2024 Habits: October Update
Click on the image above for the video on this or click HERE.
Just in case you are new to this series, here is a recap:
I decided in December 2023 and the beginning of January to change some things in my quilting life that just weren’t working for me. After evaluating the good, bad, and ugly, I came up with my top five habits I wanted to implement in 2024. I have a video on this, which you can find here and a blog post, too! You can find that here.
Although I have kept my goals in mind throughout the year so far, I haven’t been great about updating my progress each month (yet another goal I need to implement? I think so!). These videos and blogs have helped keep my accountable. After all, I know I will be reporting to all of YOU on this, and I don’t want to let you down. I highly recommend having someone to keep you accountable, if not in a public way like I am doing, then in a group of friends. It helps me so much!
October Update: On Track!
October Highlights:
Now that it is the first week of October 2024, I am going to evaluate how I did in September by giving myself a score and where I did well and where I need to improve. Since I am a former teacher, I am going to stick with what I know, using the terms Glow (where I did well) and Grow (where I need improvement).
If you are interested in tracking your own progress with habits, click here for a worksheet to help you out.
Let’s get started evaluating this month’s progress, shall we?
Habit 1: Keep My Cutting Table Clear
This Month’s Score: 5/5
I was sooooo good at this in September! YAY, ME! Even when it was messy and being used, I was quick to clean it up and put things away. As you can see, I was using it to sort some fall fabric, and when I was finished, I cleaned it up! WHAT? Who is this person? I think it is safe to say that this is becoming a permanent habit. Who knew it would work! I still need the sign, but I am using it less and less. I also purchased a new mat for my cutting table. The old one was 20+ years old and it was time.
Glow: I did it! YAY me!
Grow: Making sure to continue through the busy holiday season
Habit 2: Finishing Projects
This Month’s Score: 4/5
For a few years now, I have admired hoodies people make from quilts and other linens. I always wanted to make one. This was the month I did it! YAY! I bought this quilt at a yard sale. It is a store-bought quilt and was in rough shape, so it was the perfect quilt to try this on. I am so glad I did! I was inspired by Karen Sullivan from Sully’s Mitten Co . I found her on Instagram. I used this pattern for the project. I also bound and finished the camping quilt and quilted and bound the Carnival puzzle mystery quilt. I have a few projects I can’t mention yet, but I worked on them, too. :)
Glow: Took the plunge on the hoodie from an quilt! I even used my serger!
Grow: Keep on going! Finish up a few that you started, Kris!
Habit 3: Creating More Healthy Quilting Habits
This Month’s Score: 5/5
I am kicking butt here, too! We (we=my husband) built the first shelf! YAY! I also have been walking with my neighbor each day, making sure I am staying hydrated, and really concentrating on healthy living.
Glow: Shelf! The First Shelf! YAYYYY!
Grow: Keep going! Keep it up!
Habit 4: Learn to FMQ (Free Motion Quilt) On My Domestic Machine
This Month’s Score: 3/5
I didn’t practice as much as I wanted to, but I did end up doing some. I also really evaluated what I didn’t like about free motion quilting, which I think was super healthy for me. Let me explain: I have taken so much advice about this topic. Some say start small, some say start big, some say just go for it, some say have a plan. Well, I decided to start kind of big with a quilt. I decided on this particular quilt because it was a busy pattern and I thought the quilting would be hidden, which it is. In fact, it is so hidden that I can’t even see when I was quilting it! The other mistake I made was quilting too densely. I was over this project by the time half of it was quilted. I didn’t want to work on it anymore. I actually hated it. My quilting wasn’t good (of course it wasn’t! I am learning), I couldn’t even see what I was doing, and the project was too big. Soooo, what did I do? I decided to break it up into a a grid, straight quilt grid lines, and then FMQ between the lines. It is consistent? No. Not even a little bit. Is it finished? YEP! And I am even in the process of binding it.
Glow: I evaluated what I struggled with in this area. I also learned I really love walking foot quilting.
Grow: Kind of stuck here. Do I even want to continue to practice this skill? More soul-searching needed on this one. I also didn’t keep up with the other projects I was working on. Need to be better with that.
Habit 5: Further Embrace My Quilting Community
Habit 5: Further Embrace My Quilting Community
This Month’s Score: 5/5
Quite possibly the highlight for this month was going to the AQS Quilt Show in Lancaster, PA. I had such a wonderful time! The quilts were nothing less than inspiring! I mean, just look at these amazing butterfly quilts! This is the Monarch Cherrywood Challenge by Cherrywood Fabrics.
Glow: Engagement accomplished!
Grow: Dang it! I still haven’t taken on online class. Grrrr. I need to do that!
Let me know what you think! This helps me stay accountable, so please feel free to give me any suggestions!
Happy Quilting!
Kris