2022 Final Countdown, Task One
Posted on December 29, 2022 by prairiemoonquilts in The Final CountdownAre you ready? I’m excited for this. I hope you are, too. Here we go . . .
Task One of The Final Countdown!
Choose something you can finish quickly and do it
Do you have a project that just needs something simple and quick done to it to call it finished?
Get it out and do it — you could have one more project checked off your list before year’s end!
A quilt top that just needs borders?
A quilt top ready to quilt that just needs a backing prepared?
A top that only needs 3 more blocks made to be set together?
A project that simply needs a few more pieces cut before you can begin sewing?
Me? I’ve had a baby quilt laying on my cutting table for over a month, with the binding sewn on, that only needs to have the binding whipped down on the back to be called finished. THAT is what I’m gonna do. Whip down a binding. On a baby quilt. If I can’t finish that before the end of the year, there’s probably no hope for me!
I also have a quilt top that only needs six more seams sewn to be called complete. I may squeeze that in, too.
And because I was looking around for quick-to-finish projects this past week, I managed to finish my 2019 Temperature Scarf:
All it needed was a few more tails woven in, and to be washed and blocked. So last night, I sat in my chair and wove in the rest of the ends, and washed it this morning and blocked it. It’s finished!!! Did I mention it’s my *2019 Temperature Scarf?
That is procrastination at its finest, folks.
That is what I’m gonna try to get under control this coming year. So many projects so close to done that have been marinating way too long.
Tops with all the blocks done that only need to be set together.
Tops that only need borders.
Projects that only need a few more pieces cut.
Projects I need to re-organize and get started on again.
Quilts ready to quilt that need backings or bindings prepared.
Quilts waiting their turn to be quilted.
How about you? Do you have something you can finish quickly, so that it’s off your list before 2023 begins?
I’d love to hear what it is, and that you jumped right on it and finished it! Let’s go!
*Temperature Scarf details:
It finished at 22″ x 107″. I used Stylecraft Special DK yarn. Pattern is from Shanti Stitches.
Ah, this is a good one. I have two quilts that just need quilting and binding. And they aren’t large, either. This is do-able by January 9.
I’m going to try to do this one b/c it sounds fun and do-able. Can’t promise. In fact, I’ll see your month-old baby quilt and raise you a baby quilt that was supposed to be for a shower in May which I just delivered on Christmas Eve. Good thing I made it crib size!
Beautiful scarf!
Ironically this very idea is what I’ve been working on for the past few days! The day before yesterday I pieced batting scraps together for a quilt that I had laying on the top for quite a while. Now that the batting is ready the quilt components is waiting in line to be quilted. Sad thing? I’d been needing to piece the batting since February.
Yes, a task that I can do! Borders are finally on the Mad Dash quilt. It was a tough decision on what to make for borders. I am very pleased with them. Going to put together backing fabrics and get it loaded on the quilting machine and done. Thanks for the motivation to get this project pushed over the finish line. Can’t wait to send you the finished photo!
I must have read your mind—I’ve just added the borders to a nine-block quilt of pinwheel stars. I stay-stitched all around it, and now it’s ready to be quilted. Ready for the next suggestion.
I’m also on the same page…Spent time yesterday catching up my temperature quilt on track to have the top completed as soon as the last day’s temperature is recorded. I’m very proud of myself for keeping this up all year (a first for me). Have a wall hanging on my design wall that I’m getting the blocks together so it can go in the quilting que. Besides I have 2 IOU Christmas gifts I will finish this weekend 🤞. If I can accomplish these I will feel pretty good heading into the new year. There is a binding for a lap quilt that would make me feel extra happy, won’t happen by the first, but maybe by the 9th.
I was just updating my spreadsheet for the year and had more finishes than I remembered. 😊 Looking over the list of UFOS and planned projects I am going to take your approach of prioritizing those with only a little left to do or repurposing to something I can get done and donate like you shared recently. Some may just get eliminated to make room for new ideas.
okay, I have a quilt wall hanging that I started to free motion in the fall and I put to one side…. I can get that done by Jan9th. WHOOOOOOPIE>>> It is my ? 8th final count down????
