Hello and happy Friday! Thank you so much for stopping by for this week’s Sew Your Stash 2019 | 10 post. I hope you’ve had a good week. I’m not complaining, but this week has been super busy 🙂 I’m really looking forward to a more relaxed weekend with a little quilt binding, some cleaning and organizing, and some pattern writing and editing. Very soon we’ll be able to introduce our next collection of fabric with Moda. It’s beautiful and delightful, and it’s been making me oh so happy to finally be able to sew with it!
Coming Soon…
In the past three weeks I’ve pieced five quilts. Four of them are now quilted, two of them are bound, and I’ll be finishing up the binding on two more this weekend. The final quilt is ready for quilting. And…my Moda Block Heads quilt is also quilted and ready for binding. It’s going to be fun to share all of these quilts and new fabrics soon…but first…thoughts for this week’s Sew Your Stash post.
Just Three Things
This week I thought I’d share how I use the concept of “Just Three Things” for quilting. I first heard of this concept a few years ago from a quilting friend whose busy life led her to choose the three most important things to accomplish each day, write them down, and then not worry if other things didn’t get accomplished. Since then, I’ve used it frequently for household tasks: clean the kitchen, water the plants, do the menu planning. But recently I’ve started applying the concept to my sewing and quilting.
When my sewing room starts to accumulate piles…cleaning off the flat surfaces might be one of my three things. Often, making just one quilt block is one of my three things. And sometimes one of my three things is simply to make a list of things I need to do.
If one of the three things is extra time-consuming, I’ll choose tasks that can be accomplished more quickly for the other two items. And on really busy weeks my “Just Three Things” list for quilting might be tasks that I expect to get accomplished over the weekend.
A “Just Three Things” Master List
I actually have a pretty long list of sewing projects I want to begin, works in progress I need to finish, and sewing room and stash organization that needs to get done. So I have a master list. Then, I choose three things daily or weekly depending on how much time I have available. It’s been super helpful over the past few months. And, it’s never overwhelming. I hope this is a process that might be able to help you as well.
Finally, if you are interested in the “Just Three Things” concept, then you might also be interested in my “Time Management for Quilters” post here.
And…Some Thoughts on Spring Sewing
While we’ve been enjoying beautiful rainy days, I’ve noticed that the signs of spring are everywhere. And so it might be just about time to start thinking about some smaller projects to make for spring to brighten things up. I have a couple of things in mind 🙂 What projects do you like to sew in the spring? What colors and prints are you drawn to this time of year? I would love to hear! Please leave a comment if you have thoughts on this topic.
Thanks so much for stopping by for this week’s Sew Your Stash 2019 | 10 post. You can find all of the previous Sew Your Stash posts here. I’ll be back on Saturday with the weekly Saturday Seven, and the March Mystery Block of the Month will post on Monday.
Happy quilting!
Brenda says
My spring sewing are happy colors! I use florals and 30’s reproductions the most. And about this time of year I start to sew vintage butterflies. Which brings me to your sneak peek….Love the floral with butterflies!! I can’t wait to see the rest! Happy sewing!
Michelle H says
I’m working on a large Irish Chain with your beautiful fabric and a Jan Kingwell pattern but using very pretty girly fabrics. Spring is taking forever up here in Canada and feels like it is never going to end.
Mary B says
I typically sew small quilts and table runners this time of year. I like to use pastel or springtime colors (whatever strikes my fancy) but they are definitely happy colors. It gets me ready to usher in some sunny warmer weather.
Michele says
Just purchased your Wander pattern and Walkabout fabric. Spring sewing will be making a queen size quilt for my bed. Love this collection
Karen S says
Love the floral with the butterfly print. But I have finally put together enough of Swell Christmas to make your Four Square Christmas quilt. I will start something ‘springy’ after that! ?
