2016 in Review

Here are my accomplishments for 2016, followed by pictures and headings only. Details are in my past posts as indicated by a clickable completion date after each name. My own assessment of how well I met my 2016 goals is at the end.

2016 Completions:

4 quilts + 7 doll quilts
6 crocheted or knitted items
6 home decor items
22 burp cloths
3 crib sheets/covers

4 miscellaneous sewing items

4 QUILTS

Nestling Owls for Lillian 39" x 52" (May 11, 2016)

Overlapping Squares 48" x 48" (June 8, 2016)

Orange and Grey 40" x 50" (August 10, 2016)

7 Doll Quilts for Autumn and Vivian (December 14, 2016)

Vineyard Furrows 16" x 20" for AVQ guild challenge (December 31, 2016)

6 CROCHETED OR KNITTED ITEMS

One crochet cardigan for Autumn (January 13, 2016)

One circular knitted blanket for Lillian (March 21, 2016)

One baseball jacket for Isaiah (May 8, 2016)

Second crocheted cardigan for Autumn (October 19, 2016)

Knitted vintage Christmas stocking for Lilian (November 29, 2016)

One circular blanket for Isaiah (December 17, 2016)

6 HOME DECOR ITEMS

Set of five barstool covers for Dan and Carrie (February 2, 2016)

Pair of Bathing Beauty pillowcases (June 29, 2016)

Pair of Seaside Pillowcases (August 17, 2016)

Pair of window seat cushions (November 23, 2016)

Completion of two pair Master Bedroom Curtains (12/21/16)

Bunny Pillow for Alex (December 25, 2016)

3 SHEETS / COVERS

Pack 'n Play Sheet for Vivian, Isaiah, Lillian (April 6, 2016)

Cars changing pad cover for Isaiah (May 4, 2016)

Doggies changing pad cover for Isaiah (May 4, 2016)

22 BURP CLOTHS

Eight burp cloths for James and Hillary (February 10, 2016)

Six elephant burp cloths for Emily(March 25, 2016)

Four pennant party burp cloths for Lillian (June 15, 2016)

Four Spring Turtle burp cloths for Lillian (June 23, 2016)

MISCELLANEOUS

One Lil Red doll set for Autumn and one for Vivian (March 8, 2016)

Microscope Cover for Frank (June 14, 2016)

Cloth Book - My Book (June 21, 2016)

SELF-ASSESSMENT OF 2016 GOALS

My quilting/sewing/knitting goals for 2016, repeated in condensed form below, were set and elaborated in my post for January 2, 2016. In retrospect they seem somewhat lofty and wordy although I do like the four main areas of Completions, Reductions, Skill-building, and Reflection/Networking. I did not do too badly on Completion and Reduction goals. The Skill-building goal seems to be the one that would help me grow most as a quilter, but it is the one at which I was least successful. It is a goal definitely worth keeping. My Reflection/Networking habits appear to be pretty well established. I failed miserable on the last bullet of Reflection/Networking, one newly added, but I did buy a quilt themed weekly planner. I gained the self-knowledge that daily notations are not my style and not where I want to devote my effort. My blog posts are sufficient for reflecting and networking. The pictures in the planner were gorgeous and inspiring though, so the planner purchase/goal was not a total loss.  :•)

Completions - grade B: 4½ out of 6 - not bad since I did other things
• Overlapping Squares √
• Orange and Grey aka Poppy Bella Bird √
• Master bedroom curtains √
• Five barstool covers √
• Piece, FMQ, and bind Who Says Woof quilt  half-√,  still in progress

• Assemble and FMQ Mask Quilt and bind - remained a UFO, has been since 2011

Reductions - grade B+:  fabric and class curtailing was moderately successful  

• Organized scrap yarn stash - donated full skeins to guild quilt show  √
• Limited impulse kit purchases to three (overshot goal of two) half-√
• Organize my purchased patterns  √
• Began to implement a method for scrap management, organization, and usage half-√
• Buy tools or threads instead of fabric
• Took only classes that were technique oriented

Skill-building - grade D: met only 1 out of 5, so obviously needs work

• Practice with my new featherweight Fiona by taking it to one class or visit
• Make one quilt top or wall hanging with curved piecing
• Make one quilt top or wall hanging with appliqué
• Make one mandala wall hanging or equivalent to practice paper piecing
• Practice my FMQ skills by quilting at least three community outreach quilts  √

Reflection/Networking - grade A: after deciding to drop the final goal 

• Publish a blog post once a week on average or at least 50x/year  √
• Take time 1x/week to comment on other quilters blog posts - not just read them  √
• Share items at guild meetings and at Handi-Quilter club meetings 3x/year  √
• Keep a running draft of my 2016 in Review post as I complete items  √
• Remember to add labels to blog posts so I can find them more easily  √

• Generate at least one blog-to-print hardcover book  √

• Spend at least 10 minutes/day in sewing room 6x/week; put brief thoughts in notebook

I plan to reword and simplify these goals for 2017.