First Finish-A-Long List of the Year

 - follow the link to go straight to the Q1 Finishalong linkup - (the linkup is now closed, but it is still inspirational to see what people will be working on)

It is that time of year again, we are starting a new round of the Finish-A-Long! The Quarter 1 Link-up is open, and there are more and more people joining in.
I am a host again this year, and I am also still the Social Media person. High time to make my own list!

I have an extremely easy job of it this time, since there has been no change at ALL - ooops!

If you want to know what it is all about, go and read my Finish-A-Long page. And of course, if you want to join in, too, you are most welcome!! Any questions, just ask...


This is my list for Quarter 1 of the 2018 Finish-A-Long:

1. Flower Fans

This project was started a while ago with the local quilt group. I am designing it as I go along, and I am finally using my collection of batiks. I have been working on this for the last half year, only a small bit done though. I have decided that this is going to be finished as a table runner rather than a quilt.

2. Feathered Star top

Well yes, this still needs quilting!


3. Hearty

The quilt top from (More) Hearty Good Wishes fabrics and sashiko-stitched linen is finished. It needs to be quilted and bound.

4. Cubes quilt

Not worked on this at all recently, time to finish it though, it's so close.

5. Curved improv

The top is (probably) finished, time to turn it into a quilt. And yes, Instagram followers may recognise this as my IG profile pic!!

6. Sunflowers

The blocks are together for years, I intended to quilt it for free motion quilting practice. The idea is that the riot of colours and shapes will not show up my lack of experience too much... (also not changed from last time).

7. Stack and cut log cabin

Another top ready for quilting.

8.Jungle quilt.

Started as a sample for a quilt-as-you-go workshop many years ago (when my boys might have liked it) it really should be finished and given (sold?) to someone else to be enjoyed.

9. Black and white/folk fabrics quilt

This collection of fabrics are mainly Dutch national costume style fabrics (I think I have a few more stashed away somewhere). I cannot decide whether I will move it to a black and white quilt (leaving out the red and adding different B/W or even grey fabrics), or whether I will keep to the folk style and include the red. Decisions to be made before I can start sewing.

10. Log cabin

I have been looking for a project to take on my holidays, and decided to start hand sewing log cabin blocks. I raided my stash and decided on these fabrics. The bottom image is of a mock up from laying the fabrics log cabin style. When I looked at the fabrics I pulled I was surprised to find that I am more attracted to very saturated colours than I thought. I started as I intended, but have since sewn a few blocks by machine, too. Only to be expected I suppose... Still a lot to do though!

11. Top

For ages I have a few dress making fabrics in the cupboard, and it is high time I did something with them. I intend to dust off my old dress making skills, and start with a simple top (I meant to make it last summer). There is enough fabric there for a dress, but I cannot see myself head to toe in this colour, so a top it is. Hopefully my confidence will increase so that I can make a dress next.

12. ABC doll's quilt set

Another very old project. The quilt is a panel, and has been hand quilted. But the pillow/cushion is not done. This could make a child's doll or teddy bear very happy, if only it was finished.


13. Flannels for a traditional quilt

I won this box of flannels at a guild challenge 18, 21, 25 months ago, and have a pattern in mind, too. I'd like to make a simple Irish chain-style quilt with uneven nine patches. Just the small matter of deciding on colour placement, size of blocks, and sewing it!


14.  Flying geese sampler

- no image -

I have a Flying Geese quilt hidden away (deeply hidden away, therefore still no picture). It is pieced in purples and blues and creams, and has all variations of flying geese blocks in it. I started hand quilting it ages ago, so the quilting needs finishing off, and binding.

15. Shawl/wrap for myself

No, not inspired by the wrap I made for Lily Lapin, but by the wrap I saw at Ireland's online fibre and crafts magazine Olann and called "Mind the Gap". I am not going to add any gaps though, with the wool I am using there is enough going on, but I am going for the shape. This image was posted on my Instagram, when I had it with me on the train to Dublin in September. It has been progressing steadily since and I am decreasing. Hopefully not long to go...


I am sure if I had more time, I could find more projects for the list, but I think I will be busy enough with this lot for a long time to come!

Linking up with the 2018 Finish-A-Long for Quarter 1 at the post on my own blog.

