Fifth Chinese Coins Quilt Sewn and an Annual Review

Fifth Chinese Coins appeared to be finished until I found several more coin strips - enough for a couple of rows. A bit of hesitation. Should I add them in or not? Yes. With extra rows the quilt fits a double bed {if I use pillow shams.} So one wide row on the left and a skinny row to the right. Now the columns are sewn and I'm considering sashing strips.

Fifth Chinese Coins quilt with possible sashing

I'm not sure why I keep trying to add sashing to this quilt or why it's always dark sashing. Once up, it always seems overpowering and unnecessary so I sewed the top without any.

Fifth Chinese Coins quilt top

It was the correct choice.


2017 Review

I intended to review and set goals before the New Year but was sidelined by a racetrack quilt. With a bit of free time I can now organize the thoughts that have been playing in the back of my mind.

Last year was the first time I publicly wrote an annual plan: five quilts-in-progress and four goals.  Only two of the five from last year's post were completed - one way or another. Polka Dots was quilted and gifted. The selvedge top was donated.

On the other hand, I finished a record 23 projects counting all pillows and stockings. {And of course, I'll do that.} Nine older projects miraculously sewed themselves up and moved out. The rest were started and finished this year.

I finally included recycled fabric in a few. Kaja's photos of her bundled shirts and the subsequent pull from her stash highlighted my problem. Pulling the recycled material first completely changes the choices of new fabrics. {I think that's why her quilts have become noticeably softer this year.} Following suit I chose a wide assortment of "home recycled" fabrics first for pillows and the fifth Chinese Coins quilt then filled in with the new stuff.

Monica at Lakeview Stitching finds end use drives her color choices. She wants her bed quilts subtly shaded, leaving the "more energetic color combinations" to her art quilts. It's a point I've been pondering for a while. Although our level of quiet for bedrooms varies significantly, I too want that room to be restful and relaxing.

Four quilts finished in 2017 involved complex designs that encompassed all my abilities. I like having projects with depth and challenge but also need some easier ones to simply keep the scrap bag in stasis.

Considering the quilting backlog whittled away, the new projects carried across the finish line, and the fabric stash used or donated, publicly announcing my goals helped me achieve them. Worth repeating.

2018 Plans

1. Write the baseball quilt pattern.
2. Finish New York Beauty, Ocean Waves, and Quilty 365.
3. Focus on smaller quilts, beginning with the three designs already drafted.
4. Pay attention to color and fabric choices.
5. Practice simpler quilting designs.
6. Continue combinations: recycled + scraps + new fabrics; traditional + improvisation + original designs. 
7. Add more details. This probably means applique or printing and stamping. Thanks for the inspiring posts, Audrey and Kaja.

Enjoy the day, Ann