I’m working to complete 2 guest stockings to have ready for Christmas ‘23. I had made the lining stockings but later decided that I preferred other fabrics so rather than leave them as orphans I’m making the outsides, too
I’ve pulled my list of somewhat quick finishes together. Nothing will be done by the 1st, but the 9th is do-able.
http://pamela.avaraarts.com/the-final-countdown-with-prairie-moon-quilts/
Does blowing off the driveway count? There was a car parked in the way. I’m headed out to finish as soon as I send this.
Your temperature scarf is beautiful.
I’ve been making things for the guild’s April quilt show Stitch and Sew Emporium. I was making a bag using a June Tailor kit. The seams are so think in places that my new this year sewing machine does not like it, so it was set aside. I just got it out about 8 P.M. yesterday and finished it. I still have several more to make, and am trying to figure out how to better deal with those seams.
I am finishing a pair of oven mitts for my granddaughter getting her first apartment as she starts pastry and culinary School in a few weeks.
Added to that I will put on my to do by Jan 9th a quilt that needs binding. a 2022 quilt.
I am working on doing old things here. Made 3 cloth books from years ago and two are already given away. Made 4 double sided aprons that used up 8 yards of fabric. Three were Christmas gifts. Made several baby sweaters and am working on using that here for several more.
I am trying to not buy fabric and yarn. Use that I have.
Time to finish off that top where the seam allowance got off on the final row. Uggggggh I’m going to lose points but it needs to be done.
I have a couple of blocks left from a panel that I was piecing to be a wall hanging, 2 throw pillows, and a table runner. I still need to piece the table runner. I have all the fabrics still out, but have scooted them around the cutting table for a month. Now they are residing on the end of the ironing board……….and trust me, they will need to be ironed again. But this is my goal for task one, then I can put all those fabrics away!
Your temperature scarf is beautiful. You have so many talents. I “need” you to help me finish an embroidery project. Could you come up with something for people to be accountable for hand work maybe. I’m sure there are some others than need a push besides me.
The “evil pile”on my sewing table will finally get my attention for this challenge. Some pajama bottoms that need shortened, some pillow cases that need resized, borders on a leftover block to make a candle mat, several log cabin blocks left over from a QOV quilt in July, and a small panel quilt that needs a few pieced blocks to finish it. Thanks for the little push!
I am putting borders on a winter themed panel quilt and will do some fixes to a ” bitcoin” quilt and get it pressed. This will be 2 quilts ready for guild community quilts and out of my sewing room!.
This is gorgeous! I have SO much Stylecraft DK 🙂
I’m going to play and hope they are finished by Jan 9th. I have 2 rows to attach to a 48″x62″ quilt top for it to be ready for borders.
This year has been my cleaning year, especially after we had some water in the basement after a historic rainfall. I now have a room that I set up for cutting. My fabric is in that room along with all supplies to cut out my quilting pieces. Need to hang the pegboard yet. Maybe by the end of the year. Started finishing cozy bowls today. Hopefully I can finish the ones that are cut out.
I have a project – a small tree skirt – I started for a friend for Christmas last year, but never finished. It’s too bland for her small white and silver table top tree. Let’s see what I can find in my stash for the needed pizazz.
I just found some blocks (from 2017!) that just need to be set together and the top will be done! I can do it by 1-09-2023.
We are definitely on the same wavelength! I worked yesterday on catching up my temperature quilt blocks, I’ll be able to do the final week and finish the flimsy Sunday. So proud of myself for staying on top of this all year…it’s a first!
Today I sewed together a wreath wallhanging that was on my design wall that didn’t get finished for this year. Prepared the backing and binding so it’s off to the quilting que.