#2018FALQ1sewofcourse
#ridiculouslylongfallist
#ridiculouslylongfallistgang

Sandra

Link up your list for the 1st Quarter of the Finish-A-Long

Its time to link up your list of unfinished projects that you propose to finish in Q1 of the Finish-A-Long. We are hoping that the FAL community will inspire you to work on your unfinished projects this quarter (and throughout the remainder of the year and to get them finished!

The 2018 FAL is hosted by a community of bloggers across the world. Our hosts are:

• Marci - Marci Girl Designs - USA

• Sandra - Studio Sew of Course - Ireland (that's me!)

• Leanne - She Can Quilt  - Canada

• Ella - Throw a Wench in the Works - USA

• Felicity - Felicity Quilts - Canada

• Karen - Capitola Quilter - USA

• Izzy - Dizzy Quilts - Canada

• Lynne - Tinking Along - USA

For those of you who are new to the FAL, it is a place to find motivation and encouragement to complete those unfinished projects that are hanging around. At the start of the quarter you post and link up a list of projects you hope to finish in the next three months, and then at the end of the quarter you link up each successful finish from your original list.

Each linked up finish is an entry into the draw for wonderful prizes from our sponsors. There is no penalty for not finishing a listed project, so feel free to make your list as long or short as you wish. The 2018 Schedule and Rules for the FAL are on my permanent 2018 FAL page, let me know if you have any questions.

Here are the fantastic and generous sponsors for Q1 of the Finish-A-Long. you can see each of their prizes listed under their logo. Please think about visiting them and saying thank you for their their support of the FAL.

$50 Gift Certificate

3 PDF Patterns

$25 Gift Certificate

2 PDF Patterns

$20 Gift Certificate

3 PDF Patterns

2 PDF Patterns

3 Six Month Subscr.

$25 Gift Certificate

$25 Gift Certificate

A Minikins Bundle

$50 Gift Certificate

2 PDF Patterns

$30 Gift Certificate

Join Us!

So now it is time to round up those projects that you want to finish over the next three months! Take a photo of each one and make your list. Please ensure that you have at least STARTED your projects - pulled fabric with a pattern is considered a UFO - and remember it is only FINISHED projects that will get you an entry toward the above listed prizes. So while we love to see your bee blocks, the "finish" is when they are a completed, usable project.

If posting on social media (Flickr, Facebook & Instagram), it will be very helpful if you tag your list with #2018FALQ1yourname (where yourname is unique to you). Using the same hashtag over the quarter when sharing project progress or finishes helps the host to make the connection to your original list quickly and easily.
IMPORTANT: Don't forget to link up your finishes when the quarter closes!

The 2018 Q1 list for your list of proposed finishes is now open, below, on my blog and each of the hosting blogs. You need only link your list once, on one host blog and the link will show up on all the host blogs. If you are using Facebook, Flickr or Instagram, post a mosaic of your projects and put your list in the description. Don't forget to include your unique hashtag. Katy of The Littlest Thistle has a great tutorial on how to link up if you need it.

We also ask that you become part of the FAL community. Please check out the links of others - visit and comment on their lists. We all need encouragement to get those finishes done, so please share some of your own too.

If you want you can follow us on Facebook, Finish-A-Long and/or on Instagram, @finishalong, too. We'll post encouragement during the quarter and reminders when the finishes link up opens at the end of the quarter.

When creating your list there is one thing to remember - No deductions for not completing something so - Aim High! Nothing to lose!! Well now, get those list together and get linked up.

LET THE FUN BEGIN!

Feel free to use and share the FAL button at the top and this one too:

Remember: you only need to link up at ONE hosting blog and it will automatically show up on all hosting blogs.

An InLinkz Link-up

Sandra

Good Wishes for 2018

- see my previous post for the Finish-A-Long Q4 finishes link-up -

Just writing a quick message to wish all my readers a very happy and healthy New Year!! Thank you so much for following along in 2017.

I am not really making resolutions - I am not great at keeping to them, anyway - but I am making some plans for 2018. I have plans for some new initiatives, which I have already been working on in the last month or so. There will be lots-and-lots more sewing, that's for sure!
And I intend to be more present on this blog. Which should not be too hard, since I have not been all that active recently! And with the plans for more sewing, there should be plenty to write about, too.

Wishing you all a good one x

Sandra