My Sewing Room: Design Wall Monday

Monday, January 12, 2026

Design Wall Monday - January 12

This weekend was the kick off to a brand new Saturday Sampler program at The Pin Cushion (local shop) and it is always fun to start something new. Our program this year is Anthologie (by Southern Charm Quilts) and the ladies talked about what that word means, and how it applies to our quilting. An anthology is a collection and this pattern pulls together a collection of traditional blocks (flying geese, Dresden, strip piecing, etc.) and different techniques, but pushes us to interpret them in a new way.

After the intro, I began to rethink my background choice. This first month is working on a pieced background for the applique section of the quilt, and instead of one single pale grey fabric (my original choice) I am adding a bit more color variety. I realized quickly that using just 1 color in a pieced background was kind of a wasted opportunity. So, I bought a 1/2 yard each of 5 other pale colors for that variety which should provide much more depth and interest.

There will be more RSC and QOV sewing this week. I prepped some blue RSC blocks over the weekend to refill those design boards that I had emptied last week. And there are a few QOV blocks already waiting on the design board.

And I hope to make progress on the Bonnie Hunter mystery since the reveal was posted on Friday. The colors are so pretty this year, and I actually am using her colors. So far I have 1 of each block made. But lots of the units making up these blocks are ready to go.

The Pin Cushion is doing the PHD (Projects Half Done) challenge again this year. It has been a good incentive for me to finish those UFOs, WIPs, and PIGs that are abundant in my sewing space. Each year a prize is offered to anyone finishing all 12 items on the list kept at the store. I've done that 3 years in a row now. Can I make it 4 years?

I already have a UFO list that I keep each year, based off the old APQ UFO Challenge. They no longer draw a number for the month however. It works for me anyway - but with 3 items listed each month. I have the PHD list priority project listed with an asterisk to remind me where my priority is each month. Then there is a secondary UFO or WIP to try to make progress on. And last there is a PIG each month, which I select at the beginning of the month based more on the season or the RSC color. The PIG spot leaves room for those squirrels/new projects that just pop up through the weeks.

One UFO I added to this year's PHD list is the Farm Girl Vintage quilt. This project box has been sitting for several years full of 12" blocks from both of Lori Holt's Farm Girl books. Our Sew Vintage group worked our way through both books when they first came out. I got crazy and made every single block in both 6" and 12" (finished) sizes, using my 30s reproduction stash. I used all of the small blocks right away in a quilt that was finished at the time. Then I pulled out the barn block and farm animal blocks and made another quilt - also done. But - there are still 45 blocks in that project box - enough for a big quilt or 2 small ones. Time to empty that box, so it's on my PHD list to finish before the end of the year.

So - here is my PHD list for 2026 . . . containing a mix of flimsies, block sets, kits, and things with only the fabric gathered.