Progress on my sashiko project

 I have spent some time on my sashiko project. Had my brain working.

No. 3. Chookshed challenge is in full force. 

I have spent some time calculating cutting and placement. The pattern we received when doing this class was only a guideline. There were no definite measurements. So I finished the stitching, ironed and trimmed, then calculated the sashing and worked out the missing blocks.

And everything is cut ready to sew together 

I am excited to get this sewn together. It’s now together and I have these hexagons ready to stitch on.

So they are glued on ready to stitch

The baste it glue works well

Hand stitching the hexagons on.

Linking up with Slow Sunday Stitching.

https://kathysquilts.blogspot.com/2026/01/slow-sunday-stitching_0209953682.html

I have just finished stitching all the hexagons.

Dear Jane stitch along

 2026 has seen me join in a Dear Jane stitch along. I started this quilt in 2016 back when I was sewing along with the Kilmore quilters. I moved away and didn’t continue with them but did make some blocks. It’s time they got a move on.

This is the book I am using

this is Jane Stickles quilt it is designed from

the shaded ones are the one I have completed

G7 was the first this stitch along was to do. I had already made it and I have now decided that I am going to work it as a QAYG. I am using all scraps browns/beige fabrics so the back will be really scrappy browns.

The second block on the list was F7. I hadn’t made this one but it is an easy one.

These blocks are an unfinished 5”. They are a mixture of pieced and appliqué. Lots of techniques will be used to make them but there are some great sites to follow for help

This is the one I was following

 https://thatquilt.blogspot.com/2009/09/f-7.html

and a new one to me

http://www.susangatewood.net/mypatterns.html?fbclid=IwdGRleAPFmxRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xNzM4NDc2NDI2NzAzNzAAAR7Cb5ThSItHYGMiiWGrvEXQyxHVWMV1dyf1Xo4ewkrP8KupCg9_3JqBm4xLQg_aem_sc2wmJJuKiB5W2gW2YMDpQ

My Japanese, sashiko pin cushion

 Ok… after being on zoom at new years and the discussion about my thoughts on my pin cushion. I acted.

Yes, after 2 years I did something about it.

I chose fabric, thread and a design.

I drew my lines, started sewing and then it was done.

A little stitch gathered up and filling put in. I now have a pin cushion in my special hexagon pot.

And don’t these special pins look so good in their new home. A set of sewing tools and a special cheeky owl for Tony.

Why has it taken 2 years to do something that only took about 3 hours to stitch and complete.

Anyway, it is done now and is very special to me. 

I love it.

My RSC this year is anything goes

 This year for RAINBOW SCRAP CHALLENGE (RSC) I am not doing a quilt or set blocks but will focus on whatever is around. January is BLUE. Amongst my scraps and cleanup I found some crumbs already started as well as a zipper pocket for something already stitched. 

These need to be finished.

Here is the scraps squares I found to do the outside.

Here is the zipper pouch done. The outside

And inside

I also want to make my little pincushion pot to stick my fancy pins in. 

I bought these pins and the little pot on my trip to Japan. The girls on zoom think I should work in some sashiko. 

Linking up with Angela for RSC.

https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/2026/01/scraphappy-saturday.html

Clue 7. Bonnie Hunter mystery

Mmmmmm, there was an update with clue 6. We needed an extra unit. The first bits had been made so just needed assembly . So all done….

Next up was clue 7. Around 100 units. 

All done.

The sew and flip extra bonus units have been sewn. All these HST units measuring 1/2” cut have been completed 

I’m ready for clue 8.

Chookshed Challenge with Deana

 Once again Deana is organising the Chookshed Challenge for 2026

so here is my list of projects I hope to make some progress on this year

1. My Christmas advent calendar

https://jobutterfield.blogspot.com/2025/10/no-1-chookshed-challenge.html

2. A grandmas braid project. I made the table runner but have enough fabric left over to make some placemats to match.

3. Assemble my Sashiko quilt. All stitching has been done. The blocks need to be trimmed

4. Attempt to knit a pair of socks. I have the wool, needles, books, pattern links for tutorials and plenty of people to ask for help.

5. Continue with my FARMERS WIFE quilt. It would be nice to get another row done.

6. Work on my INTERNATIONAL SISTERS blocks. They have been sitting in the box for a few years now.

7. Continue with my perpetual calendar. Lots of embroidery needs to be done first.

8. Make a storage bag to protect and store my FLIP LA K rulers together. This has been on the list for the previous 2 years. I have everything to make it but keep putting it off.

9. A MEGAN LANCASTER recycled denim bag. Our quilt group did a class with her last year but I could only call if for a little time to see how it was done. I have the full kit and it should only take the day. But I am thinking of adding some sashiko to it.

10. I’m going to leave this number as a mystery project. It maybe something that I find tucked away somewhere, a continuation on one of the previous numbers or a new start. Time will tell.

So to start this Challenge off Deana has pulled no. 3 to get us going.

https://dreamworthyquilts.blogspot.com/2025/12/january-chookshed-number-is-3.html

so mine is my SASHIKO quilt assembly. 

I started this on a quilt cruise back in 2014 The start is here

and this is where I am at now.

Playing around with scraps

After having to clean my sewing and store room I found a few scraps I didn’t want to put back so they got worked into some donation quilts.

This is a small incubator cover

Next up is a smaller quilt 36” * 42”

I had these squares leftover. I found some strip to go with them

Sewed them together to make it measure 42” * 50”

Then all the crumbs were sewn together into 8.5” blocks.

Backings, wadding and quilting are yet to happen.

Lupine and Laughter Bonnie Hunter Mystery

 I love sewing along with Bonnie Hunter over at Quiltville Inn. This is a mystery that starts at end November and goes through to mid January. I have made about 5 others and it was time to do another one. They have lots of pieces but I manage to enjoy making them. 

So for clue one we had to make hundreds of hour glass blocks

Clue two we had to make hundreds of flying geese

Clue three we had to make hundreds of half square triangles

in 3 different sizes.

Next up was clue four. Yes hundreds of half rectangle triangles

Oh boy, that was some work. This brought us up to the Christmas week. Bonnie gave us an easy clue five this time. Cutting more squares and assemble with blocks made in clue 1.

These didn’t take long at all 

Clue six was another story. Assemble parts from clue 3 & 4. Sounds easy.

OH NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had trimmed my 100’s of hst to the finished size and not the cut size so I had to make them all over again.

Thanks to Chooky having a zoom session on New Years Eve and another one all New Year’s Day I made progress.

and they are all completed

Ready for clue seven on Saturday.