January 2024 Furtle - Fettle Those Finishes Update

January Review / Furtle

As defined by Mini Archie, ‘Furtling’ means ‘having a rummage, a delve, a look at the contents of something’. So I have furtled around to see what I have been doing this month and now I’m going to furtle around the blogs of anyone else who links up over at Archie the Wonder Dog!

-Janine at Rainbow Hare on 2/28/2019

To socialize with my online crafty friends I'm linking up with Mini-Archie, one of my favorite online personalities, and his person for the monthly progress link-up from Fettle Those Finishes! 

Continuing weekly stats here for possibly linking up once a month with Kate at Life In Pieces. My 2024 goal is to stitch at least 15-minutes 50% of the days in the year, same as 2021, 2022 and 2023.

• Week 1: 7 of 7 = 100 %
• 70 minutes/day average across 7-days
• Week 2: 7 of 7 = 100 %
• 72 minutes/day average across 7-days
• Week 3: 7 of 7 = 100 %
• 108 minutes/day average across 7-days
• Week 4: 7 of 7 = 100 %
• 113 minutes/day average across 7-days
• Week 5: 3 of 3 = 100 %
• 40 minutes/day average across 3-days
• January 31 of 31 = 100 %
• 2024: 31 of 31 = 100%

January added more to the extra load at work even after the end of year vacation. It has become an almost overwhelming experience. I definitely have to work on my personal responsibilities management. 

I'm so pleased to have focus on my projects by planning the year out in my Furtle post HERE.  

I am so lucky that I spent at least 15-minutes sewing every day in January. 

Projects Half Done Progress update:

There were 46 projects already started before January 1, 2024. The below screenshot of my projects from the spreadsheet provided (and a little expanded) by QuiltingGail is my 'official' list with reference numbers used throughout the year.

As of January 31st, 1 UFO (Blue Highlight) was completed in 2024. One was completed this month (Green Highlight on completion Date). Five other UFO's progressed (Pink Highlight) this month and three new starts this year. 

Out of the 4 starts in 2024, 1 has been completed (Blue Highlight) this month. Three of the other three projects have been progressed (Pink Highlight). The BOM that started in January 2023 has each month added as a separate entry past month 9.

How did sewing go?

January Projects Completed:

1) Soft Blue Rail Fence with Minky Backing is from a 3-yard roll purchased in March 2016 at an American Quilter's Society show in Pennsylvania after seeing Donna Robertson's Fabric Cafe presentation on her economy quilt patterns. This Rail Fence quilt has only the cotton pieced top and Shannon Fabric's Cuddle Minky backing wrapping around to also make the binding. The minky selvage was left on. 505 spray was used to sandwich the layers and keep the minky under control for quilting. This 57" x 70" quilt took 41-hours and 46 minutes to complete after starting it with of my 2023 end of year vacation. Also, this month's One Monthly Goal, finish post here.

2) Donation block completed for the Opportunity (AKA Raffle) Quilt Block. It's ready to turn in next Tuesday. Honeybees 2024 Opportunity Quilt Block is 2024 Project. It was completed in 3-hours and 39-minutes. The purple heart is for Lupus.

January Project Progressed:

1) 2024 QuiltFest Challenge quilt (UFO 3) inspired by the theme "Sew Your Heart Out" and using the kit provided fabrics. I have determined my design, here's a close-up with the fabrics and photocopies of the fabrics cut to the size/shape to audition:

As the Challenge is due for September, I will only share small photos like this one.

2) Easy Breezy twin size, Quiltville's 2020 Leader/Ender pattern - continued to assemble a few more of the 180 blocks needed for UFO 4 that are kits. 

3) Alchemy BOM (2024 UFO 6) has more pieces assembled.

4) Smitten2 BOM through Month 9 (2024 UFO 7) had several progresses. Block 4B was completed.

Block 4C was started.

No photos for Month 8 fabrics were cut and basted.

5) HB 2022 Exchange Blocks quilt (UFO 43) picked the backing and binding fabrics

6) JAX MQG 10-year anniversary Paint Chip Challenge (2024 Project 2) swatches picked at Jan 22 meeting

7) Hercules and Natalie (doll) quilt (2024 Project 3) designed and ready to pick fabrics

8) Smitten2 BOM Month 10 (2024 Project 4) have the custom fabric cutting and block assembly trackers made, but no photos since it's not my pattern.

January Stats:

• 2 Completed
• 8 Progressed
• 45 UFO's remaining
• 3 2024 started projects remaining

What did you get done in January?

Link-Ups:
* Mini Archie's January Furtle Around The Blogosphere as #4

* Ms P Designs - UFO update for January as #1

* Life in Pieces - Stitching Stuff Week ? of 2024 as #TBD