2025 Q1 Goal Recap

I did it!  I got my WIP list down to ten!  Even more exciting, one of the quilts on that list is currently being quilted so there is a chance it might dip down even further.  I have been writing monthly recap posts for a long time now and I cannot remember it ever being this close to single digits before.  The first three months of the year have flown by, so it's already time to see how I did with my goals for Q1 and make some new ones for Q2.

Quilt Tally
WIP List to Start the Quarter: 13
WIP List to End the Quarter: 10
Active QAL Projects: 1
Untouched in 2025: 7
Finished in Q1: 9 quilts, 4 cross-stitch projects, 6 small projects

2025 Q1 Goal 1: Switch Over to Quarterly Recap Posts
Done. The best kind of goal - I accomplished this by not doing anything!  I hope you haven't missed my monthly check-ins too much as I tinker with how to spend my quilty time.

2025 Q1 Goal 2: Project Quilting
I kept it simple this year with small, scrappy, useful projects.  All of these are currently in use in my home (or gifted) and I used up a lot of fabric and batting scraps along the way - a win-win!

16.1: Mythical Creatures	16.2: Ombre	16.3: Common Blocks
16.4: Birthstones	16.5: Follow Your Arrow	16.6: Button It Up!

Isn't that a great-looking set of projects?  Finding the props was almost as much fun as making the pieces was!

2025 Q1 Goal 3: The "Almost Dones"
Almost done.  Finishing two out of three in a category like this feels like a win!  Unfortunately, I didn't touch The Rest of the Quilt Back; this top has been done since October and I'm feeling guilty because I generally don't let finished tops sit.  I'm struggling to decide how to quilt it, but I think this needs to turn into a "something is better than nothing" situation.

Fado Road

2-Color Space Parade

2025 Q1 Goal 4: Space Parade Pattern Release
Done. Space Parade has been written and released!

2025 Q1 Longshot Goal: Summer Sampler 2019
I didn't even touch this one.  When I made a block for my blue leaders and enders quilt with one of the blues from my Twilight Star quilt, I realized that it completed a row and that I didn't have enough tan squares to make another one.  So I pivoted to finishing the quilt that was closer to being finished.

Quilt Along Updates!

Marble Mystery Quilt

Pooh Corner

Marble Mystery Quilt - This mystery quilt is finished!

Pooh Corner Quilt - I made a few more friends, but I'm still a few characters behind.  I'll make a big push to finish anyone who is still left once the full pattern has been released (you can click on the small image to make it larger).

I shockingly made it through the entire quarter without starting a new QAL project.

Other Project Notes

Twilight Star

4-Color Space Parade

Leaders and Enders

Twilight Star - I finished a baby quilt in January!

4-Color Space Parade - I made a second, brighter version of the Space Parade quilt!

Blue and Tan Leaders and Enders - I finally ran out of tan squares so my 4-patch leaders and enders quilt top is officially finished!  I've decided to orange peel the top since the grid is already there for me.  I love this quilting motif, but I haven't done it since I finished my temperature quilt in 2019 so I'll need to watch a tutorial first.

Cross-Stitch
My biggest Christmas present this year was a pretty little filing cabinet and floss bobbins for my DMC skeins, and I was so happy to sort and organize them.  My old system involved throwing each skein in a gallon-sized Ziploc bag when a project was finished and painstakingly searching through it to see if I had the correct colors when I started a new project.  This is a huge improvement!  I've pulled floss for a few different projects since I finished winding the bobbins and it's so quick and easy!

I'm continuing with my long-standing "rule" of making my finished stitches into display pieces as soon as I finish them (though there still are some older, unfinished pieces in backlog).  I'm planning a tutorial for Q2 to show exactly how I do this.

Duck Pond

One More Chapter

Castle Homecoming

Duck Pond - My second make from the Cross-Stitch in the Forest book, and I already have another one planned.  This may be my most-used craft book ever.

One More Chapter - This is a kit from my cross-stitch subscription box. I love that it combines my three favorite hobbies: reading, quilting, and cross-stitch!

Castle Homecoming - This was my 2023 stitch-along project.  I wanted to try stitching on linen and I learned it's not for me; I stitch to relax and this ended up being too stressful for me.  Luckily, the finished piece is beautiful and I think it deserves a full-size photo.

BluePip News

I'm not working on a new pattern at the moment, but I am making a tiny Zephyr to enter into a quilt show later this year.  I added a few destash fabrics to my shop if you are looking for some older Tula Pink fabric and I'm currently taking on new technical editing clients if you are looking for help with a pattern you wrote!

Goals for 2025 Q2

1. Start a new leaders and enders project.  I know this seems counter-intuitive with my talk at the top about reducing my WIP list, but there's just something magical about a quilt coming together in the background in its own time.

2. Create my miniature Zephyr and enter it into the quilt show.  I've never entered a quilt into a judged show before so this is a big step for me.

3. Write a tutorial for how I make my cross-stitch mini quilts.  I was searching for something like this when I first started cross-stitching and couldn't find anyone who was doing exactly what I wanted, so maybe I can help somebody else who would like to do a cross-over craft.

4. Make a quilt plan and finish The Rest of the Quilt Back.

5. I'm keeping the 2019 Summer Sampler in as my longshot goal.  There's only two blocks left to make, I can do it!

That's all for now!  Spring break officially starts when the kids get home from school tonight, so I'm linking up my list with Yvonne at Quilting Jetgirl before my week of fun. I'll start working on my brand-new goal list after they are back in school.  Thanks for stopping by!