Hello, friends and Happy New Year. Thank you so much for all of the kind comments on yesterday’s post. I truly appreciate them! Today I’m sharing the Quilting Life January Challenge: Project Scraps project. I’ll give you all of the details below, tell you how I decided on this new blog/video feature, and share what I’m going to do this month.
Quilting Life January Challenge: Project Scraps
Over the past few years I’ve shared a few different monthly challenge ideas with scraps and organization. Last year I challenged readers to make projects with a different pre-cut from January through July and then suggested making scrappy backings in August. (You can see all of those posts here). But life got really busy in the fall with project and manuscript deadlines, and I didn’t post challenges in the fall. So I’ve been thinking about a new way to approach my challenges and have come up with a fun but not stressful plan for 2021.
January Challenge Video
This year I want to make the challenges simple and fun–and completely customizable. I want you to be able to achieve a simple goal each month that you need to accomplish. I want to be able to do the same each month. And, I think it will be fun if I’m also able to give you an update at the midway point of the month…a progress check up! So set each monthly challenge for yourself as you see fit–skip the ones you don’t want to do, and have fun! I’ve filmed a short video on the challenge that you can watch above (it’s about 5 minutes). It will be on the YouTube channel on Saturday, but I’m sharing it here first.
Project Leftovers and Scraps
I have leftovers and scraps from previous projects that I just can’t bare to get rid of. While I generally sort project leftovers from my own collections by color or size, I’ve been keeping scraps from other designer collections together in hopes of someday making another project. So this month I’m going to start with challenging myself to make a project from some favorite project leftovers–Snowman Gatherings from Primitive Gatherings.
The Original Snowman Gatherings Project
My original Snowman Gatherings project was a fun table topper I made for Quilts & More magazine a few years ago. In fact, it was when I got it out the other day to place in my family room that I came up with this idea. I knew I had the scraps somewhere…and I knew it would be fun to make a project with them.
My Project
I haven’t really fully decided on a project yet. I have a couple in mind that I’m thinking over. But I am going to iron the fabrics today so they’ll be ready to go when I make a decision. And I’ll share my project with you next month when I share the February challenge.
Coming Up…
Tomorrow will be the first Saturday Seven post for 2021–yay! And yesterday Chelsi and I taped our next podcast episode which will air on Monday, January 4th. We had such a great time talking about goals and both got terrific ideas from one another. We are so very hopeful for 2021 🙂
Have a wonderful day…and thanks so much for stopping by!
Pam says
Sherri,
Thanks so much for your blog posts, instructional videos and your pod casts. I hope to participate in your monthly challenge. That brings me to my question. Do you know if the pattern is still available for the snowball topper that you shared and was published in Quilts and More magazine? I’m a little too swamped to take time to draw up my own pattern! ?
It really struck me when you shared it and I love the size. Thanks fir your time!
Sharon M Conway says
Happy New Year Sherri!! I am so excited about this challenge and already have in mind what I am going to do for the January challenge. I love your blog and have probably told you that every time I email you…I have learned so much and you have inspired me. I have reflected on all that I did in 2020 and have started my list for 2021. One of the projects that I have in mind for the monthly scrap challenge is making the zippered pouches. I have the pattern for your design, I would also like to make one of the pouches that you show often, it has multiple sections inside. I searched your blog and cannot find the pattern. Do you know where I can find it?
Best,
Sharon
Jackie Lohrey says
Ok so Uncle Covid has hit my family hard in the past few months and it completely demolished my end-of-year quilting goals for 2020. If anyone has heard of a side effect called brain fog, believe me it is REAL. I am truly hoping that along with my 2021 block of the month project, this challenge will help me get back on track. Today I am hoping that a little sewing room cleaning and organization will re-light the fire and get me going again. Happy New Year to all and here’s to a less chaotic and more productive 2021!
Erin says
Sorry to hear you were ill! Speaking from experience, get lots of rest and don’t push yourself. Quilting is the perfect way to occupy yourself while you get back to full health. Wishing you all the best.
sherri McConnell says
I’m so grateful you are doing well now…I was actually going to email you because I noticed you were quiet. I was hoping it was just the business of the holidays. But so grateful to hear you are on the mend!
