2017 Review and 2018 Planning

Since today is the last day of 2017, it's only appropriate to review the year and assess the quiltmaking and sewing that's been done.

While I know several quilters who make a quilt top and then call it "a finish," I prefer that my quilts are completely done and ready to use. My personal policy means that a quilt is quilted and bound before being called finished, and shown at a guild meeting Show and Tell. I know of at least one MQG chapter that requires that it's members show only completed quilts!

In the past, I've been known to choose a word of the year. Not so for 2018. Some bloggers like to post their goals. Not so for 2018. Given the multitude of quilts I've made in my lifetime (easily more than 300), I don't feel the need to create self-imposed goals for the upcoming year. At my age, it's nice to feel no pressure to do anything!

2017 in Review
All tallied, I made 14 quilts in 2017, a number that is very similar to last year, and the year before.
Seven of my finishes were what I consider small quilts - baby-sized and smaller.

The remaining seven quilts were larger.

I'm counting my five small Wayward Transparency quilts (at the bottom of the collage) as one quilt because they're hanging together in one spot. I'll blog about them in January.

Not pictured are a half-dozen tops I sewed for myself, four pairs of pajamas for grandsons, two pillows, six placemats, two Zip Up Tray Pouches, a Dainty Tote, an Essential Wristlet, a Sew Together Bag, and a case for my music stand. Those are the small "in between" projects I like for their fast finish-ablity.

A Word About WIPs
Works In Progress - Mine are genuinely being worked on fairly regularly, and I feel no compunction to rush to finish. They're truly on-going projects, and I like keeping them that way. Don't you agree that it's good to have a variety of WIPs on hand to suit any occasion? Like when you're away-from-home sewing with others, or a passenger on a long car trip, or at home in a cozy chair in front of the TV?

By my current count, I have seven on-going WIPs, some for which instructions are still being released over several months. English paper piecing also makes a couple appearances here. But no hurry. No worries.

I do, however, like to review plans for the coming year, and determine where I'm headed with quilts that need to be made, and quilts I'd like to make. Prompted by QuiltingJetGirl who is hosting a linky party, I've made a plan.

Contrary to my usual reaction to "lists," I even made one in Excel! The first seven items are my WIPs. The next two are UFOs, one of which I've got my hands on today for FMQ. The last two items are quilts I'm honored to make for the upcoming releases of two different quilting books (not mine). Eleven items... the list doesn't seem too daunting.

While I'd like to believe this is the extent of my 2018 list, I'd be kidding myself if I didn't think I'd participating in a challenge or two, or some other "let's make this project!"

Happily for me, none of the sewing, creating, or making has been a hardship, nor am I yet getting sick of it. So in 2018 I'll move ahead with my plan, but in the end, go with the flow.

I am determined though that this year I'll "shop from my stash." No fabric-buying unless it's essential for a 2018 finish. It's not so much about spending money on fabric, but rather using the stash that's been accumulating over the past five years, including several healthy piles of solids.

Happy new year to you reader-friends and relatives who are part of the online world that's an integral part of my life. Thank you for your interest in my doin's and for comments/chats where we get to know each other better. God bless you in 2018! Linda