I wanted to share with you my start and progress on the 2023 Designer Mystery Block of The Month, and let me tell you, it’s been quite the journey already! I love it so much that I’m weighing heavily on reserving 2024 BOM too. The patterns in these kits are perfect with all the detailed illustrations making it so easy to cut and piece.

Starching Fabric

I must confess, that I had been stalling on starting this project because I had a strong feeling that I wanted to starch my fabric first. While I don’t always take this step, I firmly believe it makes a world of difference in the accuracy of my piecing. But this time, I decided to take things up a notch and try out something new: the electric sprayer. And oh my, what a game-changer it has been!

No longer do I have to endure the discomfort of pressing my fingers until they ache. This sprayer has made the process so incredibly fast and effortless. I even recorded a video to show you just how amazing it is. You can check it out below. I highly recommend giving it a try! You can find similar one HERE>

Now, I used my own handmade starch which I shared earlier HERE>, but if you’re looking for a convenient option, you can easily get a gallon of Mary Ellen’s Best Spray starching spray HERE>. It’s a time-saver and ensures you have plenty on hand for all your projects.

Cutting and Trimming

I was having a hard time with my rotary cutter, after having to do over or even give a little too much pressure, I realised that it was time to change the blade. As soon as I changed it, everything went so smooth that I just want to spend time cutting all the pieces. So if this is a reminder for you to change your blade, do it! It makes a whole lot of difference. I am using Olfa Endurance Blade and my favourite Ergonomic Olfa Cutter. 

I love that the pattern also allows me to trim the units! This allows me to fix anything wonky and allows the units to be more accurate in size. 

Piecing Quilt Blocks

But let’s talk about the real magic here—the making of the quilt blocks. There is something about making quilt blocks that is so satisfying. I love sampler quilts because of this, but here’s the thing, every time I finish a block, I’d say to myself, someday I’ll make a quilt with just this single block! And I almost do that for every single block made this time!

They are all pretty quilt blocks that would surely be gorgeous quilts if repeated over and over. Don’t you think so? 

If only I have all the time to just quilt. Anyway, I love using M3Pro for pressing out the seams of each small unit. The steam coming out from this mini iron is surely amazing. For a tiny iron, it is powerful. However, the water tank for the steam is pretty small, therefore, I do have to keep refilling the water tank. Nonetheless, since I make one quilt block in one sitting, it is just enough and gives the perfect crispy look that I love on quilt blocks.

I’ve just pieced the first four blocks, and I am already head over heels in love. The fabrics provided each month by the FQS shop are incredibly generous, just from these 4 blocks I have so much fabric unused yet like in the photo below. I’ve found myself with more than enough leftover fabric, and I’m already dreaming up a second quilt to make with them!

So satisfied with this BOM as with all the customer service FQS provides, I’m contemplating reserving a spot for the 2024 BOM, but I’m undecided about the colors. I am not a big fan of the pink and red. But I might just go ahead!

Are any of you joining any Block of the Month quilt-along this year, or perhaps considering one soon? I’d love to hear all about your quilting adventures and what projects you’re currently working on.

Please feel free to leave a comment below—I can’t wait to hear from you all and share in the excitement of our shared passion for quilting.

Happy stitching!

Links to quilting notions I used or mentioned:

• the electric water sprayer
• a gallon of Mary Ellen’s Best Spray starching spray
• Oliso M3Pro 
• Olfa Endurance Blade
• Ergonomic Olfa Cutter. 

Here is a dedicated post to talk about my unfinished objects in quilting. Particularly the pile of the “yet to be quilted” quilts. 

I am taking the early year of 2024 to take notes on my UFO inventory. If you need help with tackling UFOs, you can read in details the steps to take in this previous post HERE>

Today, I am taking my own advice, starting with taking inventory of what I have in my UFO pile. I have several quilts that are near the finishing line, and I’m planning to spend time to get some progress on them. 

I took some of them out today to get a little breather, while I make notes on what I am planning to do and when. Some of these has been called for in 2023 but it may have gotten into another bump and has come back in this pile again for 2024. You check out my 2023 list HERE too. Well, some quilt just need that big boost of help to get progressed don’t they?

List of my Unfinished Quilt Tops

1. Scrappy Quilt – Technicolor Scrap Quilt

Let’s start with this one, every time I open it up, I say to myself, this should really just be done. But I really do wish it would be bigger. So I am planning to add in 2 more rows. Then I’ll finish it off. I love quilt that are totally scrappy like this, there are just so many things to look at.

