182 Day Solstice Challenge - UFO#15 FINISHED!

Pat Sloan's '182 Day Solstice Challenge' is FINISHED! 

This is UFO #15 on my UFO list 2026

I'm so glad I did this quilt in RSC colors. 

I really love how it turned out.

Layout direction

https://patsloanquilts.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/pat-sloan-asymmetrical-layout-directions-solstice-challenge-1.pdf

I changed the layout a little bit, for not to get blocks with the same colors next to each other. Two (the turquoise blocks at the top) are a bit close, but that's OK.

Here are some of the blocks

Block #9 - Among the Stars

Block #8 - Never ending love

Block #5 - Gramma Anna's Basket

Block #10 - The Coffee Shop

Block #22 - Weather Vane

Block # 19 - Board Games

Block #12 - Jacob's Ladder

Block #11 - Quilt Math (top right)

Block #23 - Eureka! (bottom right)

Some other blocks

Pieced backing

I have used squares and rectangles in brown and red.

Size: Approximately 85 inches / 215 cm square

All fabrics and thread used are from my stash

Batting was purchased

All blocks are custom quilted on my domestic sewing machine

First block: May 2024

Last block: April 2026

Flimsy: April 2026

Thread basted: August 2026

Quilted: September 2026

FINISHED: September 23, 2026

Thread used: 

King Tut: 926, 956, 958, 962, 963, 977, 997, 982, 1017, 1020

Masterpiece: 118, 134, 149, 159, 160, 162, 168, 176,  180, 183

Mettler: 0611, 0667, 0732

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Linking to:

 

So Scrappy

Melva Loves Scraps

Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

OMG - Stories from my Sewing Room 

Card Holder - UFO #4

Now that 'Solstice' is finished (yesterday), I'm moving on to another UFO.

This is UFO #4 on my UFO list 2026. I don't have any records of when I started working on this one, it may have been in 2020 or 2021 since it appears on the last years UFO lists.

I'm giving this one another try! 

The 'problem' is; the pattern is in French! ... and I don't know French! My DH speaks French, which helps a lot, although he is not that fluent in 'quilting language'. 

I'm also using Google Translate from French to English, or Norwegian, but there are some phrases that does not make sense at all! It took me some time to figure out this translation: 

Pour les pattes de suspension - translated to: For the suspension brackets! ?????? It took me some time to figure out it's 'hanging tabs'! LOL

French quilt patterns are usually in metric, not imperial, which makes it even more tricky. I've been using imperial since I started quilting, about 20 years ago. 

I also believe the pattern is 'over-explained' (for newbies). 

Batting is not used for this one. Instead, Vliseline S80 is used. Alternative is Pellon 70. 'Of course' I have Pellon 71F and 72F, not 70! However, I do have 'Stiff Stuff' (Lazy Girl Design). What I have read, it can be used as an alternative to the S80 as well.

Or, I can use thin cotton batting instead of interfacing? 

If you have any experience using interfacing, please let me know.

Any suggestions are much appreciated.

Fabric is chosen and the trees were done some years ago. 

I can see how it is done, but my brain and hands don't cooperate! LOL If the pattern is stubborn, I can be even more stubborn! 

I really like this card holder, it's a fun design. The pattern appears in the French magazine 'Elena Patchwork' Septembre 2011

RSC Week 38 - Solstice Update

It's Saturday and time for RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge) update. 

This month is purple. 

Even if my intention has been to piece together some purple nine patches, that has not happened. My goal for this month is to finish '182 Day Solstice Challenge', and I'm happy to say I'm almost there!

Since the RSC color is purple, I'm quilting one of the two purple blocks today. The other purple block was quilted earlier this month - here. 

It's a big block, it measures 24" / 61 cm square, finished. 

When the purple block is done, I have left to quilt the orange (to the left) and the red between the purple and orange blocks. 

HAPPY WEEKEND EVERYONE! 

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Linking to 

So Scrappy

Melva Loves Scraps

Small Quilts and Doll Quilts 

Unboxing Kris Kringle Panel Quilt Kit

 I was going to continue quilting 'Solstice' this Monday morning, but after a couple of seams, this is what happened:

Mini-Bug found the best place to rest after being outside for more than two hours! 