Margot says
Love this! I, like you, can’t bear to part with those scraps. A lot of them are big enough to keep but not big enough to be a significant contribution towards a quilt). Because they come from different projects they often don’t really have a color scheme or “feel” in common. I’m looking forward to hearing your ideas and suggestions!
Jane Eilderts says
This is a great and “doable” monthly challenge! I’m in!! I already know what I will be making. Thanks so much!
Marsha Gibbons says
I love the idea of using specific leftovers. I am thinking mine will have to be small because I am not very experienced with know ing how much fabric a project will take, and scraps are mysterious.
Debbie Brugman says
Happy New Year Sherri. This sounds like a great challenge. I can’t part with leftovers and always think I will do something with them but never do. This challenge will help me to use them up. I look forward to your posts and videos. Thank you and here’s to a great 2021 ?
Sandra Famuliner says
I enjoyed your video and am looking through my fabric to participate in the January challenge. I love the table topper that you showed from a Quilts and More magazine. Could you tell me which issue that was from or do you sell the pattern? Thanks
Barbara Links says
Thank you Sherry,
I enjoy your podcast but mostly I catch up on YouTube.,
I’m looking forward to seeing and doing with your plan for a once a month project.
I also love your sewing table/station ! I am working on ideas for my own a lot lately. It is still in the planning stage .
Thanks for all you do.. I have been reviewing my projects I finished and WIP, and new projects I’m anxious to do, thanks for suggesting it. It has helped organize my thoughts and plans.
Happy New Year and may we all look forward to a better year this yr.
Barb links
Clara Renken says
Happy New Year Sherri. Love your You tube videos and podcast. I look forward to your email every morning. You are so inspiring to me. I have learned alot from you. I would love to participate in your monthly challenge. Thank you for all your hard work and sharing it with us.
Clara
Clara Renken says
Hi Jackie. I totally agree and understand. I to had Covid that turned into Pneumonia and then Blood Clots. I still have the Brain Fog and Blurry. Vision and exhausted.
Take care and get healthy. I am being positive that 2021 will be better.
Jackie Lohrey says
Clara here’s to us both getting better each day and back to whatever our new normal will be and mostly back to quilting again! Sending hugs!
Belinda Boysel says
Hi Sherri.
I think this is a great idea with scraps as well. Cant wait to see what you make in feb.
Marcy Lamper says
This is a great idea…thank you for letting me be part of it…
Warren says
Oversizing half square triangle and cutting them to the right size is a great idea. But there is a much easier way. Most fabric stores sell a lot of different sizes of square rulers. 2.5 x 2.5 , 3 x 3 , 3.5 x 3.5 and so on. The best way I found it to buy the size you want your half square triangles to be Get some self adhesive velcro and cut some 1/4” or 3/8” circles from the soft side of the velcro. then place them as close to the edges as you can. Close to the corners but not to close because you want to be able to see the diagonal line when you place it on the fabric. This also works great if you just want to cut squares. Line the diagonal line up with the diagonal seem on your half square. Press down on the ruler and cut. You will find the velcro will hold the ruler in place much better than without it and you will get much more accurate triangle squares. Do not use the plastic side with all the loops. It does not work well. I usually buy two rulers of the same size so i have one with velcro and one without. Good luck.
monica rasmussen says
This sounds like a great idea!
Thank you
Sue Etherington says
Well I must have read your mind. I don’t have posh scraps like yours but I do have lots of very scrappy bits. So on new years eve I sorted them in groups. Ironed them and began. I’ve started a scrappy baby quilt in multi colours and also a large lap quilt making 8″ blocks from scraps then using an old sheet I’ve sashed between the blocks. Well what else is there to do when we are pretty well in lockdown here in UK. In the spring of Covid I made a scrappy king size quilt too. This of course means I have used so much of my fabric up I have little to work with now. I’ve never bought fabric on line as I like to see the whole piece and feel it. But no shops open now, I haven’t been in a shop since March! I look forward to your challenges.
Barbara Russell says
I like the idea of using scraps. I love the snowball table topper pattern but have been unable to locate it either.
I always think how lucky we are to have the hobby of quilting with all these months of quarantiine. Such a great way to spend time.
Thanks Sherri for your great patterns and blog. Your pattern instructions are very easy to follow, good tips and instructions.