Chookshed Challenge 2025 - final update

 

As I've been away a lot this year, I'm out of whack with my blog posts, so this is a catch-up post for the Chookshed Challenge. 

So here is how my list looked at the end of June  

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

July's challenge was no. 9 - which I've done.  A simple backstitch while travelling in the USA.  It is yet to be made into anything.  That will come.  This pattern was from a stitchery of the month I participated in many years ago from Grandmother's Garden in NZ.  I had good intentions back then but soon realised that I couldn't keep up the momentum.  That was in the days when I was working full-time.  

August's random number draw brought up no. 7 - sadly I've done nothing with this planned quilt other than gather the fabrics together.  Another one for next year's Chookshed Challenge.  

September's random number was no. 3 - which I've completed while travelling.  Just a quick cross stitch kit that I had in the sewing room.  It was from a cross stitch magazine from 30 years ago!  Better done than sitting there.  I've yet to put into the included card; that will happen and I can give it away as a gift.  (I personally don't need any more bookmarks - I have a shoebox full of gorgeous ones.)

So the challenge number left for October is no. 1 - which I've done!  Yay me.  I did actually finish this top back in March - see more info here.  But I added it to my challenge list because I could!  And making it into a finished quilt can be on my list of goals for 2026.  

So here's my challenge list at the end of November.  

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

So the Chookshed Challenge year has gone fairly well, considering I was away for over 19 weeks of the year.  I did make it easy for myself though with small projects, and even including several quilts that I had almost completed.  I found that challenging myself like this worked well, and I'm looking forward to next year.  Just to figure out what to include in the list.  

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 making minimal progress on a particular quilt.  I like those sorts of rules.  

Here are the links to other participants:

Amira Little Mushroom Cap

Betty Rainbow Connection Quilters 

Chookyblue

Chris Quilting at the Farm

Deana Dreamworthy Quilts - you are here!

Denice's Day

Grace City Mouse Quilter

Hanne Quilt Corner

Jannimary

Jeanette - 3 Cats & a Quilter

Jenny Bird on the Border

Jenny Romany Quilting

Jo Butter Z

Kate Life in Pieces

Karen's Corner

Kiwikids Page

Kristi - not a blogger; you can find her here

Lianne Makes Stuff

Lin St Victor Quilts

LouLee

Lyndsey Sew Many Yarns

Maggie - Patch Maggie

Maria Life on the Block

Lyndsey Sew Many Yarns

Maggie - Patch Maggie

Maria Life on the Block

Maureen - not a blogger; you can find her here

Narelle Pins and WhiskersPam's Progress

Rose Marie Applique' and Patches

Sharm Country Fragrance

Susan's Sewing Space

Finally I've been in the sewing room - November update

This year has been a very bitty one for me, so this post covers the last four months of occasional forays into the sewing room.  I have completed some projects so I'm very happy about that.

Back in July, during a short time at home, I finished off Amelie's quilt.  Amelie is the granddaughter of a good friend.  Mainly fabrics from a fat quarter pack I've had for a few years, as well as some from my stash. The back was made from stash fabrics also.  Simple walking foot quilting - I was on a (self-imposed) deadline for this one.  Finished size:  52" x 77" (132cm x 195cm)

Apologies for the poor photos.  The quilt was pegged (sideways) to the clothesline; my tall helper wasn't home. Also a photo of the quilt top before quilting.

Some time ago, a friend asked me to make her a table topper, from a pattern in American Patchwork & Quilting (Oct 2009 issue.) I think she saw the picture on Pinterest or similar.  Called the Stepping Stone Quilt, it is sewn from some of my many batiks.  I had fun with the pattern.  No binding strips, just a knife-edge binding which I hadn't done for years.  And I didn't stuff it up!   

Finished size:  33.5" (85 cm) x 25" (63.5 cm)

 

I've been working on a few other projects, although none are finished yet.  Here's a few snippets.

     

 

In October, we were in Canada where I visited two patchwork shops on Price Edward Island and supported their economy.  I bought a few Canada-themed fabrics, as well as some Anne of Green Gables fabric.  It added up to 6.5 m.  I haven't acquired any other fabrics since July.

November 2025 fabric tally

Finishes since June:   Amelie's quilt = 5 m; Gail's table topper = 1.25m

Purchases since June:  Canada fabrics = 6.5 m

Fabric used:  - 6.25 m         Fabric acquired:  + 6.5 m

Running tally for 2025:  + 9 m