed Quilters.  Each month in 2025, Deana will select a number from one to ten and quilters work on the project with the corresponding number from their own list.  The main rule for this challenge is that there are no rules, which should work for me as I am away for large chunks of 2025.  For example, if the number six is chosen, and that particular month is a bit tricky to work on that numbered project from my list, I can change the project!  And a goal could be just masking minimal progress on a particular quilt.  I like those sorts of rules.  

So here's my list for 2025.

1. complete strip sets for blue strip twist quilt
2. quilt and bind A's quilt
3. quilt and bind Mason's quilt
4. quilt and bind S's quilt
5. quilt and bind R's quilt
6. continue flower blocks for J's quatro quilt
7. complete bunny Fat Quarter Mixer quilt top
8. start on Amelie's quilt
9. backstitch embroidery kit (for while I'm travelling)
10. second backstitch embroidery kit (for while I'm travelling)

Since I'm away for large chunks of next year, I will definitely be swapping my projects around to suit me.  

I have lots of other projects in progress so maybe I will work on them instead?  There's no rules with this challenge!  Let's see what happens.  

Wrap up of 2024

Yet again, not as much was achieved in the sewing room as I had hoped but I'm still happy with what I've been up to.  

Finishes in 2024

• elephant wallhanging  july-disappeared
• Zion National Park quilt for my son   autumn-is-sewing-weather
• medallion quilt    February post

        


Sadly that's all I've actually finished in the quilting line.  I did complete a few other things, including hand towels made from scrap materials and a library bag for my granddaughter.

I have progressed lots of different projects, some of them very close to completion.  The problem with free motion quilting on my main sewing machine slowed me down a lot in November/December.  Once the tension problem is fixed, I have four quilts pinned and ready to quilt.  Fingers crossed!

Using up scrap pieces of material has been high on my radar, as I want to show that I've done something on Scrap Happy Day on the 15th of each month.  Participating in this group has been great for my piles of scrap fabrics, although it is hard to see any change in the piles really.  Maybe 2025 will be the year I actually have some finished items made of scraps?

          

I've also enjoyed being part of the Chookshed Stitchers which meets irregularly via Zoom, through the auspices of Chooky Blue Chooky Blue  Today was an all day stitch-in with group members coming and going throughout the day between 6am and (when I left) 6pm.  There may well have been stitchers Zooming together into the New Year?  While I was online with the group, I completed some EPP on my Quatro quilt and worked on a new quilt, selecting fabrics and creating strip sets for a Strip Twist quilt.  Not sure when this might be finished but it is on the way!  

In 2025, I will participate in the Chookshed Challenge 2025.  Each month, Deana from https://dreamworthyquilts.blogspot.com/  selects a number from one to ten and quilters work on the project with the corresponding number from their own list.  The main rule for this challenge is that there are no rules, which should work for me as I am away for large chunks of 2025.  For example, if the number six is chosen, and that particular month is a bit tricky to work on that numbered project from my list, I can change the project!  And a goal could be just masking minimal progress on a particular quilt.  I like those sorts of rules.  I will do a separate post re my 2025 Chookshed Challenge projects.

December 2024 fabric tally

Finishes in the month:   none 

Purchases in the month:    none

Fabric used:  - 0 m         Fabric acquired:  + 0 m

Running tally:  + 58 m

So this year wasn't great on the fabric front!  I had expected to finish those baby quilts and take my total tally down but it wasn't to be.  No matter - next year will be better, I hope!

November's work

I started this month with a long weekend at home (Melbourne Cup), spending time sandwiching and pinning four children's quilts.  The Happy Helper assisted me in bringing the table tennis table into the familyroom, where I could pin the quilts without crawling around on the floor.  Bliss!

My arty-farty photo of one of the quilts on the table tennis table.  

The sandwiched quilts were rolled onto a pool noodle to keep them ready for quilting.

The quilts are for four different children - one for a very good friend's second grandchild, the others for another good friend's grandchildren.  It took one full day to sandwich and pin the quilts, with pressing tops and backing for each, and ensuring the batting had been able to breathe for a few days.  It took a few hours to make binding for the quilts as well.

I started quilting one of the quilts and had problems with tension during the free motion quilting.  So frustrating!  But not with the walking foot.  So I put the machine away and will try again next week.  I do prefer a combination of walking foot and free motion quilting, especially to highlight names on quilts etc.  We've just returned from being away so I'm sure I won't get all four quilts quilted and bound during December.  Especially if my free motion quilting doesn't improve.

We were away for ten nights, with a couple of full days of train travel, so I took some small embroidery projects to do.  Our trip to Sydney on the train was great in that I got lots of sewing done as well as a good way through a book.  Then I lost my embroidery hoop! (I think at the airport hotel in Sydney but I didn't realise it until we arrived at our holiday destination.)  I had to wait until we were back in Sydney before I could buy a new hoop, ready for the train ride home.  So I didn't get all the planned hand sewing done.  :-(

I've also spent a few hours in November piecing scrap quilt blocks as a form of mindless sewing.  Some days you just need time at the sewing machine, for nothing particularly important.  

November 2024 fabric tally

Finishes in the month:   none 

Purchases in the month:    one embroidery hoop 

Fabric used:  - 0 m         Fabric acquired:  + 0 m

Running tally:  + 58 m