What Are You Working on That is a Challenge For You?
 

I'm making a pinwheel quilt and I've never made one before. It's definitely a challenge for me piecing it, but also because I'm working without a pattern.

I am about to start a Judy Neimeyer quilt called Sea Urchins http://www.quiltworx.com/patterns/sea-urchins/ I have done paper piecing before but not on this sort of scale, I just need to finish a small lap quilt I am working on and will give it a whirl, wish me luck :)

None of my current projects are difficult. What I'm finding to be the challenge is to maintain my quilting mojo so that I'm not going crazy with mid-winter cabin fever. Major storm predicted for the end of this week. Thank God for sewing machines, wine and chocolate.

I am making four of the same scrap quilts for my staff. I am doing QAYG, and am getting tortured..

Mirror, Mirror. Slow going.

I am making a Harry Potter quilt similar to the one SCJoan did here on the quilting board. So far I have emb. only 35 of the 70 some odd book titles. Im thinking some books might be non titled. Right now I have done the owl block and am pretty proud of it. However, mine will never compare to hers. Her quilt is amazing.

Housework!!!!

Deep cleaning my sewing/craft room! LOL Just finished a top, it's ready for LA about 1/2 done with another one and it is a bear! All my fault too. 56 blocks all with the same problem sewn 2 1/2 in sq in lower right corner of block on the diagonal trim off excess. All done and noticed main blocks upside down so small sq attached to upper left. it's all trimmed so I need to salvage something from this mess. UGHHHHH!!! Good thing this is a quilt for me!

I am in the process of handquilting a queen size quilt using FM stitching..It seems like the blocks multiply at night while I sleep!! It's killling me because I have fabric sitting out for 2 more quilts I need to get done for graduation gifts~! I also recently moved in the past few weeeks, so I am sewing and searching as I go for the things I need..Hopefully soon I can get a nice size desk/table and shelving to organize...But- being disabled, I have a lot more time that most...after the 2 quilts are done for the gifts, I am hoping to get 2 more done for other graduates!!

Practicing my free motion skills!

Going to have to take the leap and try and FMQ a string quilt, once I have the back pieced. Idiotically I chose gingham as the main backing fabric.....realised that my idea of vertical line quilting would look like a dog's breakfast when the back was shown...In one way I'm kicking myself...but then...that gives me the excuse of avoiding FMQ yet again.

I'm working on Dear Jane. The last block [finished this am] had Yseams. I tried them by machine, but found the hand sewing to work better. Next, I want to start this block http://thatquilt.blogspot.com/2009/01/10.html but don't like the method from the EQ Dear Jane software and am not keen on That Quilt's method either. So I just stare at it as I walk past to do other things ... thinking a new idea will pop into my head :)

I'm taking a puzzle BOM class and deciding what fabric to use for each block is a challenge. I'm only 5 blocks behind. I figure in 2 months I will be caught up. We have 8 people in the class and we are all using the same pattern for each block, but each block is totally different. It's really fun to see everyone's block each month. It's an enjoyable class.

Hehe, when I first saw the title of this thread my first thought was, "Nothing, I quilt because it's fun and relaxing, why would I do something challenging?" LOL! But really having something challenging now and then is what makes it exciting for me too. Though right now I'm not actually working on anything too challenging. The hardest part has been the math! LOL!

I agree with the person who said housework though! Wait...I'm not working on that! Hehe

Finding the energy to quilt! Making new cushions for a friend's rocker- not super hard just not liking making them but have to get them finished not letting myself do any other projects until they are finished. Must be the time of year. By the time I get home from school and get everything else done I'm too tired to sew. Hopefully will perk up soon.

I'm trying to figure out how to make the Periwinkle quilt from Missouri Star Quilt Co without buying their template. I want to make the blocks smaller than what they make them. I worked most of the afternoon making templates and sample blocks. Not quite perfect yet. . . http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ubaCTtz...ature=m-ch-fea

Not a quilt but doll clothes for my DGD's American Girl doll. I've never made anything so small and hope I never will again.

Trying to piece Jinny Beyer's DA VINCI in between long arm quilting jobs. It didn't look that hard but it takes a lot of organization and has some strips that are only 3/4" wide. It is a gift for my grandson's graduation in June. The top may be pieced but I question whether I will have it quilted by then.

A paper-pieced wall hanging from a kit in which the fabric provided is already cut into the pattern pieces - and each piece has a bare quarter inch seam with absolutely no room for error in placing it on the paper. Such meanness is turning it into a miserable job, and I would never buy another kit from the local shop that produced it.

