Chookshed Stitchers 2024 Challenge - #8 - A Christmas Stitchery

When the group first discussed this Challenge... a few numbers were assigned to specific things - totally optional of course - but #8 was to be a Christmas stitchery and many of us decided to use a design from Anni Downs - the one she released for Christmas 2023. 

I had originally thought to enlarge it a bit and make it into a mini quilt to hang on a little wooden hanger I have - so it would need to be 12 x 14"....BUT I only have one hanger and several minis that fit, so I pondered . . Then Janice had another bright idea - to do this one and a few of the previous ones and make a larger, though still small, quilt.
At the moment - that is my plan...

Here is the 2023 Anni Downs Christmas Stitchery, using Anchor Variegated red (#1206)

I haven't trimmed it yet, pending a final decision on how I will use it.

And the 2024 Challenge is over.  Deana wisely restricted it to 10 projects - figuring that by November we were likely busy with Christmas projects.

So, How did I do?

I am happy to say that I completed 8 projects and for those that I didn't finish - I do have a finished top.  Finishing off will probably go on the 2025 list.

Huge thanks Deana for suggesting this and keeping us on our toes by posting the Linky Party each month.

Chookshed Stitchers 2024 Challenge - #7 - Placemats for Meals on Wheels

This was a pretty open-ended project...Placemats...I didn't specify how many....so it was easy to reach my goal...LOL

I did need to finish off these 4 that were started in a LQS workshop - giving us 4 ways to add binding.  I picked up a few tips - shared a tip with the instructor (LOL) and finally finished them.
I had done the poped/flanged binding before...but I make the contrast narrower. (Kits were provided with strip cut etc).  The one I had not tried before was the blue one - where you bring the backing over to the front to form a frame.  Good for placemats and wall hangings.  Not sure I would do it for a quilt...but at least I have the technique now.

Then I raided the bag where I had pieces cut, partly made placemats etc.  I dedicated about 2 days to the task and got 10 of the yellow/florally ones done - I still have more of that fabric..cut to size ready to go - but I want to get some backing fabric for those.

In the "Placemats' box, I also found some blocks that came from a lady who had passed away. There was no pattern or additional fabric with these blocks, so I put them aside for placemats.  I lost some of the points, but the colours are good - especially for men.

So Project #7 can be ticked as "DONE".
If we do the Challenge again in 2025, I will make "Placemats for Meals on Wheels" one of my items.  I still have a bit in that box!

Thanks Deana for suggesting this challenge - it has really helped move some things along the line....one project to go...guess we don't need to "wonder" what that will be . . . .LOL😁

Chookshed Stitchers 2024 Challenge - #1 - July - Finished

Back here - I posted my almost-finished Block Holder.

I have now added the corflute boards and felt pages.  I made this big enough to be able to transport my 20.5" ruler.  Ideally a pocket for the ruler would have been good....but I decided that I could just tie it in for its rare trips out of the sewing room!

Chookshed Stitchers 2024 Challenge - #3 - an EPP project

When the idea of the Chookshed Challenge was first discussed, a few numbers were assigned to specific things....that was optional of course...but #3 was an EPP project....and I like to toe the line...sometimes!

i am not a big EPP person - I will do it as part of a project - but not normally as a wholeproject.  So, initially, I decided that my EPP could be parts of My Small World . . .but the cyber random number generator gods did not align and I had to complete those parts before #3 was selected.

So I made a small pincushion.

This matches all the matchy-matchy stuff I made for one of the groups I belong to.  

I posted about them here.

Chookshed Stitchers 2024 Challenge - #10

My #10 Challenge project was to make the top for this Foundation Paper Pieced pattern.

The plan is that it will have an extra block added to each end and it can then "match" the sewing machine top that I made as my Challenge #9 - here

(Excuse the messy design wall...
this pic was taken at my recent retreat...
and I am not attempting to clean off years of threads...)

Most of you would know that my initials are SEW...so this is totally appropriate....and it was hard to resist buying the pattern.

It's from QuietPlay

Chookshed Stitchers 2024 Challenge - #5

When we were dicsussing the Challenge idea during a Zoom meeting,it was suggested that #5 could be a FPP project and a Kiwi block had been shared with us from Louise.

