Last Catch Up on RSC Monthly blocks 2025 / Potholders to a Friend

 As the title says; these are the last RSC blocks for 2025

'Coffee with Dad'

I love these blocks! They are so fun and fast to make

7 brown blocks

As you can see, two of them have more red than brown.

8 black blocks 

Corrected to 7 blocks

Hm... How did that happen? Do you see it? Cup #3 first row and #1 second row are the same! I made one only! Messed up when I took the photos. 

Eclipse

I'm a bit lost when it comes to it. How do I explain that? I have an idea how to assemble the blocks. With that idea, I don't think I can make all blocks beforehand. When the time comes, I will lay out the blocks I have already made, see what other colors fit in and make them. 

15 quarter circle blocks - purple / aqua / turquoise / brown

Half circles

1 aqua / turquoise

3 brown / teal

More of these blocks. I've lost count; a lot of 2.5" squares used up. There are 20 in each block. These blocks are going together with the 36-patches I've made earlier

8 brown blocks

6 black blocks

Hollow 9-patches

2 Light blue blocks 

4 Brown blocks

1 Black block

Do you have any plans for RSC 2026? 

It's so easy getting carried away making blocks, I have lost track of what I have made! I need to put all those blocks together, that would be my main goal for 2026. For RSC, maybe only one block, I'm thinking of the Friendship block. Still some months to go to decide. 

These are the potholders I made for a DF in Norway

I couldn't post photos earlier because he wanted them to be a surprise. The package is now delivered.

HAPPY QUILTING! 

 

Linking up with Angela and RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2025)

Back to Over the River and Through the Woods

Now that the sewing table is cleared for RSC blocks, fabrics and other stuff, I'm ready to work on one of my oldest UFO; Over the River & Through the Woods.

If you read this post, all the stitcheries are done. I decided to use all fabrics to make it scrappier. The fabrics where cut and set aside until I could sew again.

After dust cleaning and mopping floors, the weekend was spent making the star blocks that goes between the stitcheries. Each block measures 6" finished and there are six blocks in each row. They are small, but easy and fast to make.

 

Update: They are now sewn together and narrow borders between the stitcheries are added.

Photos taken inside on a cloudy day never work out very well. The colors in the first row look almost right, the second row and stitcheries look washed out. Sigh!

It's midweek and I have finished the 64 Flying Geese needed for the border.

I was looking for more matching scraps in my stash, but didn't really find much I could use together with the already chosen fabrics. There are a few to the right.

Next step is to trim the stitcheries, add the inner border and the outer Flying Geese border. It occurred to me I don't have backing fabric for this one. I have enough brown to make it scrappy, I think. I shall see...

 

    

Catching Up on RSC July / August / September continues

It has been a lot of catch up on RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge) over the last couple of weeks. I have made a lot of blocks and I'm happy to say I'm all caught up (almost*!) on RSC 2025! Sewing table is cleared for squares and fabrics (for RSC), ready for something new (coming soon). 

 *There will be two more blocks from Sherry McConnell's BOM, that's it for this year.

 For not to make it too photo-heavy, I'll make it into two posts. 

 What took the most time, was four blocks for Pat Sloan's BOM '182 Day Solstice Challenge'  I'm happy to say, out of 25 blocks I have only one left to do. Yet to decide on color for that one. When it's done, I can start working on the settings. The blocks vary in size from 12.50 (smallest) to 24.50 inches (biggest). There will be squares and strips as 'fill-in's' between the blocks. I'm excited getting the top done, but that has to wait. It's already past middle October and I have a couple of Christmas quilts to do. 

182 Day Solstice Challenge

Block 19/25 Board Games - Purple

Measures 24.50 x 24.50 inches / 62 cm square

Block 14/25 Honey Bee - Purple

Measures 12.5 x 12.5 inches / 32 cm square

Block 15/25 - Precious Fabric - Light Blue

Measures 20.5 x 20.5 inches / 52 cm square

Block 5/25 - Gramma Anna's Basket - Light blue / Brown

Measures 12.5 x 12.5 inches / 32 cm square

Sherri McConnell's BOM 2025 for October is done

I love how this one turned out in brown

Over to 'Coffee with Dad'

I love these blocks! They are so fun and fast to make. 

7 purple blocks 

8 aqua / turquoise / teal

8 light blue

Hollow 9-patch

Isn't it amazing how many shades of purple there are?

5 purple blocks

2 aqua  / teal blocks

OF COURSE I got carried away with these blocks! 

8 blocks in light blue (centre)

These are going to be used together with 36-patches blocks I've made earlier

This is all for now

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND AND HAPPY QUILTING! 

Linking up with Angela and RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge)

 

Catch-Up on RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge) July / August / September 2025

 Hello everyone! I'm back! 

I can't believe I haven't done a blog post since beginning of august! If you read that post, you know my 'Dear Nina' (Bernina 440 QE) was sick and had to go to a spa in South Africa. She has reached the spa and waiting for either good or bad news about what can be done. 

Good news is, I purchased a new Bernina; 770 QE PLUS! Her name is 'Helena'. I got her in August and I very happy! It has a lot of features I most probably never will use. I have yet to explore a lot, at least I know how to do the basics. 

