Let’s start with a confession, I hadn’t appreciated that Finish Along (FAL) targets had to be WIPS, not just a bunch of fabric, but actually started….. I think I must have got confused with the One Monthly Goal which I also do to keep me focussed. That can be anything even a twinkle in your eye. Anyway as a consequence some of my Q4 FAL targets aren’t proper in fact only 3 of them are!  But nevertheless looking back at the targets for Q4’s Finish Along I did OK. Four out of six….

And the finished items ended up looking like….   Cloudburst, My Hybrid, Waste not Want not and sewing machine cover

The ones that got away include my perennial quilt made of strings it’s now a top so will reappear hopefully for the last time on the next FAL list. I’m making no promises! The other non appearance is my second son’s quilt and to worsen the crime and  in a moment of child cruelty it’s not happening. This is down to the fact that I know full well it will end in a crumpled mess and this son is a heavy user of things and they routinely end up damaged. He’s also always complaining he’s too hot!! But the clincher is that it is a very boring quilt design..sigh. I will wait and see if he reminds me.

So to FAL 2017 Q 1, well in keeping with my selfish approach of doing what I want to do and not feeling compelled to do something which saps the joy from me, this will be a list to allow for sewing on a whim – a phrase I have shamelessly pinched from The Quilters Table blog!!! But following the rules of the FAL these are all started projects in that machine foot has been engaged and stitches made!

This  is the composite.

It includes a bee quilt for Siblings Together (1) and the string quilt (2) both are tops just need basting and quilting. What will hold me back is that my bigger sewing machine with a large throat for quilting is in for service and I’m not sure when I’ll get her back. It’s a good excuse but won’t last the whole 3 months of the quarter. Making quilt backs and basting is my least favourite part of the process.

The pouch (3) is an example of one I made earlier as I need to make a pouch for a secret swap. I have pieced the panels but don’t want to reveal anything at this stage.

There is a scrappy quilt (4)  I’ve just started inspired by Poppy of Cuckooblue. I am calling it ‘Tax Evasion’ because I really should be doing my tax return!! I was getting overrun by scraps particularly neutrals and blues and having seen Poppy’s version of this design I thought it would be perfect  for using them up. It is also a great block for chain pieced, mindless sewing.

And finally a scrappy pink quilt (5) that has been in bits for too long. There are small drunkard path blocks in the mix but I struggled then with the tight curve but I’m hoping experience will have made it easier. I want to make a  baby quilt as a friend is having a baby in the summer, not sure what gender but there’s a 50-50 chance this will be the right one for her!

Outside the FAL and because I treat this blog as a reminder then I need/ want to complete the following….

There are a couple of dog quilts I want to make it for a friend who is about to get another puppy to join her golden labrador. When I had twins she sweetly bought me matching pink and blue cot blankets, so I thought I would reciprocate.

There’s the wonderful January block quilt. I made one of these a couple of years ago, I’m hoping mine will look something like this albeit it will be in a deep red and neutrals. If it’s good enough I’ll put it in for the modern quilt group challenge for this year and if not I will double it up and put it over my bed as a wall hanging.