September 2026 Furtle - Fettle Those Finishes Update

September 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 2021-2024 goal was to stitch at least 15-minutes 50% of the days in the year. 2025 and forward, the goal is any number of minutes in a day for 50% of the year since the puppy is still under 2-years old he's a handful and I want as much time to enjoy him. 

• Week 36: 7 of 7 = 100 %
• 153 minutes/day average across 7-days
• Week 37: 7 of 7 = 100 %
• 74 minutes/day average across 7-days
• Week 38: 7 of 7 = 100 %
• 202 minutes/day average across 7-days
• Week 39: 7 of 7 = 100 %
• 68 minutes/day average across 7-days
• Week 40: 3 of 3 = 100 %
• 45 minutes/day average across 3-days
• September 30 of 30 = 100 %
• 2026: 270 of 273 = 99 %

September started about the Quilt Show and recovering from the push to finish the final of 4 quilts dropped off on September 5th for the Quilt Show. The dogs and hubby have tolerated my focus on my sewing since I have made sure to take care of their essential needs also. Hubby has a stress fracture in his foot and is walking around in a medical shoe. Osky, who turned 7 this month, started the month with a scraped up foot with antibiotic and then on Saturday of the quilt show he showed up with a scraped up delicate part of the inside of his rear leg. He ended up on Antibiotic again plus with a strong silver cream and wearing his fleece pajamas. Then we got him light pajamas to finish out the month from Chewy.

I'm also proud to announce that Tiny Tumbling Triangles won Third Place in the Miniatures category which is my first Top 3 finish at the Jacksonville QuiltFest show!

Focus continues now at a slower, more relaxed pace on my projects planned in 2026 see my Furtle planning post HERE.  

Projects Half Done Progress update:

There were 53 projects already started before January 1, 2026 (up from 52 in 2025). 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 September 30th, 16 projects have been completed (Blue Highlight), 2 UFO's and 14 new projects. 3 projects completed in September (Green Highlight on completion Date), 0 UFO's and 3 new projects. 7 projects progressed in September (Pink Highlight), 1 UFO and 6 new projects. 

How did sewing go?

September Projects Completed:

1)   Treasured Tumbling Triangles was complete just in time for the next day's Quilt Show drop off. The binding was hand sewn to the back in about 3.5-hours for the 53” x 53” quilt. I finally figured out how to make the binding corners strategy work for me. It’s a little fiddly but when is binding NOT a challenge? Treasured Tumbling Triangles is 2026 Project 7 completed in 86-hours and 24-minutes. Love this larger version of the Tumbling Triangles quilt to show off my ability to work in the small and throw sized. Here's a picture of it hanging at the show:

2) Household mending was completed for all the things that waiting while I finished 3 quilts for the show. Mending of 2 Towels, Mr. Bear’s T-shirt, both straps of one of my project box bags, worn out seams in my oldest sweatpants, Laptop Strap pad fix and shorten apron neck strap. My favorite was the patch job on the laptop bag strap pad where Featherweight Interfacing was used to create a turned oval shape which was then stitched to the top covering the faux leather substance which was separating and making a mess. Then, after washing and drying the apron strap was adjusted to fit me better and sewn in place. Post show drop-off Mending is 2026 Project 21 was completed in 2-hour and 36-minutes. 

Mending pile before:

Laptop Strap Pad after mending:

3) The hanging sleeve was hand stitched to the back of a quilt for the 2027 Quilt Show as 2026 Project 22 completed in 3-hours and 12-minutes. Easy Breezy Doggie quilt is now hanging in my office in place of the First EPP Quilt which has been hanging in the Downtown Jacksonville, Florida Library and will be returned at the October Guild meeting.

September Projects Progressed:

1) A new basting station is setup for first the Half-Circles and later the Clamshells. The two-pass thread basting is working so much better than the initial tests. 4 of 8 Half-Circles are basted (50%). 2 of 34 Clamshells are basted (6%). I realize that not really knowing all the steps to complete the quilt adds a little resistance, if I can keep myself to working on the current task, I will be able to continue making progress. Happy As A Clamshell is 2026 Project 15 in progress for 4-hours and 58-minutes. 

2) Alchemy - some more time spend on sewing Rows 1 and basting hexies for Row 3. Almost done preparing the darkest fabrics into segments to sew onto the medallions and finish the 'traveling' portion of Row 1. Previously completed Row 1 shape image for fun. 

3) Below is a photo of a test half of a mini Orbital Quilt in preparation for the Oct 3rd workshop. The tester flimsy turned out flat, It took a bit of fiddly planning but I'm very pleased with how it turned out. I'm looking forward to Bobbie of Geeky Bobbin providing advice over Zoom for the real fabrics. This half circle quilt will probably end up as a donation to next year's QuiltFest Silent Auction. Geeky Bobbin's Orbital Mini is 2026 Project 19 in progress for 7-hours and 35-minutes.

4) The other Guild is having a making workshop on October 17th to make the flimsy of Christa Quilt's Beaded Lanterns quilt (free pattern). The Guild has purchased and cut the multiple print fabrics to provide as kits. I have purchased and received my background fabric. I have reviewed the pattern and am ready to cut. Beaded Lanterns is 2026 Project 20. 

5) The PaperPieces' The Welcome Quilt featuring Heather Ross fabrics kit was purchased with the idea of adding more of the Heather Ross fabrics I already have to make the quilt bigger for me to snuggle with on the couch. The pattern has been reviewed and some planning started. PaperPieces' The Welcome Quilt is 2026 Project 24 in progress for 0-hours and 9-minutes.

6) Cases for Smile is running a Pillowcase drive and asking especially for Halloween themed kids fabric. At the September Quilt Show, I searched for fabrics that I liked. Miss D's had a buy 4 yards and get 1 free so I purchased 2 Halloween and 2 Christmas then received a black pattern to coordinate as the flange on all 4. 4 October Donation Pillowcases are 2026 Project 23 in progress for 2-hours and 37-minutes.

7) While working on the 4 donation Pillowcases, it seemed like a good time to put together my own Pillowcase for the Free Motion Quilting Academy Sampler quilt. Simulation of the fabrics, not to scale in the picture. FMQA Sampler Pillowcase is 2026 Project 25 in progress for 0-hours and 20-minutes.

September Stats:

• 3 Completed
• 7 Progressed
• 51 UFO's remaining
• 11 2026 started projects remaining

What did you get done in September?

End of September Focus 5:

1. Guild October Challenge, finish at least 1 donation child's pillowcase and take to the October 6th meeting with preference on Halloween fabrics. I am making 4, 2 Halloween and 2 Christmas as 2026 Project 23
2. Free Motion Quilting Academy Sampler custom pillowcase as 2026 Project 25 - while making donation pillowcases using the burrito method with French Seams make one for myself with supplies purchased in June.
3. Guild quilt workshop on October 5th - Geeky Bobbin's Orbital as 2026 Project 19 - target to get the flimsy completed.
4. Happy as a Clamshell, 2026 Project  15 - Continue with the new method for thread basting EPP curbed shapes, Clamshells and Half-Circles. So far 4 of 8 half-circles and 2 of 34 clamshells are basted.
5. Alchemy, 2026 UFO 6 - Row 1 stitching the last color to the medallions is still in progress when traveling and Row 3 glue basting of the medallion 3rd color is available when time permits.

Link-Ups:
* Mini Archie's September 2026 Furtle Around The Blogosphere as #4

* Ms P Designs - September PHD in 2026 as #3