2018 Goals & Thoughts

January 2017

January 2018

Fabric Diet
In 2017, I really enjoyed the focus that my fabric diet gave me. Purging a lot of my stash, using a lot of it, and attempting to be very deliberate and thoughtful about my fabric purchases was a big learning experience and actually left me with a stash that I like (mostly), but which may not be big enough. Look above - see how much smaller the current stack of red fabrics is?!

I'm a person who likes to pull from stash, and who doesn't like to use bundles of collections for quilts. I like to mix it up, and I like a lot of different fabrics in a quilt. But recently I went to pull red fabric for a project and I found that I really didn't have much.

In 2018, I want to continue refining my stash, and I don't want to spend a ton of money on new fabric, but I do anticipate getting rid of some fabric, and making some new fabric purchases. I am going to once again focus on really making sure that I'm purchasing fabrics that are usable and are "me;" and aren't just trendy or cute.  First up: reds! I need more red fabrics.

For 2018 I plan to continue my fabric diet, but I also have a few quilt goals that I want to accomplish this year.  They are as follows - in no particular order:

Quilts to make or finish

1. Tangelo Quilt -  I want to finish: my "Tangelo" quilt top (pattern by  Carolyn Friedlander). I started the quilt at the Sewtopia retreat in New Orleans, and I plan to finish it this year. Maybe that'll happen at the next Sewtopia retreat in April. (A depiction of my Tangelo quilt can be see above, lower right.)

2. Polka dot quilt - in 2017 I really enjoyed making several scrap quilts. This year I think that I might choose to make a polka dot quilt as my scrap quilt. I really enjoyed making a few polka dot blocks for a traveling quilt bee project last year. (Click here to see them on Instagram.)  My depiction of a potential polka dot quilt is shown above, lower left.

3. At the end of last year, I purchased several yards of Robert Kaufman Linen, and I hope to use it this year. I haven't used their linen before, but I think I'm really going to like it.  My current thought is that I'll make a scrappy off-set star quilt (shown above, top right) - maybe for my own bed!

4. Memory quilts (2). I've never attempted to make a quilt with clothes before, but I have a definite idea, or two, in my head for what I want to do with some shirts from a special loved one who has passed away this year.  One idea is shown above, top left.

5. My local guild is going another challenge this year and this year the theme is "Stars." I have an idea for this project which is a little bit out of my comfort zone.
 
6. Range backpack - I would love to have a completed Range backpack (pattern by Anna Graham of Noodlehead). At Sewtopia New Orleans, I purchased the pattern from Pink Door Fabrics.  Originally my thought was to have it prior to Quiltcon in February, but I have since realized that is an unattainable goal.

Wild Card:
7. Tone it Down quilt pattern. For a few years, I've been toying with the idea of making one of these quilts. Currently I'm in love with the idea of doing it in red and green for Christmas.  Pattern can be found at All People Quilt (click here).

Whew - that makes 7 quilt/sewing projects PLUS I have four finished quilt tops that need to be wrapped up.

I'm a big believer in goals, and I'm excited the projects I've picked out, but I also really enjoy going off on whim or tangent when it comes to quilts.  I hope to finish the quilts and projects listed here, but I also look forward to where this year may take me.  Here's to lots of sewing time and accomplishments in 2018!