Moving right along into 2026, I've gotten a little bit of sewing mojo back, most likely prompted by the fact that later this month I'm giving the Sarasota MQG chapter a program about scraps. The name of my presentation is Scarping Your Scraps.
To explain Scarping... in 2023, a virtual friend, Char at Cloth Stitched, used the term "scarps" in a blog post title. I picked up on the typo, kidding her about it, and saying how I too liked to scarp my scraps. The rest is history, as I've continued to try to scarp all my print scraps. I've set a goal to use them all by 2033.
This is my 2025 total fabric used - incoming, outgoing, and the net used. More used than came in.
While 49 yards of fabric used-up in 2025 is good, compared to using 88.88 yards in 2024, it's not so good. I'm giving myself grace due to the difficult months of October, November, and December, spent visiting Dad, attending his funeral service, and grieving.
Besides... this is too true.
Other 2025 numbers:
- 255.84 miles walked, in 86 walks, according to Map My Walk app
- 115 audiobooks read, 13 more than in 2024 (Click "Books Read" tab on my home page to reference the list in score order.)
- 70 blog posts published, only 1 less than in 2024
- 7,268 people viewed my September 11 blog post "I've Been Sewing"
- 5,611 people viewed my September 18 blog post "Thread Giveaway" of Scanfil thread
- 4,589 people viewed my September 6 blog post "Away to Georgia and Ohio"
- only 1,628 views of my October 29 Filmstrip Quilt Tutorial with 18 comments
- the most blog comments - 34 - were received September 18 on "Thread Giveaway"
- 7 large quilts made, 5 fewer than in 2024 (Click "2025 Quilts" tab on my home page.)
- 3 quilts entered into 2026 QuiltCon Raleigh; 2 quilts accepted
In previous years I've also tallied how many quilt guild meetings I attended; how many times and hours I spent line dancing; how many hours I spent in bible study; and such, but not this year. Those numbers don't mean much, other than to say that I've filled my days with activities that have been beneficial for my mental, physical and spiritual health. We all strive for these things, right?
Now that we're fully into 2026, these are a few of my sewing room WIPs.
Related to the Scarping Your Scraps presentation, I've determined that my Sunny Lanes quilt needs to be finished. Tutorial for this block on my blog. The top had been in limbo at 53" X 69½", but after holding it again, I decided, "It's heavy!"
Made with thousands of 1" finished squares - actually 1,968! - those seams make it weighty. I'd thought to use a single layer of flannel for backing (without batting), but couldn't find enough of anything in my stash.
So, I pieced a backing, and will be sandwiching it with Quilter's Dream Request batting. Basting and quilting will be soon. Coming up with enough stash for binding will be another challenge. Scrappy binding might be the solution.
A bit of between-holidays reorganization of my sewing room found me pulling out UFOs and WIPs to put in some semblance of order. Satisfyingly, they're now labeled, and sorted in the closet.
What I determined to do something with is this bin full of leftover garment sewing fabrics, several sheets and pillow cases, many worn-out t-shirts, a few men's dress shirts, and a tablecloth. I determined it was time to start another braid-in rug.
In 2020, during a series of virtual workshops, I learned no-sew rug-braiding from Ilka White who lives in Australia. She is the best instructor I've ever learned from.
Starting with four strands here are progress photos.
Unhappily, I found a mistake made, several rows back, in the baby afghan I've been knitting. The vertical cable is meant to be continuous. Darn me. I'll be carefully unknitting to fix my error.
All's not wrong in the world, though. This morning's super-moon, as it was competing with our sunrise, reminds me of what's more valuable than a mistake in a baby afghan. God's creation shines.
I appreciate that you are tracking what means more to you and filling your days with activities that support your mental, physical and spiritual well being. I like the comment about the fabric. . .I too have worked on curbing my purchasing and have embraced pulling from stash. . .although I still managed to purchase plenty last year! I sure love your rug braiding.--TerryK@OnGoingProjects
ReplyDeleteYour braided rug looks amazing, just wondering if the work is hard on your hands? That's a pretty little baby Afghan, lucky the error is not too far back for you to fix.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year! I have so much to say. Your net loss is phenomenal and I'm dying to see a pic of your stash in order to see how it is stored as well as it's size. I realize this is like asking to see your underwear, it's private. I'm planning a "no buy" & "no accumulate" year in 2026 so my fingers are crossed that I can use/mend what I have instead of buying things in bulk... on sale... because they are cute. I'm tired of being a consumer. I get the same high from using up scraps. I wish I could attend your scarping. I'm not much of a tracker but I documented my reading in 2025 as well as the format of my book consumption. Out of 100 books only nine were paper. Thank you for turning me onto listening to audiobooks while sewing. Finally, your braided rug is the FIRST kind that I can actually see myself making and using. I would love to take a class/tutorial from freezing Ontario. Let's continue to treat ourselves with grace as we meander through this year.
ReplyDeleteWow, that rug is beautiful! I tried rug braiding years ago when we lived in a cape cod style house that lent itself to braided rugs, but it was much less interesting than yours! The variety of your projects always amazes me :D
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