PHD in 2020 Recap

Hi Quilting Friends,

One of my personal goals for 2020 was to participate in the online quilting community, so I’ve been working all year on my PHD in 2020 with Gail at QuiltingGail! Here’s my list of the twelve thirteen fourteen projects that I planned to finish in 2020, updated to show progress.

Project #1: Family Reunion Signature Quilt

Finished! It was fun to re-visit the reunion and look back at those old family photos. The pattern for the Album Block is available as a free download; click the picture below.

Projects #2 and #3: Make something with these spare HST squares

Finished, and Finished! This ended up as two separate project finishes, since I had two unique collections of HST squares to use. I made two zipper bags, a set of coasters, and a cute Christmas table topper.

Project #4: Lazy Log Cabin Blocks

Finished! This quilt “lives” with my younger son in San Antonio. He became a homeowner in June, and the quilt made a nice house-warming gift from me. The pattern for the “Lazy Log Cabin” block is available as a free download; click the photo below.

Project #5: Plum & Gold King-sized Quilt

Finished! This quilt is on my bed. I just love it! (Well, not in this photo. It is on the fence for it’s photo shoot.)

Projects #6: Make something with these tools

Finished! I enjoyed using the “Perfect Pineapples” foundations for stitching up my nine red & white pineapple blocks, and then I bravely used this small quilt as a practice piece for improving my FMQ skills. I still need more practice, but I’m getting better at keeping my stitches even. (I don’t have a stitch regulator, so that’s a big deal.)

Project #7: Make a throw with my “Diamond Star” blocks

Not finished yet, but progress is being made. I began the year with just 12 finished blocks and no definite plan for them.

I’ve developed a plan for the quilt, which requires 63 star blocks, and I’ve completed 10 more stars for a total of 22 finished blocks. This quilt is intended to be a high school graduation gift for my great-niece, who just started high school this year. I have a couple more years to get it finished. I’m having fun choosing the just-right fabric for each of the star flowers, so I haven’t been in a hurry with this project.

Project #8: Make a wall hanging from one of these patterns

I decided to make the “Guiding Light” quilt (on the left of the photo) first. After a lengthy delay because it took a lot of searching to find the gray batik fabric to use for the sky background, I finished it up! It is currently hanging in the hallway for the Christmas season. Here’s a picture:

Project #9: Finish the Under Construction Quilt

Finished! We had SEW much fun designing and making the “Under Construction” quilt that we were inspired to create two similar designs called “My Hero”. The first pattern features police officers and police vehicles (seen in the “New Projects” slide show) and the second pattern (coming in January!) features firefighters and fire trucks. The “Under Construction” and “My Hero” quilt patterns are available in Ms P’s Pattern Shop.

Project #10: Make “Goose Trails” table runner for Christmas

Finished! I still marvel at how much difference the choice of fabric makes in the finished project. My younger son claimed the runner for his Christmas dining table, because he loves the blue ornament fabric. This table runner pattern is available in Ms P’s Pattern Shop.

Project #11: Scrappy Goose Trails Quilt, AKA “Corona Star”

Finished! I had to modify my original design plan due to a lack of sufficient gray fabric. Note to self: Always buy at least 3 yards of the main fabric when making impulse purchases! And, because of the timing on my project, I have changed its name to “Corona Star“. I’m pretty sure that no explanation is needed. I’ve been using “Corona Star” as a guest bed topper. This quilt pattern is available in Ms P’s Pattern Shop.

Project #12: Wonky Halloween Sampler Quilt

Finished! The wonky blocks were such fun to draw and stitch! This quilt pattern is available in Ms P’s Pattern Shop.

Project #13: Finish Great-Grandma’s “Lone Star” Quilt

Finished! This beautiful antique quilt, created by my Great-Grandmother Rose, needed a new binding so it was a very quick finish for me. And I learned a bit of family history in the process.

Project 14: Berry Wreath Throw

This project was a late addition to my list, since I had forgotten that it existed until I went searching for safety pins as I was pin-basting my king-sized purple and butterscotch quilt (see Project #5 above). This lovely had been waiting several years for some hand-quilting and a binding, and I was pleased to oblige. I had forgotten how much I enjoy hand-quilting, so I’ll likely choose another hand-quilting project for next year’s list.

So that’s it! My “Top 12 UFO’s” for 2020, updated.

And here’s a slideshow with the “New” projects that have been completed this year, in no particular order. I also have a fairly short list of started but not finished (yet) projects that are not shown here. Some of the quilts are collaborations with my sister and design partner, Susan, but most are mine all mine:

And here’s my progress spreadsheet:

And my PHD tally:

So, even though I left one UFO hanging on my list and added 3 more to the new UFO list, I’ve reduced the UFO population in my sewing studio by a net of 10 unfinished projects! And I’ve finished a large stack of new projects as well. I’m calling this a successful quilting year.

Happy quilting,

Sharon