I need to move the quilt to be able to sew, but that won't work as long as he sleeps there!

I have a couple of UFOs as WIPs:

- Solstice: continue quilting, 10 blocks out of 25 left to quilt

- Basket Wall Quilt - waiting for binding fabric

This morning, I unboxed the Kris Kringle kit (Teresa Kogut). I purchased the kit in 2023 or 2024, but never got around to make it! 

This is UFO #19 on my UFO list. 

It comes with the pattern

panel (this is half of the panel)

...and fabrics

I'm excited about this one, as I am with everything Christmas! 

The pattern is 12 pages, including the templates for the stars. I'll have to read the pattern properly (for once!) before I start cutting! 

Do you decorate with the same wall quilts for Christmas every year? I have a few I made years ago that I do love and find difficult to replace. It's also fun to make something new to display. 

Dentist appointment this morning, have to get ready!  

RSC Week 37 - Purple / Solstice Update / Blogger Problems

First of all: BLOGGER PROBLEMS!!!!

While others have had problems, I haven't, but now it seems to be my turn.

I read blogs every day, from my 'Reading List'. About 3 days ago, I noticed there are NO NEW BLOG POSTS from any of you! I was thinking; that can't be?! I checked out a few blogs from the comment page, and yes, there were new posts, which do not show up in my 'Reading List' since some days!

I have not changed anything, it must be Blogger?? 

Any of you facing the same problem? 

Any solution? 

I know some of you have set up blogs you follow in the sidebar, maybe that is what I have to do to be sure I get your latest posts?

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RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge) color for September is purple. 

I was thinking I do some purple 9-patches, but that didn't happen.

This month, I'm giving priority to quilt my scrappy 'Solstice'

One purple block was quilted (that counts, right?).

It involved some wrestling, as you can see on the photo (below)

I'm custom quilting each block (25 blocks) and I'm happy to say I'm a bit more than halfway!

 Two sides are done, I'm currently quilting the centre block. It's a big block; 32" (81 cm) square (finished).

HAPPY QUILTING

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Linking up with:

So Scrappy

Melva Loves Scraps

Small Quilts & Doll Quilts   

 

Rainy and Windy Weekend Sewing

How was your weekend? I hope you had a good one. 

Here, it was 'quilting weather'; intermittent rain, strong wind and cold. With high humidity, it feels colder than it is. BRRR! While writing this (Monday morning) it's pouring rain.

Two quilts (UFOs) were thread basted;

A Quilting Life's BOM 2025

Pat Sloan's 182 Day Solstice

It measures approximately 87 inches / 220 cm square. It's a monster to quilt on my domestic sewing machine, but it will be done, eventually. My goal is to finish it by end of September (this year!). I forgot taking a photo of the flimsy and the pieced backing. It will all be revealed when finished. Patience, please! 

After spending some hours prepping and thread basting these two quilts, I was not ready to start quilting any of them right away.

Instead, I pulled out the box containing 5" squares and made two 99 Charms Quilt tops! You may remember I made some earlier this year (here and here).

 I had squares of some odd 'red'. I don't know exactly what colors they are; they are not red, not pink, not purple, but something in between. 

I came up with the idea to mix them with purple, black and brown. Most squares are from the box, I just had to cut a few to get enough. I don't know how many times that grape fabric has been in and out of the shelf, same with the floral William Morris fabric (left and right side of the quilt). I'm so glad these two are out of the shelf forever! lol 

This one I have just added rows in the same colors. I had to cut 2-3 squares of some colors to get enough. There are still squares in the box, a mix match of colors. I'm quite sure there are still enough squares for one quilt, whenever I feel for making another one.  

As you may have noticed, a few purple squares are added to these two.

Tuesday Update:

Currently quilting 'Solstice'

I started quilting 'Solstice' today. 

I'm custom quilting each block (25 blocks!). If I can do two per day, I should reach my goal this month. 

Wish me luck! 

Linking up with 

OMG - Stories From My Sewing Room

So Scrappy

Sew & Tell - Melva Loves Scraps

Small Quilts & Doll Quilts