When I started the Back to Nature FPP project - knowing there would only be 9 blocks in that, I decided to make the Kiwi block to go with the nature blocks.

So, my #5 was done early in the month.  Just one block.

Maybe I need to stitch an eye, so he can see the other blocks?

Chookshed Stitchers 2024 Challenge - #9

I chose "Stitch Happens" as my #9 project.

This project came about after some "enabling" friends (and I) planned to make "Sew Big or Go Home".

That quilt works out as 63" x 71".   Where would I put it???

A few of us decided not to proceed...LOL

"Stitch Happens" is smaller - only 37" x 40".
The pattern is here.....cause ...you know.... you might want to make it too....

It is pretty much - "work out what colours you want where"....and as I say - patterns are just a guide.

So I started with this idea

The aqua background, dark aqua, grey and coral fabrics were purchased with "Sew Big" in mind, so I used them as the base for the colour selections.

It ended up like this:

I had thought it might get quilted before month end . . .but  . . . .nope!

Chookshed Stitchers 2024 Challenge - #4

Our Number for the Chookshed 2024 Challenge for March is #4 and many of the stitchers decided it would be a panel.

To be honest, I had originally planned to work on this panel - relatively simple ... mostly straight-line quilting.  

But when I measured it - it was too big to go where I had planned to put it . . mmmm. . . . . .so, I could make it narrower . . .I could rearrange other things and put it in a different place . . . .or I could defer the decision.....which I did!

Instead, I made up a panel into a quilt top which will be donated (when finished) to a Domestic Violence group, that my Sunday Group supports.

It was a quick make - I split the panel in two - added the black and red down the centre, a narrow red border and the black & white striped outside border.

Hopefully, it will be quick to quilt too!

I wonder what number Deanna will draw for us for April???

. 

Chookshed Stitchers 2024 Challenge - #2 - Sewing Machine mini quilt

This one was a quick & easy project.

I bought this as a kit - it was pre-fused and pre-cut pieces, so all I had to do was find the background fabric, a backing and a binding.

This year I hope to make a few mini quilts - mostly featuring sewing machines, so I included it in the Chookshed Challenge List. 

The first one is here

FNWF - February

 A few of us gathered in cyber space for FNWF.

I worked on this project for most of the day.  The building is foundation pieced and then the other pieces are appliqued.  Some of them are quite tiny...

It is Shop 1 (Teacup Bake Shop) in a set of 10 - called "The Shop Ladies" by Sue Pritt.

I have a few friends who are also working on this.  I think we will all need to keep motivating each other.

One thing we have tried for this project is printing the applique shapes onto the fusible webbing - that did save a lot of tracing time!

It was a little frustrating in parts, so once all the pieces were ready, I decided to reward myself with something simpler.  I prepped this sewing machine applique which will be made into a small wall hanging.  This is also my Chookshed Challenge #2 project, so getting a very early start on that one.

There was no linkup from Cheryll this time - but it's hard to keep a sewer down!

Chookshed Stitchers 2024 Challenge - #6 - Maureen's Bag/Wallet

When the Chookshed Stitchers talked about this challenge - a few decided that Project #6 (the first number drawn) should be the bag that was the project at Scrub Stitchin' 2023.  When I wrote up/revised my list, I thought I should concentrate on the things that needed to be done - rather than the "want to do" projects, so I substituted a bag that I had promised to make for bestie Maureen.
She saw a wallet at a craft  show. . . ."I can make that for you"  I said.
She provided the fabrics and zips etc . . . .

😛

It is a machine embroidery design - so you make each section using the embroidery machine and then put it together using a normal sewing machine. It's a Sweet Pea design and they kindly provide videos to show you how to do it . . well how the very expert sewer does it.
The guy making it in the video referred to is as a"substantial" project - especially when turning it back the right way . . .I think he meant "challenging:...LOL.   He also mentioned that a particular bit may produce "some vocabulary".   It did ...and two broken needles.

Anyway, every day is a learning day, and I doubt very much if I will make another one.  Maureen suggested a strap for it too - so we will discuss that and see how it could work.

Happy to be on time for the Chookshed Challange . . . 

wonder what the next number will be???