Dirty Dozen UFO Challenge

When I was cleaning in the sewing room I realized how many UFOs I have. I don’t mind the UFOs that I have. So many were cut out over nap time when I was doing childcare. Cutting out quilts was the thing I could do that was quiet while the kids were sleeping. It made good use of my time…but now, I have quilts that are cut out that I need to be sewn. It’s not a bad problem to have, but, it’s time. They need to get sewn.

Mary at Country Threads is hosting a “Dirty Dozen UFO Challenge”. Essentially you pick 12 unfinished projects and number them 1-12. Each month she picks a number and that’s the project you finish. Read more about it HERE is this blog post from Mary. (Country Threads is currently down. They are hoping to be up soon)

I thought this would be a good way to tackle a few of my UFOs. So I’m jumping in. Here are my projects….

1-Virginia Bound:
This one is a top…sort of. I have the center section done.

This is the original quilt….

But..when Kelli and I were in Moline for a quilt retreat with the Mississippi Valley Quilters years ago, I saw this one that someone else did….this…
It’s applique around the outside. I think I want to do something like this.

I love the look and like the challenge of trying something a little out of my box. I might not get it completely finished in a month but I sure can try.

2-Churn Dash Shirt Quilt
This is my shirt quilt. When #2 is chosen, I will made the decision on whether to put a border on this or not. I’ll also get it quilted. It’s time.

I love the quilt…no borders is growing on me.

3-Hawk’s Nest
This isn’t really even very far along. I have the triangles..and I have the fabric.

The finished quilt looks like this…

It’s a Bonnie Hunter pattern. I’m using up a BUNCH of bonus triangle to make this. All I really have is bonus triangles…nothing else is started so I wonder if that even counts as a UFO.

4-Hawaiian Sunset
If you’re a long time blog reader, you know I’ve wanted to do this for YEARS. It is for sure getting done this year.

In the last 9 months or so I even bought a few more fabrics for it. Seriously, it’s time for this to get done!

5-Scrap Bargello in Plaids

I’ve made this quilt before…

I adored it. Over the years as I’ve deboned shirts I’ve cut more strips to make another. I gifted the first one and thought I’d love to make one to keep.

Here’s the book layout of the quilt.

It’s easy sewing and look forward to tackling this one.

6-Garlic Knots
Several years ago a blog reader gifted me a bunch of batik scraps. All were on the small side. About the same time Bonnie Hunter was making this quilt, Garlic Knots. I thought the batiks would be perfect.

So over nap time over the course of a week or two, I cut out this quilt. It sat and then last fall I sewed about 10 of the blocks together, then it got put away again. It’s time to get it out and finish it.

7-Floribunda
This is Bonnie Hunter’s quilt: I have most everything here to make this. I collected floral scraps over the years. There was enough for me and Kelli both to make the quilt. Kelli ended up taking the fabric and cutting strips for us both.

That’s as far as the quilt got.

It suppose to look like this. (Picture from Bonnie’s blog) The free pattern for this quilt is HERE.

8-Oregon or Bust
This is another Bonnie Hunter quilt. It’s from the book Scraps and Shirttails II. I have long wanted to make this ever since I found Mary from Country Threads version.

I collected shirts for several years as Mary’s version was made with only blue and orange 100% cotton upcycled shirts and I wanted to make mine like hers. I am as in love with Mary’s version. I have the shirts deboned but that’s as far as I am. I can’t wait to make this!!

9-Sofie’s Quilt
This is a quilt of a friend of mine. They found it in grandma’s cedar chest. They asked if I could quilt it. I’m super nervous about this as the white background is thin. I think I’ll consult with my friend Carla from Longarm Quilting Inspirations about this.

I LOVE the design. I’d like to replicate this quilt.

10-Sugar Bowl
This is another FREE Pattern from Bonnie Hunter you can find HERE.

I have some strips cut but that’s about it. This finished quilt (Picture from Bonnie’s blog) suppose to look like this….

11-Show Off
This is a free Quilted Twins pattern. This is a 100% cotton recycled quilt. (Find the pattern HERE)

Kelli just made on in all blues…

I have to admit, I wish mine was all in blues.

12-Holy Toledo
This is cut out but that’s it. It would sew together pretty fast though. This is another Bonnie Hunter quilt. This one is from Scraps and Shirttails II. I LOVE this book.

There are more project too…. I need more months in the year. I am putting these here though as I’m not going to make this so strict that I don’t enjoy it. I’m giving myself permission to substitute other projects in if I want…or do two projects in a month if I want. (It likely won’t be the two project thing but here’s to wishing)

I am numbering remaining projects and letting myself choose either project…the corresponding number from list one or the corresponding number from list two.

I have a
1-red spider web quilt…
2-black spider web quilt started too but forgot to take a picture.

3-I have this wool project…I’d love to get this done. I have the frame for it already..I just need to finish the inside.

4-I need to stitch the stems and make this into a pincushion. That wouldn’t take long at all…but, I have to do it.

5-I have scrap vortex that I started- It’s the project in the bag on the left in the photo below.

6-I have this project in the basket on the right, with the red square in the middle. I’d really love to finish that up. It was so fun to make.

7-I have this baby quilt cut out….

It’s this pattern…VERY simple and would be quick to finish.

It’s a free pattern on our blog find it HERE.

8…and this baby quilt…same quilt as above.

9-I also have this quilt I started for my grandson Scotty. I’d love to make this for him for Christmas-or his birthday but that’s in July. It’s a Crooked Courthouse Steps quilt with Mickey in the middle of the blocks.

10-Double Wedding Ring Quilt
I hope to get to this soon but I want to put in on here in case I “forget” about it. I want this finished.

11-This is my Quilted Twins Mystery. This needs to get tackled too. I have the first blocks done…I need to make the alternate blocks.

12-I have other things too…these were started back in January….
These were started last fall….
Here are a couple projects I was putzing with.
…and of course, the dog quilt. I want to make that too.

I don’t want to get so bogged down in these UFOs that I don’t have fun quilting. I don’t want to not be able to start any new projects so I’m joining in on the challenge and doing the best I can.

I also want to be creating some original designs of our own and submitting them. All of the UFO sewing has to fit in between that work.

So…here we go. Starting July 1st you can count me in on tackling, or at least progressing some of these UFOs. I know one thing for sure, I am not going to have this many UFOs by the time 2021 rolls around.

Again, HERE is this blog post from Mary that tells about the Dirty Dozen Challenge. Are you joining in too!