Janie H says
Bright, happy colors—anything that says sunshine! The gray days of winter be banished! Because we are moving, I am turning to small hand appliqué and embroidery pieces for spring. Most of my fabric will be packed away but needle and thread must continue! Happy Spring! Thanks for a great blog!
Anne says
I am drawn to sewing small projects for St Patrick’s Day and Spring. I need bright spring greens and a clear bright yellow like my spring daffodils. I love to set a pretty table for Easter and a nice narrow table runner works. Many table runner patterns are quite wide so I tailor the size down.
Beth says
Your post came just in time! I have a cork bulletin board on my office door at work, and I like to hang a couple of mini quilt blocks on it. I choose a seasonal theme. Well, seeing your Clover Hollow and Walkabout fabrics side by side, my fabric choices for my Spring quilt blocks for my door are decided!!!!! A combination of both lines!
Thank you for your inspiration Sherri!
Nancy Thompson says
Can’t wait to see your new quilts and new fabric!
Hope you had a happy birthday!
x
Carol Kuse says
Right now any fabric that feels bright, sunny, and warm. Here in Kansas we have had more snow and lower temperatures than in the last three years together.
Sue R says
Love the fabric with the butterflies and the quilting is gorgeous! Can’t wait to see the entire quilt. This time of year I am usually trying to finish my winter projects before I let myself get into the spring frame of mind. We still have snow here in Michigan, but with daylight savings time starting this weekend, it will soon feel like spring is right around the corner. Love your fabrics they are such beautiful colors. And I enjoy reading your blogs. They always get me in the mood to sew. Thanks for all you do!
Suzann Huff says
I love your new fabric! Can’t wait till its available.
In Tennessee we continue to have very cold temperatures and tons of rain. I’m so ready for warm, sunny days. Thank you for your post, I love them!
Hildy says
For spring sewing I love light colors like low volumes, pink, aquas, greens (think the Nest collection it’s perfect for srping sewing or your Walkabout collection minus the navy and red). I love floral prints and fun prints with like strawberries (like right now the Farm Freash or Trixie collection) or perhaps little animals (like bunnies or the birds from Vintage Picnic a few years ago). Amd fun patterns like the ones from ellis&higgs (you need to check her new ones the little lamb is so cute!) or something with flowers (your flowers in a row mini or happy days wallhanging) or the butterflies from lellaboutique.
Nancy Morneault says
I don’t necessarily have a “Spring Sewing Concept” but this week I have been determined to use up all of the baby flannel that I’ve been holding on to for several years. So far I’ve managed to make all boy stuff. I have made blankets, bibs, burp cloths and wash cloths. I am almost out of the boy fabric. I will be using up the girl fabric next. I’m probably going to donate most of the items.
Janice says
I probably do less sewing in the Spring because I am outside more. I like the three things concept. I’ve been doing something similar this year. I’m trying to work through my UFOs and WIPs. One of the hardest parts for me is deciding which UFO or WIP to work on.I get overwhelmed. I made a couple of lists of everything, and each month, I use a random number generator to select a number from each list. It has kept my work fresh, and I have made a dent in my UFOs and WIPs. You can go to your search engine and search for “random number generator”.
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Jolynn Keel says
I love the “Just three things” idea! I can definitely use all of the ideas here.
Peggy says
Great post, thanks so much for the lil sneak peek ! Love that floral butterfly print 🙂 adorable.
Spring is still a ways off here in AK, Temps in the 30’s today, so some melting is happening. We are getting more light now, so I am definitely thinking happy thoughts towards spring arriving (basically mid May is when we get “comfortable” temps).
I kinda live and breath spring colors. They make me happy and I definitely gravitate towards using, wearing, planting and surrounding myself with them.
Have a lovely Weekend Sherri
Peggy in AK
Marianne says
I use the Just Three things concept for running errands. If I don’t have three places to go with a purpose in mind, I don’t go until I do. This concept makes the traffic more bearable for me. And I thought I made up this concept myself! I’ll have to apply it to quilting like you do!