2. Aviatrix Medallion

This one is in the progress of quilting. I am not a big fan of custom quilting as I used to be, but I do love the look how it is progressing so far. It is juts the thought of having to decide the quilting design that really bugs me down. I need more mental clarity if I’m picking this project up to quilt it. Lately, quilting has been more of a mindless activity for me, to take a way the stress of my day job or chores. So I’ve been really enjoying piecing and chain piecing or just an allover quilting design. That is way more relaxing.

But I’ll get this done, maybe at least a border will be progressed this year. That will be the target for this one.

Slowly but surely is my motto for this quilt.

3. 2022 Sewcialites Quilt 

This quilt top is a giant! I am yet to make the backing for this, then it is up for basting an a simple stippling would do. I already have someone in mind to gift it to, so it will get finished this year for sure. You can read more about this quilt and the free pattern link HERE> 

As much as I want to fill in the negative space with fun quilting, this quilt top is so big that I feel like it will be alright with simple all-over design. The quilt blocks with fun fussy cut features can do the talking. 

4. Together Quilt

This quilt top was also done in 2022. You can read about the quilt details HERE>. I just love quilts with hearts on them. I have progress this in 2023, but I am undoing it this year. I basted it to a store-bought minky blanket and I have fear that this milky was not going to last. It was such a low quality and I am not going to risk it. So I’m taking the basting pins out and re-baste it to a new quilt back. I’m also planning to do a simple all-over design quilting on this one. I’ll start quilting this in February just to get the inspiration kicking from the Love and all the pink and red that I’m seeing in this season. 

5. Simple Life Quilt

Here is another giant quilt. I am yet to find the backing for it. Something about really big quilts that just take longer time for me to move it along. Larger quilts does require a lot more effort, obviously but also need a lot more fabrics! So as I’m listing these out, I am also taking notes of what I need to purchase – which is NOT another fat quarter bundle! LOL.You can read more about this quilt and the link to the pattern HERE>

6. Simply Stars Quilt

Here is a square quilt I made in 2023 following a quilt-a-long. You can read more about that HERE>.  There’s something about small square quilts that really bugs me. I just don’t know how it will end up being used. Hence that is why I have a few in my pile of UFO quilt tops. I feel like it is still unfinished as a quilt top. So just as with the Scrappy Technicolor quilt above, I am adding rows an above and the bottom of this quilt, like a border to make it longer so that it’ll spread nicely on the bed. Then, I’m basting and quilting it.  

7. Liberty Courthouse Quilt

Another small square quilt. This one has been ages! I want to hand-quilt this and still want to. It will be someday. I do not wish to make it bigger knowing that I will take forever to hand-quilt anyway. But I still wish to hand-quilt it. This year, my target is at least to get hand quilting started.

8. 100 days 100 Blocks Quilt

This one is from the 2022 finish too. I absolutely love this quilt and I guess it is my fear of messing it up that really got me stuck. I know that custom quilting this would be a great idea as I love all the fussy cut details. But again the same issue with the Aviatrix Medallion, that will surely take a lot of mental capacity to do so and I’m not sure I have that right now with the busy life I have now with 3 kids, a husband and a full time job. So, I’m weighing in. 

What do you think? Slow custom quilting or just get it done already? You can read more about this quilt HERE>

Well, I guess that is it for the UFO pile of the “yet to be quilted”. Have you taken stock of your quilt tops inventory this year?

Linking to Friday Whoops Whoops

I started a new project this week, a table runner! Aiming for a wintery look, I am using the beautiful blue-colored prints from the collection by Moda Fabrics called the Morris Meadow. I know it seems very spring with all the floral prints, but I just love the frosty blue hues and the dark blues. The prints are gorgeous and stunning with intricate details. No wonder William Morris was very well known for his designs on textiles. 

Since I was playing the fabric placement with Electric Quilt 8, I quickly mocked up a few more looks with a couple more fabric lines:

In Morris Meadow by Barbara Brackman

In Lighthearted by Camille Roskelley

or a more Aqua version:

In Comfort and Joy by Create Joy

I love how sparkly these would look on the table! Well, I am off to continue making half-square triangles for the blocks. I’ll be sharing the pattern soon, so be in the look out for that!

If you’re looking for these fabrics, check out Missouri Star Quilt Company and grab a great deal during their Black Friday SALE, and use this link to get 15% off as well! The link is valid once per customer in November 2023.