The last week I've been catching up on RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge) for July, August and September. Not all blocks are done, the 'plan' (unless it fails!) is to do more blocks this weekend. 

First up is Sherri McConnells BOM 2025

July BOM / RSC color: Purple

August BOM / RSC color: Aqua

I don't have much aqua, I've used a mix of aqua, turquoise and teal

September BOM / RSC color; light/bright blue & green

I got carried away making these blocks

Six purple blocks

Eight aqua/turquoise and teal blocks

More updates on RSC to come.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend! 

Linking up with Angela and the RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge) 2025

Over the River and Through the Woods - Progress! Other stitchery updates and the Destiny of Dear Nina

Hello dear readers and followers! I hope you all are doing well.

It has been way too long! I call it 'vacation' (from sewing)! 

As you may remember from my previous post, 'dear Nina' had to go to the spa. 

The handwheel (mechanical part) got fixed. Unfortunately, the S-board (motherboard) is pooped and has to be replaced. To make a long story short; the S-board is not available from Bernina Switzerland!! The S-board is not made anymore since the 440 model is +20 years. The S-board is available at Bernina SA, hence a dear friend has offered to take the machine to SA to see if Bernina there is able to do something! 

This has been dragging way too long and finally I have ordered a new Bernina! It should be here by the end of August. I'm sew excited! 

While waiting for the destiny of my old sewing machine and the purchase of a new machine, I'm keeping myself busy doing cross-stitching. 

One of my oldest UFO's is seeing daylight, again! 

This year, I've spent a few hours off and on in the evenings stitching on 'Over the River and Through the Woods'. 

The goal was getting it done before Christmas 2023, that didn't happen! (here). It didn't happen before Christmas 2024 either! Maybe 2025?? I doubt it, but I shall see... 

This is how it looked like end of December 2024. 

There are two sections; sceneries at the top and bottom.

 I started section #3 (bottom) May 9, 2024 (just for my records)

...and this is how it looks like now: All stitchery sections DONE! 

Can you guess I got tired of stitching all those tree branches?! lol

The middle section (verse) are fancy letters. First I thought it was satin stitches (YIKES!). On the pattern it looks like backstitches and not 'filled' completely. And there are those dreaded French Knots too! Oh well, it gave me some practice. 

While waiting for 'dear Nina' to return from the spa (if ever!), I picked up this one again. 

It went really fast stitching the letters; 4 evenings. I even managed the French knots! 

I pulled out the fabrics intended for this quilt to have a look. The pinkish-reddish fabrics are not as pink as they look on the photo.  Stash shopping in Oslo 2010.

The wall hanging can be used all year long since the fabrics are not typically Christmas fabrics. 

These are the fabrics intended for the quilt, but now I don't know.... 

The fabrics are beautiful, they have a rustic/vintage look, but.... a bit too pinkish for me, maybe.... 

I may use these. They are mostly brown, but also red, beige, gold and cream. I may mix some of them with the pinkish. Yet to decide what goes together. 

If I was to buy fabrics for this quilt today, I may have chosen something else, but not sure what.... I think it had been Christmas fabrics.

I'm using Threadworx embroidery floss #10351, a beautiful variegated rustic brown cherry. It may go together with the pink fabrics. Pink and brown, maybe not the red? 

That was a lot of 'maybe'! LOL 

UPDATE: I decided to use all the fabrics; red, pink and brown. All pieces for the stars and flying geese are cut and ready to sew! 

It took me some days getting used to being without the sewing machine, but there are always other things to do. I have prepped a lot of Christmas items for my shop and enjoying cross-stitching again. 

First up; I finished the 'Bits of Blue' sampler! (Plum Pudding Needleart). I've had the pattern for years and started stitching it January 2023 while 'Dear Nina' had another spa appointment. Since then, I didn't touch it, until a couple of weeks ago. It's finished! Another UFO off the list! 

Stitched on 28ct Pearl Linen using #7037 Freedom from The Gentle Art, Simply Shaker Collection. 

I may do the pincushion, mini pillow and peg hanger later. I ran out of floss and more is on the way.

I have a soft spot for Little House Needleworks designs. 

I finished (almost) 'Snowflakes' (Second row, right). I ran out of Crescent Coulors 'Bamboo' and 'English Ivy'. According to Crescent Coulors chart, the 'Bamboo' can be substituted with DMC #822, but it won't be the same. 

It is originally stitched on 32ct Natural Raw Linen from Zweigart. I don't have the 32ct, instead I use 28ct. I'm not sure my eyes had liked the 32ct. 

Another cross stitch pattern I bought years ago, is 'Cinnamon Stick Santa XVIII', 'Wishing Thee Merriness', designed by Sandra Sullivan / Homespun Elegance.

I'm stitching it on 28ct Cashel Linen Zweigart, 'Vintage Beige'. Originally stitched on 28ct 'Sandstone'.

I ran out of floss for this one too. Just not enough to finish the letters. 

Next up is Cinnamon Stick Christmas XIX - 'Rejoice in Peace'. 

As you can see, it's almost done. Satin stitches are used on the tree and sheep. I did not like how the tree turned out with satin stitches. I ripped it and did cross stitches instead. The sheep is done the same way, I'm going to do cross stitches using Wisper. 

I have a couple of cute Christmas ornaments / mini pillows that are done too, but that will be for another post.