Well, I’m sort of stuck with Beachwalk quilting. I’ve “finished” quilting 4 out of 9 blocks, but reserve the right to go back and quilt in some areas if it looks uneven when the center is done. I’d love to take a break and piece something, but I have the superstition that if I move my machine back into piecing mode from quilting- with- monofilament- mode (change the bobbin case, adjust stitch length, change the needle, etc.), catastrophe will happen. So I suppose I’ll power through, and maybe set up my Featherweight if I really need to piece something?
Here’s what I need to be piecing to stay on top of the Star Surround quilt along. I think I’ll get a chance to mark my HSTs today, but at least I have all my pairs set up.
In pairing my fabrics I was a little leery of some of my fabric choices but ultimately decided to go with my gut and keep my fabrics in there. Also, if I changed my mind that meant I had to do more cutting and NUH-UH. Not doing it. So I go with the feeling that “well, it’s only a Christmas quilt, so if it’s truly hideous we only have to look at it for a month!” I suppose I could also give it a real kick-ass back if we want to turn it over instead. 
And side note, if you follow my Stash Reports, you know I’ve been steadily using up my stash. Lest you think I’ll run out of fabric, let me show you this.
It used to be that all three shelves were full and I couldn’t fit those green boxes on there. I’m excited to have it at this level because it means that those green project boxes are off the corner of my cutting table, and onto the shelves so I have more room to spread out on the cutting table. This picture does not include my novelty drawer, holiday fabric, or batiks. Each of those live in a plastic drawer unit next to this shelf. On the whole, I’m glad I’ve reduced my hunter greens down to half a stack, but feel like I need a little more aqua and “regular” browns (which I’ll need for my parents’ quilt next year anyway), and some more yellows and regular reds. However, I don’t know if I don’t use those colors because I don’t have them, or if I don’t have those colors because I don’t use them. It’s a real chicken and egg question!
Good idea to set up the Featherweight for piecing. I think you are right in that all the fiddling to get the tension right could easily be thrown off. I talked a little about developing a relationship with my quilts in a recent blog post. You can consider that you are doing that with Beachwalk. It is looking REALLY great, by the way. I love what you are doing. HQSuze and I turned some ladies at the quilt store on to your podcast via this quilt. We told them you had been discussing the making of it on your podcast and they were hot to check your production.
Keep up the good work.
Love the quilting you are doing on this! I agree- pull out the Featherweight if you feel the need to piece. I can’t wait to see it when it’s done!
Ha! The chicken and the egg. Do I not have purple fabric because I do use it or do I not use it because I do not have it? Surely, we all have these dilemmas. Congratulations on your stash clean out/space acquisition!
I Love seeing all your quilts Pam! I can’t wait to start learning more so i can be as an amazing quilter as you are! You are an inspiration to me!