I'm working on a quilt for my SIL (my DB's wife). He wants it for her birthday in March, and he was very specific in what he wanted, a one-of-a-kind thing. I've procrastinated until it's time to get to work or be late. I've finally come up with the design, now to get it into motion........easier said than done with bursitis pain in my right shoulder! I'll post when I get it finished.

My challenge is to feel better so I can get back to the fun stuff. I'd welcome a snow day tomorrow (if we didn't lose the power) but it looks like the snow won't come early enough for that.

Wow!! You all are so ambitious. My challenging goal is to keep practicing fmq. Have a scrappy quilt I'm working on and when it gets finished hope to fmq on it. Wanting to get it done so I can move on to the next project. The list keeps getting longer and longer!! :)

Raining Cats and Dogs by Lynette Anderson. It has piecing, applique, embroidery and yoyos. I got it in a BOM format so I can do one block at a time. Good thing because even though a small quilt, it is complex.

I'm making a Mariners Compass for my sister that is giving me fits.

:eek: I'm assembling the BOM Baltimore Album blocks from 2011 -- I have had to add a plain block to each side in the middle to made them fit around the the center plus fabric and appliqued inner borders - these plain blocks wil have something appliqued on them -- I'm on side 3 now -- I have been putting this off for several months as it is time consuming as I am sashing the blocks -- oh well, it is working out -- next will be another narrow and then a wider appliqued border (using long strips!!) -- the quilt will be quite pretty when finished....and I was so diligent about doing the BOMs as they were posted on QB!! LOL

Getting my house together so I can get in my sewing room and "create". I "retired" (quit my job because I had it with the drama) on January 6 and have sewn about 4 hours. That sucks! But my closets and dressers are de cluttered, organized and looking fabulous. My kitchen is almost there, and my office-music room is...well...not there but on the list.
I need a boost...think another cup of coffee and a few more minutes reading notes from all you ladies, then get with it babe!

I'm working on a Lemoyne Star quilt. I am using the Deb Tucker ruler. There is a learning curve to the ruler and I am one who takes a bit longer to get adjusted to something new. We too have a huge storm coming tomorrow about 2 ft. of snow is predicted. Pray I don't lose power so I can sew all day :)

I'm doing a quilt that is all 60 degree triangles, my first quilt that is not mostly square/rectangular pieces. Working with the fabric without stretching the bias has been a challenge.

Started a potentially gorgeous SAS but other projects keep interfering. The hand quilting on the appliquéd baby quilt is an ongoing challenge of time and skill level.

Your sister or your quilt. LOL. Sorry, Could not resist

FMQing. I have a new HQ Sweet 16 and 8 projects hanging on the banister. I just can't seem to believe that my FMQ is good enough. I KNOW it takes a lot of practice - so why won't I give myself the push to just do it? grrrrr

I'm working on Ozark maple leaf. For anyone not familiar with this, the leaves overlap from one block to the next so one or two triangles have to be the same fabric to finish the leaf in the block next to it. Piecing the blocks together is like shuffling a deck of cards that I have to put back in order again and lay out before I can go on, every time. It has been a real challenge to my brain, but gets easier. I look for the challenges. I don't really want things that go together quickly after learning about the quilt over population problem, with relatives and friends not always wanting another quilt.

Has anyone out there made this Ozark quilt?

I shouldn't go there, but.........getting things together for taxes to be done.:mad: We always itemize, we have too many deductions to ignore. It drives me batty every year!

Hasn't started snowing yet but we do have our snow day. Hope I can motivate myself to get tons done!

Binding! I have a mental block about binding & put it off.....now I have 4 UFOs just waiting for binding!

I am working on a Pearl P.'s Baltimore Halloween quilt. All blocks done, borders added, just need to add border bats. Needle turn appliqué ~4-5 years. It is georgous.

Moonglow by Jinney Beyer. I have been working on it for a little over 3 yrs, lol, I am on block six. I am having a horrible time with the points in center. When I get everything to come together I get a dome instead of a block that lies flat.

I'm struggling cutting strip sets for a postage stamp quilt (2" finished as 1.5" squares). It's not difficult, just tedious. i want to get back to finishing my UFOs - a snowball/9patch, a cat quilt, 2 lone stars (one needs quilting, the other just has the center done), a purple row by row, and a star quilt. I have 2 weddings this year that may require quilts.

Wow, that looks really hard. I'd love to see how it comes out. I bet you'll make a great one.

I've been working on a circus design for great grandsons. I had no pattern and it has been a challenge. I'm doing the binding on the first one and hope to finish the other one tomorrow.