I’ve been doing the Karen Brown Declutter Challenge again this year, it does get easier each time! This time a lot of things like books and threads were reasonably sorted after previous years. I did have a good sort out of my fabric though, I keep all my dress-making fabric in sealed storage bags in a cupboard but they had got a bit mixed up and it was bursting at the seams. I made lots of piles on my cutting table, now I have a bag of corduroy, a bag of linen etc. I even updated my Stash Hub app regarding which bag everything was in! It was scary to see the total though…271m!! I think I need to get sewing!

Part of Karen’s plan is using a sewing project as a reward for decluttering. Last year I made half a quilt panel. It’s a Raggedy Ruff design, I’ve made quite a few of hers over the years.

Unfortunately having made half the panel, that’s as far as I got, it’s been on my design wall ever since. I decided to make the second half this year.

Another decision I made over Christmas and the New Year was that I needed to join a few things so I would get out more. I love my sewing, but my stitching group only meet once a month and WI is also once a month. I joined U3A (University of the Third Age) the Ilkley U3A is one of the biggest in the country I think, they have classes on all sorts of things. Quite a few appealed but I’ve just joined one for now so I don’t over-commit myself. In Otley they have a patchwork and quilting group that meet twice a month, 1-5pm, perfect!

I took the other half of the panel to work on, it’s nice and portable. I managed to more or less finish the background…

I love the backgrounds of these quilts, they’re full of interest but not dominating. I had a great time at my first meeting, they’re a lovely friendly group of ladies. A few ladies looked at the 1″ squares with horror until I explained I only had seven of those, not the whole quilt!

Here’s the two sides together so you can see how they work…

I’ve traced the applique design onto the freezer paper, this side has a robin on it. I just need to crack on with it now and not leave it another year!