That UFO Challenge…..

Last week you might remember I sent out a UFO Challenge.  I was hoping some of you might join me in finishing up some UFOs (unfinished projects) before Bonnie Hunter’s new book came out in September…there were quite a few of you who thought tackling some old projects to make way for new projects was a good idea (here’s a like to the other post in case you missed it).  I was so happy…it’s always fun to sew with others even if it is virtual sewing.

Well I am limiting my UFO work to only Bonnie Hunter projects….Little did I know that I had so many!!  Kelli was here as I was taking pictures of them and she was laughing and laughing.  She thought I was more like one of those infomercials that kept saying “oh but wait”…because I have LOTS!!

Are you ready for the listing?? I’m almost, but not quite, embarrassed there are so many…but like Kelli said…”I know you’ll get to all of them someday”…and I will.  I am so excited about each of the projects.  I never “fell out of love with any of them”.  I just don’t have enough hours in a day….So here’s the list and how far along they are.

Up first…Blue Skies.  This is from the String Fling book….  I have a bag of strings ready to go for this and it’s all cut out.  Not a stitch has been sewn.

Next up…Cheddar Bowties…This is from More Adventures with Leaders and Enders.  I have about 1/3 of the blocks sewn.  I have the border segments sewn too.

Fair and Square I fantasize about.  Kelli has her’s done and I love it.  It’s been a long time favorite of mine.  It’s in Scraps and Shirttails II.  I have the white strips cut and will just grab my 1 1/2″ bucket and start in sewing once the mood and time aligns.  I’m very excited about this one…Not a stitch is sewn.

On the rack to be quilted are Bricks and Stepping Stones for a Wedding quilt….Jingle Bell Square and Wonky Wishes….  I’m excited about them all.  I have backings prepped picked out for two of them.  I know I am keeping Jingle Bell Square and Wonky Wishes for myself so, you know how it goes if you long arm, your own stuff gets finished last.  UGH!  Update:  Jingle Bell Square is not finished.  See it here.

Any guesses on how many more projects I have started that are Bonnie Hunter quilts??Here is Pfefferneuse.  It’s all cut out.  I cut it out over a week’s time during nap time of childcare before the new baby came.  Cutting out quilts was something I could do during nap time was quiet and I could still see the kids.  This is in String Fling.

Let’s not forget Pineapple Crazy…Also in String Fling.  I have about 20 more center blocks to do and ALL of the outside border blocks to do.

Here is Virginia Bound.  That one has been at a stand still.  I had run out of shirt strings…well I didn’t run out.  I did run out of variety.  Being I have LOTS more shirts cut up now, I could get back to this project.  It is in Scraps and Shirttails I.  I started this in Moline when we saw Bonnie.

Rectangle Wrangle.  I love this quilt.  I adore this quilt.  When I saw the book Scraps and Shirttails for the first time this is the quilt I most wanted to make.  The strips for the inside blocks are all cut out.  Not a stitch is sewn on it.  I want this quilt for me and only me….again, things for me get set aside.

This is Rick Rack Nines.  It is in Leaders and Enders.  This one got started by accident.  The 2″ bucket was overflowing and needed taming.  I have all of the segments sewn and cut but only a few blocks are together.

Star Struck I started not to long ago.  I’ve made good progress on it.  It started as something I could work on over nap time.  In the mornings before child care I’d get up early and sew.  Then during nap time I’d cut the strips into segments.  The blocks are all finished.  I’m starting the sashing debate….it’s been stuck there.  I have the border pieces cut and will start leader and ender sewing them soon.

Here is Santa Fe Star.  I loved this quilt when I saw it in the book, String Fling, the first time and still do.  I have the flying geese next to my sewing machine and have been leader and ender sewing them over the past month or so.  I think this one stalled out because sewing those diamonds isn’t in my exact comfort zone.  I need to just start sewing them.  I am sure once I do, it will be no big deal…but then it’s the set in seams.  UGH.  I know…excuses-excuses.  I am doing a little debate on what color to do the red/orange background….print or solid??  I just need to do it.  I’ve given myself a reprieve on it until the flying geese are finished…then no excuses.

Talkin’ Turkey I started WAY back when that block was in Quiltmaker’s 100 blocks before the book even came out.  I almost have the red string pieces sewn but that’s it.   That’s in String Fling.

Here is Texas Braid.  It’s in Leaders and Enders.  I haven’t sewn a stitch on it.  For a few years I had the pieces cut but not the red corner stones.  I never had enough of the same reds.  Then a couple month ago over nap time when I needed something to do, I cut them out.  I ended up just using whatever reds I had.  They don’t match and I’m actually happy that I came to that conclusion.  Still no stitching….

Here’s Winston Ways.  I’m not quite sure if some people would call this a UFO…I am though because I have ever intention of making it.  This has been set aside for quite awhile now.  It’s a box of red and white strips.  Any day, I’ll grab this and start sewing the red and white four patches….I don’t have any other part cut out.

Hmmm….That’s 16 projects.  That’s a lot…sadly many of them are in the “just cut out phase”.

I did finish two while I was off on my medical leave.  I’ll show those off on the next two coming Fridays….Garden Party and my Lozenges quilt got finished up…oh I finished Narragansett Blues and already showed that one off.  If you missed that, it’s here.

So Kelli asked which one are you going to start working on….I honestly said I didn’t know.

I do know that I am going to keep the flying geese for Santa Fe String Star next to the machine and continue “leader and ending” them.  I think Rectangle Wrangle just might come out to play.  I know in the summer we go on more road trips.  That might be a good one to be working on as I could pin the blocks for that in the car….I also set aside a shirt front when I’ve been cutting shirts apart and I could cut the outside stars for it.  I think I’ll keep Rick Rack Nines by the machine too.  I could easily feed a few segments into the machine over the next week.

I’m getting excited to we working on these projects.  You know me, I can’t work on only one.  Check back here next Wednesday…some kind of progress on these UFO’s is going to happen.  I’m not sure what…but something.

See you here again next week.