I have two IOU Christmas gifts to finish this weekend and then I’ll feel pretty good starting the new year. I’m contemplating how I want to approach the projects for next year. I liked what you shared about your approach….very similar thoughts in my head. 😊
I have a couple of quilts that need labels and binding finished. There are also several baby quilts that the quilting is almost done & then need binding. Maybe I can finish more than one of these things!J
I love the challenge. For two years I had fabric and supplies to make little dresses to send to Africa and I never got around to it. I got them made and they are on their way. Some little girls will be excited and I emptied out a tote!
I used your ‘set of projects’ to get done in 2022 – got most of them done plus some. So don’t have any close to finish projects (yay) at this time. Still trying to get my sewing room back in order after baby/toddler proofing from visit of granddaughters. That is my challenge – getting there!
I reserve handwork for the end of the day when I can put my feet up, watch something on Netflix, and pick up some hand stitching. I am really good about binding quilts as soon as they are quilted, but I had this 60″ square that had been ready to stitch down for a week and just couldn’t seem to get to it. Right before Christmas, I called a high school friend to catch up and picked up the binding task. Two hours later I disconnected the call and realized I only had about 1/3 of one side left to do and then stitch on the label. My feet were already up . . . so I finished. Silly, isn’t it, to put off these quick tasks??? My challenge for today is to get the twin of that quilt pin basted . . . the very worst thing about quilting for me!
From lots and lots of scrap fabrics and leftover blocks I constructed 42 small quilt tops in 2022. All of them had backing also. I had to purchase some of that. Eleven of these were finished locally for Linus. All the rest were sent unquilted to my sister in Arkansas who quilted many and is still quilting on them as she gets time. She donates these to nursing homes and other agencies that can use them. The stash boxes of scraps could still do more in 2023. The work is not done.
I have a new pillow. No, I didn’t finish it with free-motion quilting on my sewing machine. But it is done!
http://pamela.avaraarts.com/a-quick-finish-of-a-ufo/
I actually got this done. I had a very scrappy flannel top made with 5 inch squares and a solid to calm it down a bit. I needed two more rounds to finish the top, one scrappy and one solid. Anyway I have a finished top now so that is always good. Thanks Shelly for this challenge.
Great task! I finally trimmed and bound my Springtime at Arrow Rock quilt–it’s been quilted for months! And I put the side borders on a top that had also been sitting for months waiting, and then pieced a back for it. Thanks for the encouragement!
I have a wall hanging that just needs a border, now it is done. Thanks
My big finish is my Mad Dash quilt. It’s all done and I love it! Thank you for a wonderful pattern. Task one is completed.😉
So, I DID IT! I finished the table runner (even cut binding and prepped it), and put all the fabrics away! This resulted in my unearthing of another small project which is also now completely pieced and fabrics put away!
Love the challenge! I had three little projects that needed attention. Needed two more rows of triangles for a charity quilt top – done! Key fob in new purse- done! Last one was replacing binding on a Christmas tree skirt – finished today! Now on to task #2. Yea! Thanks Shelly!
I’m currently into cutting down scraps for blocks to make all next year But for my final finish I closed up the crown on the hat I started knitting on Boxing Day and wove in the ends. Erghhh, ends.
I didn’t think I had anything but I had two. A set of pillow cases for my son which are delivered and a set of bowl cozies that are nearly done. So 1 is done hoping the other will be this week.
I finished a quilted jacket, maybe not quite before the end of the year, but I wore it yesterday. Next up is three Linus quilt tops that need quilting. Thanks, Shelly
I did it. Had a quick finish and got it done. https://shesstitchinagain.blogspot.com/2023/01/final-countdown.html
So, I have completed all of the tasks. Thank you so much for the challenge
I finished cleaning up the studio and putting away the last few books that were laying in a pile after I read them.
I also made friends with my serger. After learning AGAIN how to thread it, I managed to finish 4 baby/toddler hooded towels and edged about 12 washcloths. Happy that that project is finished and everything has been put away until next time.
I got two projects done that I’ve been wanting to do for ages…a teddybear and to recover my small ironing board. I’m so glad to finally have them done. Thanks for the challenges!