PHD in 2021

It's the last day of 2020.  The pandemic has made life challenging in so many areas, but the year has been good in that I've been home to sew more. That helped take a small bite out of the UFO list.  Playing along with Quilting Gail's PHD in 2020 challenge was also a good motivator.  Gail is again hosting a PHD in 2021 Challenge, as my UFO list still has 22 projects on it, I'm definitely playing along again.    

I've selected 12 projects to focus on for 2021. My plan is finish at least 8 of the quilts on the list. I've never finished more than 7 in one year, so 12 would be a real stretch. So earning my PHD isn't likely, but I'll settle for a MS (mostly stitched) for 2021.  But by listing 12, if I hit a snag with any one project, I'll be able to switch to another pretty easily. 

Here's my project list for 2021.  

Here's what I'm starting with for each projects.  

1. Red, White and Blue Stars

Red, White and Blue Stars, Self Designed

This is my oldest UFO from 2005.  It started as just blocks at the beginning of 2020 and it made it to finished quilt top before the holidays caught up with me. I'm excited to get this one finished.  It needs the backing made before it can be prepped and sent out for quilting.  I'm hoping this will be finish #1 in 2021.  

2. Unity

2020 Bonnie Hunter Sew-In-Place Quilt Along

I had allowed myself three new starts in 2020, one of those starts could be anything that caught my fancy.  When Bonnie Hunter surprised everyone with mystery quilt along to help quilter's cope with the stay at home orders back in March, it seemed to be the perfect project for that open slot.  I never keep up with Bonnie's mystery, but really enjoy them.   Hopefully this will be my second finish in 2021.  

3. Morewood Mystery

Morewood Mystery by Cheryl of Meadow Mist Designs

The other annual mystery that I enjoy is from Cheryl at Meadow Mist Designs.  This was one of three new projects I allowed myself in 2020.  The last clue doesn't come out till April, so this will probably be a mid year finish.  

4. Grassy Creek

Grassy Greek, the 2020 Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt

The third new project on my allowed new starts list for 2020 was Bonnie Hunter's annual holiday mystery quilt along. I decided to make only half the units to start in hopes that I'll be able to finish this one up by midyear.    

5. Cabins and Fans

 Cabins and Fans, self designed

This was my 2017 Rainbow Scrap Challenge quilt. I started with the end in mind hoping that would mean I would end the year with a finished quilt.  I did get all the blocks done, but didn't get them assembled into a finished quilt.  This quilt will be a graduation thank you quilt that needs to be finished before May 2022.  I'm hoping to get it finished and off the list by mid year. We'll see how that goes.  

6. Scrappy Butterflies

Scrappy Butterflies Block is available in EQ 7 Block Library

These butterfly blocks were my 2013 RSC blocks.  They've sat and sat because I've not been able to come up with a setting. I really don't want to just sash and border these blocks.  So I'm going to play around in EQ8 and see if I can come up with something that's just a bit special. I may or may not end up finishing the quilt this year. But any progress would be good.     

7. Squared Away Sampler

 Squared Away Sampler
designed by Mari (The Academic Quilter) and Angela (Soscrappy)
The 2018 Rainbow Scrap Challenge Project

This sampler was my 2018 RSC project and became another set of blocks I didn't know how to set.  I'm going to do a simple sashing, probably with an on point setting, but I couldn't decide on the fabric for the sashing.  I'm going to look at how others finished theirs and see if that inspires a choice I'm happy with. If this one gets finished, it will be in the second half of the year.  

8. Chocolate Marshmallows

Chocolate Marshmallows, pattern by Amanda Bergamin
of Sea Breeze Quilts

These blocks were started as part of a quilt along over at Sea Breeze quilts back in 2014. Another set of blocks that I've not been able to come up with a setting for.  It may be time to just sash them and maybe come up with a fun border treatment. Anything to just get them off the UFO list.  

9. On Ringo Lake

On Ringo Lake, Bonnie Hunter 2017 Mystery Quilt

On Ringo Lake is the 2017 Bonnie Hunter Mystery quilt along.  It's been so long since I've looked at this that I'm not sure exactly where I'm at. Making the sashing blocks?  If I get this far, I'll have to figure that out.  

10. Neutral Gems

Neutral Gems, from the pattern Gems by Donna Lynn Thomas,
found in the book Patchwork Palette

Neutral Gems was started in 2013. That's the year I played along with Cat's Patches New FO Challenge and started a new project every month.  I can look back now and see that year of starting 12 new projects is probably one reason my UFO list is still so long in 2021.  If I remember correctly, there is still some block construction needed to move this quilt along.  

11. Grandmothers Flower Garden

Grandmother's Flower Garden

My second oldest UFO.  The blocks didn't work out how I planned and I'm not really in love with this project. But I want to finish it.  So the path forward will be to figure out a path forward and finish this as either a table runner or other small project.  

12. Celtic Solstice

Celtic Solstice, the 2013 Bonnie Hunter Mystery

This was my first attempt at a Bonnie Hunter mystery. I was seriously unprepared for the amount of stitching it required. I really do love how my version was working out, so I'd love to finish this project. The picture pretty much shows where the project stood when it got put into a project box. I'll have to pull out all the instructions and decide how much is needed to finish a throw sized project.  

That's the working plan for my PHD in 2021.  You can see what everyone else has decided to work at the PHD in 2021 Linky Party.