HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY, zoom & GREEN sewing for Betty

HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY

last night Chooky held a zoom session and continued today, AUSTRALIA DAY.

https://chookyblue.blogspot.com/

It was so hot here today so it was best spent inside and under the air conditioner.

I think we got to 45 degrees Celsius, 113 Fahrenheit.

Tomorrow is supposed to be 48 Celsius, 118.4 Fahrenheit.

I finished the day working on my Bonnie Hunter mystery, Lupine and Laughter, border.

I started Sunday night and continued on Monday with my sewing for Betty @ https://rainbowconnectionquilters.blogspot.com/ for her charity rainbow row quilts. I decided to jump ahead and do a green row of terry Roland blocks. These measure 4.9” finished.

And here they are all joined together in a row.

Now, on the blogger, google and apple (iPad & phones) front for doing posts and adding photos. What a nightmare. I have spent hours trying different things. Signing in and out, a different log in, emailing to blog and sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. So if you see a photo know that I have been pulling my hair out.

So cheers to everyone for a great AUSTRALIA DAY.

 

Double ended oven mitts for RSC

 Back to clearing out some blue scraps and finish off my oven mitts.

I got 2 made. 

What it looks like on the oven door.

These are going into the gift box.

Linking up with So Scrappy for RSC

Lupine & Laughter mystery clue 8

 I was up to date with Bonnie’s mystery but a special project took over. I am now back to it. Clue 8 which is the last clue and reveal. I feel that this quilt has been easier than a few of my others I have done. Maybe because I am no longer working I have managed better.

Anyway, next pieces are all cut.

I have started sewing the assembly of my blocks. Just taking my time. 

Block ‘a’ is half sewn. No to iron before the next sewing day.

Dear Jane stitch along G7 & F7 & G6

 I have completed the first two blocks in the stitch along.

Week 1 is block G7

I have decided to qayg and use scrappy squares for the backing.

Week 2 is block F7

All quilted and side sashing added

I will add the back brown sashings when I join the blocks into rows. 

As this quilt needs a 1/2” sashing this works well for the qayg method. 

I will have to think what to do when I come to the borders though.

The next week was made and here it is. Week 3 G6

This one was a bit of a challenge. It took a few hours. It’s not exact but the pattern allows for a few variances. The quilting has been done ready to sew into the row.

You can click on the Dear Jane tab above or this This link  to find links to all my other  blocks blocks

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.